Propose a case

Are you a citizen’s group or non-profit organization and you would like our assistance?
Propose your case to us!

How does the funding work?

We receive the funding request from the citizens group or non-profit and our Case Management committee reviews it.

Our selection criteria are:

Importance of the case for society at large and for the local community – We give particular attention to cases that raise significant collective issues.
- At the societal level: Does the case address a matter of principle or public interest (environmental justice, fundamental rights, social equity, etc.) with potential provincial or national impact?
- At the local level: Does the case respond to a pressing concern within a specific community? Is there demonstrated local support (citizen mobilization, support from organizations, etc.)?

Potential of the case to set a legal precedent – We assess whether the case could help advance or clarify the law.
- Does it have the potential to set a useful precedent for other similar situations?
- Could it address a legal gap or clarify an ambiguous or contested legal provision?
- Could the outcome influence other cases or lead to legislative changes?

Costs and Available Funding
- Our resources are limited, and it is essential that the necessary funding is available to carry out the proposed legal actions to completion.
- As part of our evaluation, we will consider the anticipated costs associated with this type of case (research, case preparation, hearings, expert opinions, etc.).
- We will also indicate to what extent we can assist you, for example by starting with a legal opinion to clarify the legal issues and possible courses of action.

Quality of the Legal Team Selected – Effective representation depends on the expertise and commitment of the legal team.
- Does the lawyer or firm have relevant experience in the area of law involved?
- If needed, we can provide you with contacts or referrals to lawyers or firms with relevant expertise and with whom we have worked in the past.

Chances of Success – We evaluate the likelihood of the case achieving a favorable outcome.
- Is the legal basis solid? Are the facts well-documented?
- Is the case well articulated from a legal and strategic perspective?
- Are there any favorable precedents in jurisprudence?
- Is the current political or judicial context conducive to this type of action?
- If you are still in the early stages or need help structuring your request, please feel free to let us know in your application. We may be able to assist you in defining the key issues and clarifying the next steps.

We can help your citizen’s group incorporate as a non-profit corporation, if needed.

We meet with the non-profit organization to come to a funding agreement.

The Legacy Fund usually matches dollar-for-dollar sums raised by the citizens’ group up to an agreed-upon amount, but we can make exceptions based on individual circumstances. Importantly, any funds raised by our partner citizens’ group – when donated through the Legacy Fund – are eligible for a tax deduction.

If the Legacy Fund adopts a proposal, we sign a simple agreement with the non-profit organization. This agreement will cover such details as funding, reporting and oversight of the case.

With the non-profit organization, we identify the necessary studies and experts.

biodiversity studies;
tax analyses;
archeological evaluations;

If needed, we help the non-profit organization find a legal team to prepare the legal procedures to take action.

It’s important to note that a case might not always lead to legal action, as we also look for non-litigious solutions.

We evaluate the results with the non-profit organization and assess if other steps are required to the case’s success.

Get in touch

Fill out this form and we will contact you as soon as possible. Providing information that addresses some of questions raised in the section selection criteria above will strengthen your application and increase the likelihood of receiving support or funding.