General Information

The Family Violence Justice Fund (Fund) was established in 1999 to expand the availability of legal assistance for victims of family violence. 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 periodic reporting requirements.

Qualified Organizations

Statutes establish criteria for determining whether an organization is qualified to apply for a grant. Organizations 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

Per statute, grants funds can only be used to provide eligible services in covered proceedings for and on behalf of indigent clients who are victims of family violence subject to the following definitions: 

Indigent: As noted in Section 14-4-107(5)(d), C.R.S., indigent refers to a person whose income does not exceed 125 percent of the family federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size, determined annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Covered Proceedings: Include, but are not limited to:

• Any protection order proceeding.
• An action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of marriage.
• An action for dissolution of a civil union, legal separation, or declaration of invalidity of a civil union.
• Paternity actions.
• Child custody actions.
• Proceedings to establish or enforce child support.
• Administrative hearings and other judicial actions in which family violence is an issue or where legal representation is necessary to protect the interests of a victim of family violence.

Eligible Services Related to Covered Proceedings: These include full/direct legal representation, other services like legal advice and limited representation, and educational clinics. For more detailed information about grants, please refer to the Grant Rules in the "Grant Resources" section below. 

Direct any questions about Family Violence Justice Fund grants to: 

Grants Specialist

Office of the State Court Administrator

1300 Broadway, Suite 1200, Denver, Colorado 80203

FamilyViolenceJusticeFund@judicial.state.co.us | 720-625-5841