Submit Applications for Operating and Project Grants (Canada)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Alberta Law Foundation is inviting applications for project and operating grants supporting organizations and programmes that advance access to justice, legal knowledge, law reform, legal research, and related services benefiting people across Alberta. The funding supports both time-limited projects with defined activities and outcomes and ongoing operating or programme costs that enable organizations to deliver services aligned with the Foundation’s objectives. Particular attention is given to initiatives addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities.

About the Alberta Law Foundation

The Alberta Law Foundation supports Alberta’s justice sector by providing annual project and operating grants to eligible organizations and programmes. Its funding is intended to strengthen areas such as: - Access to justice. - Legal knowledge. - Law reform. - Legal research. - Legal information and education. - Direct legal services. - Other related services benefiting Albertans. The Foundation’s support can help organizations develop new initiatives as well as maintain ongoing programmes that address legal and justice-related needs within Alberta. What Types of Activities Are Supported? The grants can support a broad range of activities connected to the Foundation’s mandated objectives.

Examples include:

- Research that develops recommendations for law reform. - Support for public law libraries. - Provision of legal information. - Legal education programmes. - Direct legal advice. - Legal representation in response to specific legal needs within Alberta. - Other activities related to Canadian law, Indigenous law, access to justice, legal services, law reform, or legal research. Projects should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activities and benefits for Albertans. Project Grants Project grants are intended for time-limited initiatives with clearly defined activities and expected outcomes.

A project proposal should explain:

- The legal or justice-related issue being addressed. - The activities that will be undertaken. - The intended beneficiaries. - The expected outcomes. - The timeframe for implementation. - The amount of funding requested. - Why the requested funding is appropriate for the proposed work. Projects should have a clear purpose and demonstrate how the proposed activities will contribute to access to justice, legal knowledge, law reform, research, or related objectives. Operating and Program Grants Operating grants can support costs associated with organizations and programmes delivering ongoing services aligned with the Alberta Law Foundation’s objectives. This type of funding can be relevant to organizations whose continuing activities provide legal information, education, services, research, or other justice-related benefits to Albertans. Applicants should demonstrate how their ongoing operations or programmes contribute to the Foundation’s mandated objectives and why financial support is needed to continue or strengthen those activities. Focus on Vulnerable Individuals and Communities The Foundation places particular emphasis on addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals and communities. Applicants should explain how their proposed project or programme responds to identified legal or justice-related barriers and how the work will benefit people who may experience difficulties accessing legal information, advice, representation, or other justice services. Demonstrating a clear community need can strengthen the rationale for the proposed funding. Funding Amount There is no maximum budget for grant requests under the opportunity. However, applicants must demonstrate that the amount requested is: - Proportionate to the anticipated impact. - Justified by the scope of the proposed work. - Appropriate for the activities and outcomes being proposed. The absence of a fixed maximum does not mean that applicants should request an unnecessarily large amount. The budget should be directly connected to the scale and expected benefits of the project or programme. Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include:

- Non-profit organizations. - Indigenous communities. - Indigenous organizations. - Organizations based outside Alberta that can demonstrate substantial connections within Alberta and direct benefits to Albertans. Applicants do not need to be registered charities. They also do not need to be organizations whose primary purpose is legal work, provided their proposed activities relate to areas covered by the Foundation. Legal and Justice-Related Focus An applicant does not necessarily have to be a law-focused organization to be eligible. The proposed work should relate to areas such as: - Canadian law. - Indigenous law. - Access to justice. - Legal information. - Legal services. - Law reform. - Legal research. This broad eligibility allows organizations working in related areas to seek support where their activities provide relevant benefits to Albertans. Organizations Based Outside Alberta Organizations located outside Alberta may be eligible if they can demonstrate: - Substantial connections within Alberta. - Direct benefits to Albertans. Applicants in this situation should clearly explain their Alberta connections and identify how the proposed work will directly serve people or communities in the province. Indigenous Applicants Indigenous communities and organizations are specifically included among eligible applicants. Projects involving Indigenous law, access to justice, legal knowledge, legal services, research, or related areas may therefore be relevant where they align with the Foundation’s objectives. Applicants should clearly describe the legal or justice-related need being addressed and the benefits for the communities or Albertans served. Previous Grant Reporting Requirement Applicants must be current on their previous reporting obligations to the Alberta Law Foundation. Organizations with outstanding reporting requ