Grants and Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I view the policy that guides the grant making process?
The policy is published online, and can be accessed at the following link: www.TellADF.org/GrantPolicy
How do I submit an application?
All applications must be submitted using our online application form, available at www.TellADF.org/GrantApplication
In addition to the online application; some additional material must be submitted as exhibits to the application. When possible, please submit application exhibits in electronic format either via email or by mailing a disk with the materials stored. ADF does accept packages via FedEx (or any other overnight delivery system) or you may fax the additional materials to 480-444-0028 if you would like. However, whatever method of delivery you use, all required information must be in our Arizona office by close of business (4:30pm, MST) on the cut-off day. Supporting materials should be emailed to , if possible, or mailed to
Alliance Defense Fund
Attn: Grants & Funding Dept.
15100 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
How does ADF determine which cases or projects are funded?
ADF accepts applications from lawyers seeking funds to cover the expenses of litigating disputes and projects intended to generate or support litigation. The primary mechanism for review is the Grants and Review Council process. The Grants and Review Council (GRC) consists of seven allied attorneys who have nationally recognized expertise in the legal fields falling within the scope of ADF’s mission. The GRC members are located around the country and volunteer their time and expertise to ADF. The GRC carefully reviews the applications and budgets making recommendations as to the merits of the applications that are forwarded to the Program and External Relations (PXR) Committee of the ADF Board of Directors for final approval.
When does a matter become eligible for a grant?
A legal matter is eligible for a grant when the case is: 1) in litigation at the time ADF receives the grant application; or 2) litigation is imminent i.e., the case has progressed to a point where a demand letter has been sent or a complaint is being prepared and all preliminary preparations and investigations are complete. As for remuneration, it is not ADF’s intent to pay for initial investigation into a case. Consequently, ADF may provide support for pre-filing work of up to seven hours for work on the demand letter; or, in the event no demand letter is sent, all time spent drafting the complaint.
How is a matter reviewed for funding?
Once ADF receives an application for funding, staff reviews it to insure it has been properly completed, it complies with the requirements set forth in ADF’s “Grant’s and Funding Policy” and it falls within the scope of the mission of ADF. The application is then reviewed by senior members of ADF’s legal staff, and appropriate applications are submitted to the GRC. GRC recommendations are forwarded to the PXR Committee of ADF's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors ultimately approves or denies all funding requests.
When are the grant application deadline, meeting, and results publication dates?
The GRC convenes bi-monthly to consider recently received grant applications. The dates for receiving grant applications for submission to the pending GRC meetings are posted on ADF’s website at www.TellADF.org/GrantReviewSchedule or can be obtained by contacting ADF’s Grants and Funding department.
Will ADF Extend The Cut-Off Date?
In general, ADF does not extend the time in which to receive applications for its GRC meetings. You may submit your application after the cut-off date and, if there is room on the pending GRC schedule and ADF can prepare the application for submission to the GRC in time, it may be considered. However, that is not often the case. Typically, applications submitted after the cut-off dates are held for consideration during the following GRC meeting, approximately two months later.
Application materials must be in our Arizona office by close of business (4:30pm, MST) on the cut-off day.
What is expedited funding?
Expedited funding is a mechanism in which a grant request may be reviewed by the Executive Legal Council. Please note the criteria listed in the “Grants & Funding Policy” under Process for Funding Approval at the following link: www.TellADF.org/GrantPolicy. There are very few circumstances for which an expedited funding request would apply.
How do I apply for expedited funding?
Contact the Director of the Grants and Funding Department for special expedited request should your need meet the criteria listed in the “Grants & Funding Policy” under Process for Funding Approval at the following link: www.TellADF.org/GrantPolicy.
How soon after the GRC meeting will I know whether I’ve been awarded funding?
The GRC makes recommendations as to the funding of cases and projects, which are then considered by the PXR Committee of ADF’s Board of Directors. A decision is generally reached within 2 to 3 weeks of the initial GRC meeting. We do not reveal the status of the application until the entire process has been completed. A letter will be forwarded to both the applicant and the grant sponsor informing them of the decision made regarding their application.
How Do I Go About Collecting The Funds Once They Have Been Awarded?
All grant awards are held in an account set aside by ADF. Payments of the grants will correspond to the submission of detailed invoices supported by appropriate documentation of the work performed and expenses incurred. In conformance with ADF’s Grants & Funding Policy, grant awards are to be used for legal work and associated costs only.
When will checks be cut?
Grant invoices are generally processed each Monday and checks will be mailed within six working days from the day first processed. All invoices that have been received on or before Thursday will be processed to be forwarded to the accounting department the following Monday with checks typically being sent out on Friday. ADF may be unable to process a payment and a delay in processing will occur if any of the following are missing:
· A report on the present status of the case or project;
· The dates on which work occurred;
· A description of the work/activity;
· Identification of the person who completed the task, by name and title;
· The amount of time spent on each activity;
· If the invoice is for an Amicus Brief, it must be accompanied by 10 bound original copies of the brief;
· A completed case update form
· Completed Disclosure Agreement (must be submitted during 1st payment only if not currently on file)
· Your Sponsor 501 (c)3/Letter of Intent (must be submitted during 1st payment only if not currently on file)
Is there a limit to the amount of funding I may request?
No. You may ask for whatever funding you believe is necessary; however, the amount of the award is based upon available funds at the time of consideration and the opportunity for your case/project to set national precedent relative to the other cases/projects being evaluated. Consequently, it is often a good idea to seek funding for various stages of the action, i.e., trial, appeal, etc… rather that for the entire case from trial through the U.S. Supreme Court.
What is a Grant Sponsor and why do we need to provide one?
A grant sponsor is a non-profit entity qualifying under IRS 501 (c)3 as a tax exempt organization. As a non-profit entity, our Board of Directors has required that every application for funds be sponsored by a tax exempt organization so as to avoid any question that ADF funds are being used to further public interest activity and does not have the purpose of directly benefiting the private interest of an individual. ADF will not make payments directly to the attorney handling the legal matter that formed the basis for the grant to be awarded. Any and all grant payments made are paid and sent directly to the sponsor. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to forward the payments to the attorney. Please submit a sponsor letter of intent with your application.
Please click here to see a sample of the sponsor’s letter.
Why would a grant award be less than expected?
During each review cycle we receive many grant requests for evaluation. Each request is independently considered and the amount of funding is based on several factors including, availability of our grant funding resources and the potential broad impact of the matter referenced in your application as compared with the others requesting funding. Please note that the grant award recipient may apply for additional funding in the future as a supplemental grant request in a pending case or project.
Why would my grant request be denied?
There could be several factors in determining the denial of a grant request including ADF's mission, availability of our grant funding resources, and the GRC’s perspective on the potential impact of the matter referenced in your application as compared with the others pending.
Can I apply for additional funding?
Yes. Grant award recipients may apply for supplemental funding in a pending case or project. However, simply because ADF has funded the case or project in the past does not guarantee that supplemental funding will be granted. Each request for funding, whether for initial funding or supplemental, is considered on its own merits and will undergo the same review process.
A request for supplemental funding is made by completing the supplemental grant application available online at www.TellADF.org/GrantApplication. In addition to the application, ADF must receive a budget detailing how the additional funding is to be used. The dates for submission of a supplemental request to ADF are the same as the cut-off dates for submission of a new grant request.
Can I apply for funding for work that I have already done?
Generally, the answer is no. Funding of the grants is prospective only, commencing from the time ADF receives the grant application. The only exceptions to this policy are 1) where the grant application for a case is submitted before the court has made any interlocutory or dispositive rulings, and then, only in compliance with ADF’s Grants & Funding Policy; and 2) in the case of an amicus brief application. Please see ADF’s Grants & Funding Policy for the parameters of these exceptions.
If I have already completed my pro bono commitment and decide to come back to another National Litigation Academy, will I still be able to receive a full grant prior to the completion of any additional pro bono commitment?
Attorneys who have completed their initial 450 hour pro bono commitment and have attended a subsequent Academy for further training (thereby incurring another 450-hour pro bono commitment) may seek grants for a case or project, without a matching obligation, in the following instances:
Ø In the first year of an attorney’s renewed pro bono commitment, upon completion of 100 pro bono hours an attorney is eligible to apply for grants and receive one new ADF grant.
Ø In the second year of an attorney’s pro bono commitment, upon completion of 250 hours of pro bono services an attorney is eligible to apply for grants and receive one new ADF grant.
Ø In the third year of an attorney’s pro bono commitment, upon completion of 400 hours of pro bono services an attorney is eligible to apply for grants and receive one new ADF grant.
Ø Upon the completion of the attorney’s additional 450-hour commitment, an attorney is no longer limited to the number of grants he/she may receive in a given time period.
The approval or denial of a grant has no effect on the pro bono commitment an attorney has agreed to by his/her attendance at a NLA. However, once hours have been submitted to ADF to be considered as pro bono, a grant is not available to cover those hours submitted as pro bono.
What type of case or project qualifies for a grant?
ADF funds pro-active litigation to protect the right of Christians to speak and act consistent with their faith, defend the sanctity and dignity of life from conception to natural end, and protect family values, including the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. ADF funds legal projects that support or promote such litigation.
How does ADF prioritize cases and projects to be funded?
The volume of grant requests received always exceeds the available resources, and there are cases with great merit that ADF is not able to fund. Limited resources require requests to be prioritized. Preference is given to cases with high potential to set major national and regional precedents that will contribute to the body of case law others can use to litigate future cases. Due to funding demands, grants cannot be awarded for cases that only affect individual rights.
What types of grants are available?
- Cost Grant: Reimbursement for costs (out of pocket expenses) incurred rendering pro bono services is available to assist an allied attorney pursue a case or project that directly involves religious freedom, sanctity of life, or the protection of family values. ADF can only reimburse costs for cases or projects that would receive funding consideration under the Grants & Funding Policy of ADF. Generally, a cost grant is limited to a maximum of $3,000.00, absent extraordinary circumstances.
- Matching Grant: A matching grant allows NLA alumni with a pro-bono commitment to request funding to cover costs and expenses, as well as some of the time expended on the case; however, funds will be disbursed for the attorney time on a “matching basis”. In other words, if an attorney obtains a grant for a case, he or she may bill one hour under the grant for every separate hour worked on the case and reported in fulfillment of the pro-bono commitment. Subject to the “matching” limitation, the grant funds will be used for and disbursed in the same manner as a full grant.
- Full Grant: An attorney who has no pro bono commitment to ADF is eligible to apply for a full grant. A full grant is designed to cover costs and expenses associated with litigation (travel costs, filing fees, deposition and expert witness fees, copy costs), as well as some reimbursement for the time expended on the case. The attorney may submit an invoice for all qualifying time invested in the case which will be reimbursed at pre-set hourly rates up to the amount awarded in the grant. The pre-set hourly rate is available upon request. Time subject to reimbursement is set forth in the Grants & Funding Policy of ADF.
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