The Fund Protection Clinic provides essential legal assistance to organizations whose federal funding is at risk due to executive actions, administrative delays, termination notices, or compliance challenges. Our network of specialized attorneys can help you navigate complex legal issues and defend your rightful funding. At this time, we can offer broader guidance to all federal grantees who qualify for our clinic, but can only offer 1:1 pro bono consultations to grantees at EPA, USDA, or DOE.

Legal Support for Federal Grantees

What it is: Grantees who fill out our intake form and qualify will receive legal guidance for a variety of different scenarios. There are two tiers of support:

  • Tier 1 provides generalized best practices guidance to ALL federal grantees on matters including funding freezes, stop-work orders, grant terminations, and more. In addition to guidance, we provide customizable templates to send to grant program officers and agency officials that you can leverage to build your administrative record and keep grantees abreast of litigation and developments at the federal level. This is best for recipients of federal grants from agencies other than EPA, USDA, or DOE who are not currently eligible for Tier 2 assistance.

    • How it works:

  1. Submit your request through our intake form

  2. Our team assesses your legal questions

  3. You receive guidance and correspondence template(s) via email.

  4. Additionally, you can join our email list to receive regular updates on the changing political landscape and its relevant impacts on federal grantees.

  • Tier 2 provides 1:1 assistance for eligible EPA, DOE, and USDA grantees, covering:

    • Grant compliance: Fully understand grant terms and conditions to ensure that grantees remain in compliance on topics such as procurement, financial management, etc.

    • Investigations: Enabling grantees to understand the process, rights and responsibilities, timing, and tips for preparation on a variety of investigative processes such as Congressional and agency inquiries and subpoenas, Office of Inspector General, and Internal Revenue Service audits.

    • Request legal guidance here!

Pro Bono Attorney Consultation (tier 2 support for Recipients of EPA, USDA, and DOE Grants)

What it is: A brief one-on-one consultation with a qualified pro bono attorney who can provide tailored legal advice for your specific situation.

Best for:

  • Specific questions about your grant agreement with EPA, USDA, or DOE

  • Guidance on responding to audits or investigations

  • Help with documentation for administrative records

  • Advice on next steps if your funding has been terminated

How it works:

  1. Submit your request through our intake form

  2. Our team matches you with an appropriate attorney volunteer

  3. You meet virtually with the attorney for a targeted consultation

  4. The attorney provides specific guidance for your situation

Note on Full Representation: We cannot guarantee consultations for all requests, given bandwidth constraints. We are emphasizing disadvantaged and environmental justice communities, as well as entities that cannot afford legal services. We are working to expand our capacity to provide more comprehensive support to as many as possible. Generally, we cannot offer support regarding extended legal representation.

Common Legal Issues We Address

Our pro bono attorneys can provide guidance on:

  • Grant Compliance: Understanding and meeting federal grant requirements

  • Administrative Procedures: Responding to administrative freezes or delays

  • Audit Response: Preparing for and responding to federal audits

  • Investigation Support: Guidance on congressional inquiries or Inspector General investigations

  • Documentation: Building your administrative record to preserve legal rights

  • Fund Access: Addressing ASAP.gov system access issues or drawdown problems

  • Termination Defense: Responding to improper grant termination notices

Is Legal Assistance Right for You?

Consider requesting legal assistance if:

  • You've received a notice that your funding is being terminated

  • You're unable to access your ASAP.gov account or draw down funds

  • You're facing an audit or investigation related to your federal funding

  • You need help understanding your rights under your grant agreement

  • You're uncertain about compliance requirements for your federal funding