PILI is proud to announce that we have received $302,174 in new grant funding to expand access to legal assistance, strengthen pro bono service and invest in PILI’s organizational capacity and future.
These grants will support several areas of PILI’s work, including Illinois Free Legal Answers, our Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panels, legal assistance for veterans and military families, the development of a new PILI Volunteer Hub, and leadership development and continuity at PILI.
PILI is grateful for the support of the following organizations:
Westside Justice Center – Illinois Access to Justice Program
PILI received $127,174 through the Illinois Access to Justice Program to support Illinois Free Legal Answers and our Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panels in Illinois’ Third and Sixth Judicial Circuits.
Illinois Free Legal Answers is a statewide virtual legal clinic through which low-income Illinoisans can submit civil legal questions and receive assistance from volunteer attorneys. The Conflict of Interest Pro Bono Referral Panels connect eligible clients with volunteer attorneys when a legal aid organization cannot provide assistance because of a conflict of interest.
Through these programs, PILI will continue recruiting, training and supporting pro bono volunteers while helping Illinoisans receive brief advice, limited-scope assistance and extended representation in a wide range of civil legal matters.
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation awarded PILI $105,000 to support the PILI IL-AFLAN Pro Bono Referral Project.
Through this project, PILI works with the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network to address the civil legal needs of low-income veterans, active-duty military members and their families outside of Cook County. PILI recruits, trains and supports pro bono attorneys and matches them with clients who need assistance with family law, housing, consumer issues, benefits, discharge upgrades and other civil legal matters.
This funding will also allow PILI to respond to areas of unmet need, including placing screened military discharge upgrade cases with volunteer attorneys and assisting eligible clients outside of Cook County who cannot be served through the IL-AFLAN hotline because of a conflict.
Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois
PILI received a $65,000 Strategic Opportunity Grant from the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois to support two projects focused on strengthening PILI and expanding pro bono engagement.
This funding will support organizational effectiveness, leadership development and continuity at PILI and the development and launch of the PILI Volunteer Hub, creating a new resource to help connect, equip and engage volunteers in pro bono service.
Together, these investments will strengthen PILI’s ability to sustain and expand our impact while developing the leadership, systems and resources needed to meet the evolving needs of Illinois’ legal community and the people it serves.
Sahara Enterprises Fund
The Sahara Enterprises Fund renewed its support of PILI with a $5,000 grant for general operations.
This flexible funding supports PILI’s four programs—the Law Student Internship Program, Graduate Fellowship Program, Alumni Network and Pro Bono Program—and helps ensure that PILI can continue engaging, inspiring and empowering those advancing equal access to justice throughout Illinois.
Thank You!
Together, these grants represent a significant investment in PILI’s mission and in the people, programs and infrastructure that make our work possible. They will help more Illinoisans connect with critical legal assistance, equip more legal professionals to serve through pro bono, and position PILI to continue responding to the changing needs of communities across the state.
PILI is deeply grateful to these organizations for their partnership and investment in our mission. Their support enables us to meet the moment today while building a stronger and more accessible justice system for tomorrow.
Thank you to these and all of our supporters!