February 2008
In This Issue
President Bush's Proposed FY 2009 Budget
On February 4, President Bush released a $3.1 trillion budget for Fiscal Year 2009 that Democrats
have severely criticized for widespread cuts and lack of funding for domestic programs.
Bush has called for $393 billion in non-emergency domestic discretionary spending —
a 0.3 percent ($1.3 billion) increase over FY 2008 funding and well below the rate of inflation.
The president has already threatened to veto this year's bills if they exceed his request.
Markups in both House and Senate Budget committees are expected the week of March 3, with floor
action in each chamber likely the following week.
Housing & Urban Development Department
The president’s budget renews the call to merge the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
with other programs and decrease overall spending by $866 million, to approximately $3 billion.
Homeless assistance programs: The Bush budget proposes a decrease in funding from $1.73 billion
in FY 2008 to $1.68 billion for FY 2009.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA): The Administration would leave funding
level for FY 2009 at $298 million.
Fair Housing Initiative Program (FHIP): There is a small increase of $1 million from the FY
2008 appropriation of $25 million proposed.
Housing Counseling: The White House is seeking a 30 percent increase over FY 2008 to $65
million for the housing counseling program.
Department of Justice
Office on Violence Against Women
The Administration proposes an overall reduction in the budget for OVW to $280 million in FY 2009,
down from $385 million in FY 2008. However, there would be just a small decrease for
STOP Grants, to $183.8 million for FY 2009, and small increases in the
Legal Assistance for Victims grant appropriation, to $36.6 million, and
the Rural Domestic Violence program appropriation, to $40.4 million.
Office for Victims of Crime
The Administration is once again attempting to rescind the balance in the Crime Victims Fund.
A review of their proposal indicates that they are requesting to remove almost $2 billion
from the Fund so that the unobligated amount in the Fund to be carried over to
FY 2010 would be zero. Once again, efforts to save the Fund balance are being ably led by the
National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators.
The amount that the Administration proposes for the FY 2009 VOCA cap on total Crime Victims Fund
obligations is $590 million, the same amount as the FY 2008 cap.
Department of Health and Human Services
The Administration proposes level funding for HHS programs of interest to legal services,
including $2.143 billion for
HIV/AIDS initiatives under the Ryan White CARE Act, $351 million for supportive services from
the Administration on Aging and $34 million for Protection and Advocacy programs.
Internal Revenue Service
The president proposes a $1 million reduction in the Low-income Taxpayer Clinic program,
to $8 million for FY 2009.
Federal Funding Opportunities
- Immigration Related Employment Discrimination Public Education Grants
Deadline: March 31, 2008
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/08OSCImmEdSol.pdf
The DOJ’s
Office of Special Counsel
for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC)
announces the availability of funds for grants to conduct public education programs about the rights
afforded potential victims of employment discrimination and the responsibilities of employers under
the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Applications may
propose to educate potential victims only, employers only, or both in a single campaign. Program
budgets must include the travel, lodging and other expenses necessary for up to two program staff
members to attend the mandatory OSC grantee training (two days) that will be held in Washington, D.C.
Grants may range in size from $35,000 to $100,000. OSC welcomes proposals from diverse public service
groups, organizations or associations providing information services to employers and/or potential
victims of discrimination, and faith-based organizations and nonprofit groups providing services and
assistance to potential victims of discrimination.
In 2006 and 2007, OSC awarded $725,000 in grants under this program each year to 11 organizations,
ranging from $40,000 to $90,000. For more information about previous grantees, contact Kate Lang at
k.lang@nlada.org.
For more information about the 2008 application process, contact Terry Scott, public affairs
specialist, Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices,
(202) 616–5594.
Private Foundation Funding
- Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation
Deadline: February 29, 2008
http://spilf.stanford.edu/grants/
The Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation funds law-related projects involving community education,
community organization, legal advocacy and/or the provision of direct legal assistance. Each year,
approximately $60,000 is provided to five or six organizations. The foundation gives priority to
projects integrating legal work with broad-based organizing strategies aimed at fundamental social
change.
Projects must focus on one or more of the following objectives:
- Representing groups traditionally underrepresented by the legal profession.
- Altering the underlying causes of injustice, poverty and disenfranchisement.
- Creating a society free from racism, sexism, heterosexism, and economic
exploitation and supporting the rights of disabled people, immigrants and refugees, lesbians and
gay men, people of color, women, workers, youth and the elderly.
- Promoting public health and environmental quality by working to change the root
causes of environmental degradation.
Programs including Stanford Law School graduates receive preference. Stanford Law School provides
separate summer funding for students wishing to work in non-paying public interest or governmental
summer jobs. Applicants are also encouraged to accept Stanford Law students for summer internships.
Additionally, the foundation may ask some grantees whether they would like to visit Stanford Law
School to make presentations about their work to students. Please note that such trips will not be
mandatory and that all travel expenses will be covered.
- Pro Bono Institute Second Acts Project
Deadline: May 16, 2008
http://www.probonoinst.org/secondacts.php
The Pro Bono Institute invites nonprofit organizations to apply to join their Second Acts Project.
Through a generous grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Institute will provide
cash grants and technical assistance for public interest and legal aid organizations to develop,
implement and evaluate effective and replicable pro bono projects that test the viability of various
models of public interest law practice for transitioning and retired attorneys.
Funding for Second Acts pilot projects will be awarded by the Institute to eligible organizations
for up to three years, renewable each year subject to satisfactory performance and compliance with
grant requirements. The term of the first year of funding will be 12 months, which will run from
August 1, 2008 through July 31, 2009. A total of $160,000 in annual funding will be available to
grantee organizations, and organizations may request up to $40,000 in annual funding. This is a
one-time grant which, if renewed annually, will conclude at the end of the three-year grant period.
During the three years of the grant, the Institute will also provide support, training, technical
assistance to Second Acts pilot projects and assist major law firms and corporate legal
departments in developing policies and support for these pro bono models.
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