The Center for American Progress (CAP), working with the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), are pleased to announce new funding opportunities to expand employment opportunities for people with arrest and conviction records by advancing automatic sealing policy and/or occupational licensing reform in select states.

LETTERS OF INTENT REQUESTED (LOI Submission Link)

We are looking for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are passionate about breaking down unfair barriers to employment for people with records and would be interested in implementing a clean slate automatic sealing law or an occupational licensing background check reform project within their respective states.  More information about these anticipated projects can be found in the attached “LOI Submission Instructions Guide.”

Interested organizations that meet the qualifying criteria are invited to submit an electronic letter of intent (LOI).  Select organizations will then be invited to submit a full proposal.  Please review the attached “LOI Submission Instructions Guide” for more detail about the application process and timeline.

PLEASE NOTE that due to the relatively quick-turnaround, the Clean Slate and Occupational Licensing Reform State Advocacy Funding Project team has created a simplified process to submit LOIs electronically.  The online form will ask you to complete each of the following:

• Verify that you meet the criteria for application
• Provide your organization’s contact information
• Briefly describe your organization and selected state
• Respond to two short-answer questions about your organization’s capacity and track record of state policy advocacy and diverse partner engagement, and lastly
• Indicate whether you are applying for the clean slate automatic sealing law and/or occupational licensing funding, then respond to three short-answer questions about your organization’s knowledge and capacity in the relevant areas

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Please read the attached instructions guide carefully before submitting an LOI. When you are ready to submit your LOI, click here to record your responses.

Completed responses must be submitted by Wednesday, May 10, 2017, by 11:59 PM (midnight) EST (again, see attached instructions for further detail).

Questions about the LOI instructions and process should be emailed to cleanslate@americanprogress.org. Please DO NOT submit a Word or PDF LOI to this email address; only completed forms, submitted electronically, will be considered.

Sincerely,

Center for American Progress, National Employment Law Project, and Community Legal Services

Submission Instructions Guide