6/16 | Exploring Collaborative Grantmaking: California ChangeLawyers' Legal Empowerment Fund

Since its inception, the LSFN has been asked about opportunities for our participants to engage in collaborative grant making. For many years, we intentionally decided not to organized a formal program, but often helped funders with shared interests "find each other". In 2020 the LSFN launched our first collaborative grant program, the LSFN Fellowship. Via this program, funders help support new public interest lawyers and their Legal Services Organization Hosts with investments ranging from $17,000 to over $200,000 annually.

This year the LSFN has decided to take our next step into the world of collaborative grant making by working alongside California ChangeLawyers and highlighting their Legal Empowerment Fund. Created in 2021, the Legal Empowerment Fund helps new and diverse LSO organizations and their leaders combat the public's (particularly BIPOC and other marginalized communities) growing lack of confidence in the American legal system and the opportunity provided by the deepening public consciousness that the power of lawyers can be harnessed for social justice. The Legal Empowerment Fund will foster movement lawyering; build capacity of smaller and newer legal organizations serving communities of color; and support diverse future leaders in the legal profession who will rise to influential positions in 

law and society.

Who should attend?

1. Funders who already fund civil legal aid and hope to inspire new funders to support this critical issue area.

2. Funders who have not previously funded civil legal aid, and want to space to "tip their toes in the water".

3. Funders who want to support diverse leaders and small organizations that they might not identify on their own.

4. Other "crowd source" funders who are interested in offering collaborative funding opportunities to funders in their communities.

Join us to learn about the fund and hear California ChangeLawyers' Executive Director Christopher Punongbayan's vision for the future of legal aid in California.

Christopher Punongbayan is the Executive Director of ChangeLawyers℠, a statewide foundation whose mission is to build a better justice system for all Californians.  Over the last twenty years, Chris has gained deep experience in social justice issues. He profoundly believes in giving voice to the unheard, breaking down barriers, and creating strategic alliances to advance equity. Prior to joining the ChangeLawyers℠, Chris was the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus and held positions at Northern California Grantmakers, Positive Resource Center, and Filipino Advocates for Justice.

Moderator: 

Claire Solot, Managing Director, Bigglesworth Family Foundation & Co-founder, Legal Services Funders Network