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Source verified July 11, 2026
Access to Justice Fund
Supports nonprofit access to justice projects
Latest source updateLast Update: July 4, 2026Latest change: The Open call for applications page now shows a Responsive Call for Applications with a June 22, 2026 date, indicating updated intake timing for the Access to Justice Fund.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 4, 2026
Latest change: The Open call for applications page now shows a Responsive Call for Applications with a June 22, 2026 date, indicating updated intake timing for the Access to Justice Fund.
New responsive call date posted
The Open call for applications page now shows a Responsive Call for Applications dated June 22, 2026. The page also says the 2026 call is coming soon, so the Access to Justice Fund’s intake timing has shifted.
Funding available
$ 100,000
Deadline
May 12, 2020
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Access to Justice Fund supports nonprofit organizations across Canada with grants of up to $100,000 for access to justice projects. It funds public legal education, triage and brief services with referrals, plus projects addressing Indigenous Peoples’ legal needs or refugees.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Public legal education, triage, brief services, and referrals, including tools to assist self-represented litigants.
- Projects addressing Indigenous Peoples’ legal needs.
- Projects supporting refugees’ legal needs.
Documents Needed
- Letter of Intent
- Part I of the application form
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Nonprofit organizations
- Universities
- Community colleges
- Indigenous governmental organizations
Who is not eligible
- Commercial ventures
- Government-run projects or programs
- Individuals
Eligible expenses
- Core operating costs directly related to the project.
- Research project expenses normally paid by post-secondary institutions for research projects.
- Student research assistant wages.
- Project expenses tied to piloting an adapted or new delivery model for an existing program.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Litigation.
- Costs directly related to lobbying, advocating, or promoting a particular position on a legal or public policy issue.
- Course releases.
- Indirect costs applied by universities or colleges to recover administrative overhead for the project.
Selection criteria
- The Foundation will consider applications that support access to justice.
- The Foundation will consider applications that clearly address the legal needs targeted by the call.
- The Foundation will consider applications that fit within its mandate and are consistent with its vision, mission, and approach.
- The Foundation will consider applications where the applicant has the skills and experience to plan and carry out the project.
- The Foundation will consider applications where the applicant is ready to be fully accountable for granted funds.
How to apply
- Complete the Letter of Intent and Part I of the application form.
- Submit them by email to atjf@lawfoundation.on.ca by the deadline.
- If approved, submit a full application by invitation only.
Processing and Agreement
- Letters of Intent are reviewed first to determine whether a full application will be invited.
- Invited full applications are presented to the Board of Trustees for a funding decision.
- All granting decisions are made by the Board of Trustees.
- Approved applicants must review and sign a standard Letter of Agreement.
- All grantees must submit written activity reports and budget-to-actual financial reports during the project.
- A full final report is required to receive the final grant instalment.
Additional information
- The fund is national and supports projects that may be local, regional, provincial, or national in scope.
- Joint applications are accepted, and one lead organization must assume accountability for the grant.
- The fund’s priority themes vary from one call for applications to another.
- The fund continues only if further cy-près awards are received.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Access to Justice Fund Program
What is the Access to Justice Fund?
The Access to Justice Fund supports nonprofit organizations across Canada with grants of up to $100,000 for access to justice projects. It funds public legal education, triage and brief services with referrals, plus projects addressing Indigenous Peoples’ legal needs or refugees.
How much funding can be received?
Access to Justice Fund Funds up to $100,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Access to Justice Fund program?
To be eligible for the Access to Justice Fund program, you must:
Nonprofit organizations, universities, or community colleges
Project must include a legal component
Projects may be local, regional, provincial, or national
What expenses are eligible under Access to Justice Fund?
Public legal education, triage, brief services, and referrals, including tools to assist self-represented litigants.
Projects addressing Indigenous Peoples’ legal needs.
Projects supporting refugees’ legal needs.
Who can I contact for more information about the Access to Justice Fund?
You can contact The Law Foundation of Ontario by email at atjf@lawfoundation.on.ca or by phone at 416-598-1550 x 309.
Where is the Access to Justice Fund available?
The Access to Justice Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Access to Justice Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Access to Justice Fund is a Grant and Funding