Request funds
We will acknowledge your request within 72 business hours of your request. Make sure to check your email!
We are enthusiastic and grateful to be able to support you all, and are open to feedback and suggestions.
There are updated guidelines below on the amount of money we can provide per category, per in-person hearing. As we are a volunteer-run grassroots organization with limited capacity, and with the fight against Line 3 no longer receiving broad attention, we want to be realistic about our ability to fundraise long-term. We encourage you to think carefully about whether you have access to resources outside of the Legal Fund, and we ask that if you do have access to other means, that you tap those sources first. We want to make sure we can support you all. We also want to be clear on the kind of support we are equipped to offer in order to help you make informed decisions about your case.
Guidelines
(Exceptions can be discussed! If you’re traveling for a multi-day trial and foresee having multiple expenses that are higher than what this list can accommodate, please contact us in advance. We are happy to work with you.)
Travel to court: $400 max.
(This could be used for: gas, help buying plane tickets, help with car repairs, train/bus/etc).
Lodging: $200 max.
Fines and Fees: Whatever the cost of the fine or fee is.
Defendant Organizing/In-Person Court Support: $100 max.
(Amounts are per in-person hearing. These guidelines apply both to defendants and witnesses/those required to give testimony. This does not apply to those who are attending court solely as supporters).
You do NOT need to have already spent money to receive funding from us. This is not reimbursement only, nor do we require receipts. Filling out the form simply helps us track requests and our spending, and to know exactly what people need. NOTE: Any funds over $600 are taxable income.
We do not currently limit the number of times one can apply for support, and currently are fulfilling most requests. We reserve the right to shift policies and will update our communications channels to reflect any changes.