FreeState Legal was founded in 2008 by a group of attorneys and law students that saw a need for direct legal services for low-income LGBTQ people in Maryland, to ensure that laws and policies protecting their rights are effectively implemented and enforced. Equality Maryland is a much older organization, established over 25 years ago, to organize LGBTQ Marylanders to secure comprehensive non-discrimination laws, marriage equality, and a host of policy changes that remove barriers for LGBTQ populations at the state, county, and municipal levels. In 2016, the boards of the two organizations decided to merge. This management assistance grant provided funds for strategic planning for the new, merged organization.