Donation/Sponsorship support requests and process
We are the voice of Criminal Defence Lawyers in Ontario.
The objectives of the association are:
- To foster and represent a strong and independent criminal defence bar and to preserve and defend the adversarial system of criminal justice.
- To honour and safeguard the legal rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- To encourage study and research in the field of criminal defence practice.
- To disseminate by lectures, seminars and publications, any theories, techniques and technologies that support or promote the practice of criminal defence law.
- To sponsor meetings of members of the criminal defence bar and others concerned with the quality of criminal justice, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information regarding the administration of criminal justice.
- To represent the interests of the criminal defence bar before the executive, legislative and judicial bodies which determine or influence criminal justice policy for the various levels of government.
Keeping the above in mind, we will consider supporting:
- Proposals from not-for-profit and charitable groups only in Ontario, Canada.
- Note, we do not fund individuals, political parties, sports teams/tournaments, private/corporate groups such as advocacy groups nor do we make general donations to charitable groups. Requests for funding must be tied to specific events/conferences/initiatives, such as:
- Events/Conferences/Initiatives that are focused on the law, ideally criminal law, or
- Proposals that support law students, recent calls and diversity in the legal profession, or
- Proposals that help foster an interest in criminal law and in the work of criminal defence lawyers
- Note, we do not fund individuals, political parties, sports teams/tournaments, private/corporate groups such as advocacy groups nor do we make general donations to charitable groups. Requests for funding must be tied to specific events/conferences/initiatives, such as:
- Single-year initiatives.
- We are not able to approve multi-year donation/sponsor requests.
- You are free to re-submit a support request once per CLA fiscal year.
- You should not assume that because funding was granted one year that funding will be granted in subsequent years.
- We receive numerous requests each year and are only able to support a limited number each year.
How we can support:
- Financial assistance from $100 to $2,000 CAD. Under special consideration, amounts greater than $2,000 will be considered.
- Promotional support via CLA communication channels – email and social media.
- We do not have swag/materials to donate.
Proposal Requirements:
- WHAT: What and/or how much financial assistance is being requested, and why.
- BENEFITS: Summary of benefits to the CLA for the support it can expect to receive.
- OUTLINE: Brief outline noting why the CLA is a good fit for this initiative. A more elaborate outline should be provided where the event or initiative does not involve criminal law as a primary focus.
- LISTING: Listing of other groups/individuals supporting initiative, including CLA members and other criminal justice system participants.
- Official name and website for each.
- GOVERNMENT: Note if this initiative has any government funding secured, and if so, for how much.
- PARTICIPANTS: Description of attendees/participants in terms of:
- Profession or education status (e.g. law student)
- Diversity
- Seniority/experience
- Numbers expected
- Geographic breakdown
- TIMING: Date/location of initiative and any important timelines/deadlines.
- IMPACT: Summary of the direct impact funding would have on initiative. Specifically, direct impact on the end user.
- REPORTING: Reporting structure – after initiative complete, a high-level summary of the initiative and any relevant information to demonstrate impact of funding on initiative and its success.
- CONTACT: Main contact person – name, title, email, phone and mailing address.
Time frame:
- Our fiscal year is April 1 to March 31 each year.
- Groups can only submit once per CLA fiscal year.
- A minimum of two-months advance notice must be provided for proper review and execution.
Submission:
- Submit formal proposals, with the subject line “CLA Support Request” to ed@criminallawyers.ca.
- We will confirm once received. No phone calls please.
- Please use the green headings outlined in the proposal requirements in your submission.
- Proposals that do not meet the proposal requirements will be rejected.
- Proposals must be relevant to the current or upcoming CLA fiscal year to be considered.
- Proposals should be one single PDF.