General Information

The Family Violence Justice Fund (Fund) was established in 1999 to expand the availability of legal assistance for victims of family violence. In Fiscal Year 2021/22, the grants totaling $1.94 million were awarded to 16 nonprofit legal services organizations in Colorado. In Fiscal Year 2022/23, 15 organizations received grants totaling $2.1 million.

Annual grant funding is allocated to qualified organizations based on a geographic, need-driven formula that considers the number of low-income persons (i.e., individuals living near or below the poverty line) who may need services in each county or city and county across the State. If there is more than one qualified organization within a county or city and county, funding is allocated in proportion to the number of clients served by each qualified organization or its predecessor in the preceding grant award year.

All grants are awarded on a cost-reimbursement basis and must be used for the purposes set forth in Section 14-4-107(2), C.R.S. Grantees are also subject to quarterly reporting requirements.

Qualified Organizaions

To be qualified, the organization must:

• Have demonstrated experience and expertise in providing comprehensive civil legal services, with preference given to organizations that serve low-income clients at no cost rather than reduced cost. 
• Be based in Colorado
• Be exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Obtain more than 33 percent of their funding from sources other than grants from the Fund

Grant Uses

Grant funds shall only be used for the services listed below:

• Providing legal representation to indigent cleints in divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and other related civil matters
• Establishing clinics designed to educate and assist indigent tenants in eviction proceedings, including providing information related to the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants
• Providing legal information and advice to indigent tenants
• Referring clients to appropriate persons or agencies that provide assistance with these issues
• Indirect costs are allowed at the organization’s federally negotiated indirect cost rate up to 10%.  If the organization does not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, indirect costs are allowable using the 10% de minimus indirect cost rate per federal regulations. 
  • No other indirect or administrative costs will be allowed.  That means that the organization’s expenses of doing business that are necessary for the general operation of the organization are not allowable grant expenses.

Grant funds may not be used for:

• Services provided in the role of respondent parent counsel or guardian ad litem.  These services will not be considered when an organization is applying for funds.

Grant  Applications

Information regarding the 2023/24 (7/1/2023-6/30/2024) application will be available in March 2023

2022/23 Grant Awards

Submit Questions and General Inquiries to:

FamilyViolenceJusticeFund@judicial.state.co.us