How To Apply

How to Apply

Grant Application Process Overview

The grant application process begins with a discussion of your program or project idea with the Executive Director or Program Director. New applicants would normally request a project grant. The initial discussion is followed by an exchange of drafts during the development of the application. The application is then finalized and submitted for review by the Alberta Law Foundation Board of Directors. Board meeting dates and application deadlines are available by contacting the Foundation office. Staff can assist with the application process but the funding decision rests with the Board of Directors.

Please note, the Foundation does not accept written grant applications for any new project or program without first having had a discussion about the proposal with the prospective applicant.

If the program or project is funded, a disbursement and reporting schedule will be arranged. It is the responsibility of the grantee to submit all reports at agreed intervals. At the end of the grant period, a final report must be submitted together with a financial statement and a refund of any surplus funds due to the Foundation.

Any departure from the stated objectives, activities, budget or timelines, or any change in key personnel during the period of the grant must be promptly discussed with the Foundation's Executive Director and may require the approval of the Foundation Board of Directors.

Funding Policies

Grant applications will be considered by the Board of Directors of the Foundation only at regularly scheduled Board meetings. Meeting dates and application deadlines can be obtained by calling the Foundation office.
To be funded, the program or project must fall within the Alberta Law Foundation objects as interpreted by the Foundation's Board of Directors.
The applicant must be a non-profit organization incorporated or organized with a board of directors or equivalent supervisory body.
Grants will not be made to an individual, government department or for the support of a commercial venture.
Funds are not available for fellowships, sabbatical leave support, endowments, building funds, sponsorships, gifts or donations.
Grants will not be made to provide professional development activities, for political lobbies, meals, beverages or hospitality expenses, or the cost of sending delegates to conferences.
Funds are not available for the purchase of real estate or the purchase or lease of vehicles.
The Foundation expects that major publications will be self-supporting with respect to direct costs such as printing and distribution.
All grants are made subject to the availability of funds.
Grant funds and related expenditures must be segregated in the accounts of the grant recipient.
Any unexpended funds at the end of the program or project must be returned to the Foundation.
As a condition of funding, organizations may be required to provide audited financial reports for all program or project grants. The Foundation may also require an applicant to provide a copy of the auditor's "management letter" and the applicant's response thereto.
All internally prepared or review level engagement reports require the signature of two senior officers of the organization that are familiar with that program or project.
Grant recipients are required to provide to the Foundation a narrative and financial report at least every six months during the grant, and year end financial statements. The financial report must include a reconciliation of actual revenue and expenses compared to the budget approved by the Foundation at the time of the grant, which will permit a reconciliation of the Foundation grant to the year end financial statements.
Failure to provide timely narrative and financial reports may affect the grant recipient’s continued or future funding opportunities and may result in suspension of grant installment payments.
Grant recipients are expected to acknowledge funding from the Foundation on all printed material created with grant funding and at other reasonable opportunities.
All material produced with grant funds from the Foundation must be made available to the public.
Applicants accepting a grant from the Foundation may be required to acknowledge their agreement to specific terms and conditions of the grant prior to receiving funding.

The Grant Application

Applicants are required to use the most current version of the grant application form provided on the Foundation web site, without alteration, and generally adhere to the content and format instructions that accompany the application form. Print, then write or type directly on the application form, or save the Excel version of the form to your computer, then complete the form and print it.

Grant applications must include a specific budget for the program or project for which funding is requested, as well as a global budget showing the allocation of the Foundation funding and other funding of the organization.

Applications must also describe the program or project details including the marketplace, the objectives, expected outcomes, how the program or project meets one or more objects of the Foundation, the internal process to be used to evaluate the program or project against its stated objectives.

Applications must establish that the proposed program or project is not an unnecessary duplication of existing services or materials available in the community.

For specific details to include in the application, see the instructions accompanying each application form.

Assemble the application materials in the following order:

Cover letter or executive summary
Grant application form
Budget summary
Budget analysis
Global budget
Funding history (for operating grant application only)
General financial information
Program or project details
Supporting documents.

Once the draft application has been reviewed and commented on by Foundation staff, submit a signed, single-sided original, plus eight double-sided copies of the entire final application package. All pages of the application are to be numbered consecutively. Applications are to be clipped only, not stapled, not bound, and not in binders. All material must be standard 8.5" x 11" size. Please note that faxed or electronically transmitted final applications will not be accepted. Applications are due by noon on the day of the deadline.

The application forms and detailed instructions for completing them are available here:

General Evaluation Criteria

In reviewing grant applications, factors that the Alberta Law Foundation Board of Directors may consider include:

Clearly meeting one or more of the Foundation's objects and demonstrating benefit to Albertans.
Evidence of need for the program or service; why it is a priority.
Nature and identity of the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the services; size of target group if applicable.
Capacity/expertise/experience of the applicant to deliver the program or complete the project.
Lack of duplication of existing services.
Identifiable outputs, deliverables; project logic model if applicable; realistic work plan; evaluation process; impact.
Value/Cost Effectiveness/Efficiency (budget and value for money relative to expected results).
Level of collaboration and community support (strategic partnerships).
In-kind or other support from the applicant.
Amount, extent and source of co-funding; sustainability plan.
Leverage of volunteer or pro bono lawyer time.