Beginning in 1985 with the hiring of a Director of Development, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (LSEM) has actively worked on diversifying its funding base, to build greater financial stability for its free civil legal service programs. In 1985 about 90% of LSEM’s funding came from a single source, the Federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC). While LSC is still the firm’s largest single funder, only 47%) of LSEM’s 2009 budget comes from LSC. LSEM currently receives over 20 different grants, many of which come from Federal sources. Additionally, LSEM receives funding from one fee for service contract under which it agrees to provide impediments to fair housing research and reporting. Funding diversification continues to be an ongoing goal for the firm. Legal Services of Eastern Michigan receives funding from:

Federal Legal Services Corporation

Center for Civil Justice (these are pass through funds from the State of Michigan Filing Fees funds)

City of Bay City

City of Flint

Genesee County

Internal Revenue Service

Michigan State Bar Foundation

Michigan State Housing Development Authority for Genesee County

United Way of Genesee County

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S Department of Justice

Valley Area Agency on Aging

Corporate and individual monetary and in-kind donations

LSEM has also received funding for special projects. Examples of special projects include: 1) funding to create materials for LSEM's Teenas and the Law Program and 2) a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation to purchase a building in Flint to house its legal services operations and also providing sufficient space for rental to provide an ongoing source of added revenue.

LSEM has a history of being an excellent steward of the funding it receives. The firm uses its limited resources in the most efficient, cost effective way possible so that it can offer the greatest amount of quality direct client service.