Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC) Grant Applicant Workshop February 11, 2013

LSAC Basics 11 members appointed by the Supreme Court ◦ 7 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys Makes grants on a two year cycle that matches the legislative funding biennium Grants can either be for general operating funds or for specific projects

Eligibility for LSAC Grants 501(c)(3) status Equal Opportunity Statement Board of Directors with at least one attorney and at least one client eligible member (200% of poverty at time of appointment) Provides service to eligible clients (200% of poverty) with the LSAC funding Service can be legal services, ADR, law related education, or programs to enhance the administration of justice

Available FY14-15 Funding 15% of Legislative Appropriation ◦ $1,520,850 current annual base budget, but do not know what the legislature will pass this year Attorney Registration Fees ◦ $1,800,000 per year IOLTA ◦ $775,000 per year – 10% decrease while we use the last of the reserve

LSAC Funding Priorities LSAC discussion of funding priorities informed by new Supreme Court charge to the committee Applications may be funded that meet one or more the priorities; applicants that meet all the priorities have higher likelihood of full funding LSAC will not do across the board cuts

LSAC Priorities 1. Ensure Base Level of Access Important that LSAC understand how your service fits in to overall civil legal services delivery structure Many questions give you an opportunity to describe the work, evaluation of services and client impact Question 6 specifically gets at reach of services outside of community where your office is located

LSAC Priorities II. Coordination w/ Other Providers LSAC wants to see concrete examples of coordination with other programs (other legal services, law libraries and social service providers) Limiting duplication of services Improve awareness of services in community and quality of referrals Focus of Question 11

LSAC Priorities III. Civil Legal Services Infrastructure Technology and other approaches to support integrates civil legal services infrastructure in different program types Could be general operating for ongoing work or a project request for something new Highlight technology and other innovating programming in Question 2

New Questions in Application Question 4: Requesting information about familiarity with MN-CABS report ◦ available at Question 10: Asks for any outcome measures your organization may be tracking Technology costs broken out as separate line item in Appendix 1

Interview Process 45 minute interview with LSAC panel All LSAC members can submit questions in advance of the interview Interview should include ED and/or primary staff and Board Chair Can attend by phone Dates: April 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27

Interview Pre-Screening It is possible that not every applicant will get an interview. Staff has been directed by LSAC to screen applications and flag potential issues for the committee, including: Inactive status with AG’s Charity Division Indicators of financial problems Significant departure from historical case closed data Excessive staff turnover Application meets none of the LSAC priorities

Important Reminders Appendix 1 Worksheets are closely scrutinized – must use forms provided Do not alter the data spreadsheet by deleting columns that don’t apply to your program For those who provide other services, use Question 17 to provide other data – important to see that you measure your services

Timeline Applications due March 15, 2013, including data spreadsheet – no extensions will be granted Interviews on Fridays and Saturdays in April – staff will contact to schedule and will need flexibility Grant allocation meeting tentatively scheduled for June 14, 2013 ◦ Open to public, but no questions will be taken

New Grants Policy Judicial Branch has a new internal auditor who has drafted first formal grants policy Effective with FY14-15 grants Major changes ◦ Financial reconciliation at least quarterly, which means a report from your financial reporting system or other documentation of expenses reflected on invoice ◦ Site visits for all grants over $250,000 ◦ No alcohol can be purchased with state funds

Other Projects LSAC subcommittee working to create outcome measures that would be collected starting with cases closed after January 1, 2014 Technology committee looking at potential technology investments; RFP will be issued separate from grant cycle when we are ready to move forward

Contact Staff Anytime with Questions or Concerns Bridget Gernander Everyone should be signed up to receive updates at