To ensure low-income Marylanders have access to stable, efficient and effective civil legal assistance through the distribution of funds to nonprofit legal services organizations.
Maryland Legal Services Corporation concentrates its grantmaking on civil legal aid for low-income Marylanders, with most of its recent dollars going to nonprofit legal services organizations on a general support basis. The pattern is not narrow project funding alone: its active programs include annual grants, operating support, and specialized initiatives tied to eviction defense and workforce-related legal services. Recent grants show that the largest awards reach well into eight figures, with Maryland Legal Aid receiving the biggest annual support items in both 2024 and 2025. Other sizable recipients include Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition and Community Legal Serv of Pg, both funded at scale for general support. The foundation’s portfolio also includes legal services providers serving housing, family, disability, immigration, and pro bono work, indicating a system-level approach to access to justice rather than a single-issue strategy. Because its recurring grants are largely unrestricted or core operating support, the organization appears to be sustaining the statewide civil legal services infrastructure that low-income Maryland residents rely on across multiple legal needs.
Housing and eviction-related legal help is a central theme. Maryland Legal Services Corporation supports the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund and the Eviction Prevention Project / ACE, both tied to full representation and statewide eviction defense. In workforce-linked legal services, the foundation administered ARPA-funded opportunities with the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development to address criminal record expungement, driver’s license issues, bankruptcy, credit maintenance, and tax controversies. Family and domestic stability also appear in the grant portfolio through support for organizations such as House of Ruth Maryland and the Women's Law Center of MD. The grantmaking framework likewise includes civil legal aid for consumer debt, foreclosure, public benefits, and immigration-related legal services, all through nonprofit providers serving Maryland residents.
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $66,442, a median of $177,752, and a p75 of $703,941, showing a wide spread between smaller support awards and larger core grants. The recent record also shows repeat funding to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025, including Maryland Legal Aid, Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition, Community Legal Serv of Pg, and others, which points to ongoing rather than one-off support. Maryland Legal Services Corporation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Several programs accept unsolicited applications, including the annual grants program and operating grants, alongside competitive RFP processes for some workforce legal services.
$58.2M
$55M
$62M
$61.9M
Most grants fall between $66K and $704K, with a median of $178K.
25th Percentile
$66K
Median
$178K
75th Percentile
$704K
MICHELLE DAUGHERTY SIRI
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Maryland dominates the recipient map: 86% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is also MD. In the recent grants list, Baltimore appears most often, with additional recipients in Greenbelt, Langley Park, Easton, Towson, Rockville, and Bel Air. The only non-Maryland recipient in the recent grants list is Equal Justice Works in Washington, DC, which appears twice. Grantmaking is therefore strongly local, with statewide Maryland coverage anchored by major legal services organizations and regional bar or pro bono groups.
Its active and summary focus areas include civil legal aid, eviction prevention, housing security, family law, consumer debt, foreclosure, employment law, domestic violence, veterans’ benefits, criminal record expungement, driver’s license issues, bankruptcy, credit maintenance, tax controversies, and estate planning.
Yes. Its philosophy tags include general operating support, unrestricted support, and core/non-project-specific funding, and its recent grants list is dominated by general support awards to nonprofit legal services organizations.
The typical grant size distribution is p25 at $66,442, median at $177,752, and p75 at $703,941. Recent awards range from six-figure grants to multi-million-dollar general support commitments.
It gives locally, with Maryland accounting for 86% of grants. The recent grants list also shows recipients in Baltimore, Greenbelt, Langley Park, Easton, Towson, Rockville, and Bel Air, plus one Washington, DC recipient.
Yes for several programs. The MLSC Annual Grants Program, MLSC Operating Grants, the Eviction Prevention Project / ACE, the grant-subsidized LEFCC training, and some workforce legal services opportunities are listed as accepting unsolicited applications.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Maryland Legal Services that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services to low-income Marylanders; new applicants must submit a Letter of Interest and be invited to apply.
Deadline: Generally March 15 each year (or next business day if March 15 falls on a weekend).
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income Marylanders. Applicants typically must meet MLSC nonprofit/grantee compliance requirements; prospective applicants may contact MLSC prior to applying if not current MLSC grantees.
Deadline: Annual competitive funding cycle (historically applications due March 15 for fiscal-year grants). Exact dates vary by fiscal year and are announced on MLSC grant pages and in grant information webinars.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARYLAND LEGAL AID | BALTIMORE, MD | $29,372,141 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY LEGAL SERV OF PG | GREENBELT, MD | $4,158,998 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,899,690 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAPITAL AREA IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS COALITION | BALTIMORE, MD | $3,300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,964,415 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DISABILITY RIGHTS MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,712,263 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHORE LEGAL ACCESS | EASTON, MD | $1,356,825 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA DE MARYLAND | LANGLEY PARK, MD | $1,274,850 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MD | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,216,176 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $1,040,230 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS | WASHINGTON, DC | $909,790 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S LAW CENTER OF MD | TOWSON, MD | $884,543 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOMELESS PERSONS REPRES PROJ | BALTIMORE, MD | $761,624 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOUSE OF RUTH MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $666,484 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARFORD COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION | BEL AIR, MD | $657,833 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYLAND CRIME VICTIM RESOURCE CTR | UPPER MARLBORO, MD | $533,264 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MONTGOMERY CO BAR FOUNDATION | ROCKVILLE, MD | $510,436 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY LAW CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $347,086 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $283,784 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALLEGANY LAW FOUNDATION | CUMBERLAND, MD | $283,761 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIV OF MD SCHOOL OF LAW CLINICAL PROGRAM | BALTIMORE, MD | $262,154 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $229,233 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALTIMORE BAR FOUNDATION - SENIOR LEGAL SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $221,643 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SEXUAL ASSAULT LEGAL INST | SILVER SPRING, MD | $211,411 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CIVIL JUSTICE INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $192,788 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $154,575 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEARTLY HOUSE | FREDERICK, MD | $145,749 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST AMBROSE HOUSING AID CTR | BALTIMORE, MD | $143,120 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPEWORKS OF HOWARD COUNTY | COLUMBIA, MD | $127,792 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AYUDA | WASHINGTON, DC | $127,132 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREESTATE JUSTICE | BALTIMORE, MD | $120,273 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITIZENS ASSISTING AND SHELTERING THE ABUSED | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $110,495 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYLAND LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS | SILVER SPRING, MD | $92,019 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIV OF MD BALT FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $84,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MID-SHORE COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE | EASTON, MD | $81,260 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN MD CTR FAMILY ADV | HOLLYWOOD, MD | $73,520 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD RELIEF CORP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS | BALTIMORE, MD | $72,100 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $67,293 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WHITMAN-WALKER HEALTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $66,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $65,144 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CTR | BEL AIR, MD | $62,504 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIFE CRISIS CENTER | SALISBURY, MD | $58,600 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIV OF MD CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW ROAR CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $52,730 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILD JUSTICE INC | SILVER SPRING, MD | $51,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RISING FOR JUSTICE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPOR |
| HIAS INC | SILVER SPRING, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIV OF MD SCHOOL OF LAW MEDICAL-LEGAL CLINIC | BALTIMORE, MD | $49,205 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYLAND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PROJECT | BALTIMORE, MD | $40,995 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMARA LEGAL CENTER INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARYLAND LEGAL AID | BALTIMORE, MD | $22,896,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
COMMUNITY LEGAL SERV OF PG
$4,158,998GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
WOMEN'S LAW CENTER OF MD
$884,543GENERAL SUPPORT
HARFORD COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION
$657,833GENERAL SUPPORT
MARYLAND CRIME VICTIM RESOURCE CTR
$533,264GENERAL SUPPORT
MONTGOMERY CO BAR FOUNDATION
$510,436GENERAL SUPPORT
ALLEGANY LAW FOUNDATION
$283,761GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIV OF MD SCHOOL OF LAW CLINICAL PROGRAM
$262,154GENERAL SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF DC
$229,233GENERAL SUPPORT
BALTIMORE BAR FOUNDATION - SENIOR LEGAL SERVICES
$221,643GENERAL SUPPORT
SEXUAL ASSAULT LEGAL INST
$211,411GENERAL SUPPORT
HOPEWORKS OF HOWARD COUNTY
$127,792GENERAL SUPPORT
FREESTATE JUSTICE
$120,273GENERAL SUPPORT
CITIZENS ASSISTING AND SHELTERING THE ABUSED
$110,495GENERAL SUPPORT
MARYLAND LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS
$92,019GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHERN MD CTR FAMILY ADV
$73,520GENERAL SUPPORT
SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CTR
$62,504GENERAL SUPPORT
LIFE CRISIS CENTER
$58,600GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIV OF MD CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW ROAR CENTER
$52,730GENERAL SUPPORT
RISING FOR JUSTICE INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPOR
MARYLAND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PROJECT
$40,995GENERAL SUPPORT
AMARA LEGAL CENTER INC
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
