Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
The Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF) is a public charity based in Denver, Colorado. It receives interest earned on COLTAF accounts and makes grants to Colorado legal aid and pro bono programs, with a focus on helping people who cannot afford an attorney protect their rights.
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation at a glance
In short: Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation gave $9.7M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $572K), mostly in Colorado. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,721,000
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $571,824
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $32,243,504
- +17.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (2 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application through COLTAF’s online grant portal during the application period. Applicants seeking both discretionary and pro bono funding must submit separate applications; current grantees must include the required grant report.
- Review Cycle
- April 1, 2027.
- Deadline
- April 1, 2027.
- Next open deadline
- April 1, 2027 (Discretionary Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 1120 Lincoln Street 701, Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 863-7221
Website: https://coltaf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
Discretionary Grants
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~April
Based on past cycles
Emergency Grant Funding
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Pro Bono Grants
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Expected ~April
Based on past cycles
Who Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Colorado Legal Services ($8.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 67 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
COLTAF’s stated grantmaking priorities and programs focus on Colorado. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 17 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $170K; repeat grants $625K. How we count
Medians: $170K first-time, $100K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2021) to $9.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $9.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Legal Services Colorado Springs, CO | Program support | $7,961,125 |
| Colorado Access to Justice Commission Denver, CO | Program support | $350,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network Westminster, CO | Program support | $330,208 |
| Colorado Center on Law and Policy Denver, CO | Program support | $150,000 |
| Spero Justice Center Denver, CO | Program support | $140,000 |
| Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center Denver, CO | Program support | $120,000 |
| Colorado Poverty Law Project Denver, CO | Program support | $110,000 |
| Metro Volunteer Lawyers Denver, CO | Program support | $110,000 |
| Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center Colorado Springs, CO | Program support | $100,000 |
| Alpine Legal Services Glenwood Springs, CO | Program support | $90,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $32,243,504 | $20,932,916 | $10,091,973 | $9,721,000 | 17 | $1,369,083 |
| 2024 | $27,532,558 | $20,237,016 | $9,939,642 | $9,684,948 | 17 | $863,357 |
| 2023 | $15,689,108 | $11,405,287 | $6,137,154 | $5,891,600 | 11 | $262,590 |
| 2022 | $7,198,603 | $1,861,960 | $2,640,590 | $2,409,600 | 11 | $48,466 |
| 2021 | $8,235,540 | $1,930,661 | $2,507,849 | $2,345,100 | 11 | $59,165 |
| 2020 | $8,413,443 | $4,202,896 | $4,393,522 | $4,184,843 | 11 | $133,134 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to fund legal services, pro bono, and legal education projects. Its website identifies four funding priorities: assisting with legal services for seniors and low-income Coloradans; improving the delivery of legal services; promoting knowledge and awareness of the law; and improving the administration of justice.
COLTAF says that generally 80% of grant funds go to Colorado Legal Services, the state’s primary civil legal aid provider, with the remaining 20% distributed through competitive discretionary and pro bono programs. Its grantees include organizations with varied roles. For example, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network says it provides free immigration legal and social services to people in civil immigration detention and to children and families in Colorado. Colorado Poverty Law Project says it works to prevent homelessness through legal representation, education, and advocacy. Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center says it provides free legal clinics, community legal events, and referrals for pro bono or reduced-cost representation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, COLTAF reported 17 grants totaling $9,721,000. The grants ranged from $9,500 to $7,961,125, with a median award of $100,000. The largest grant was $7,961,125 to Colorado Legal Services for program support. Other notable awards included $350,000 to Colorado Access to Justice Commission, $330,208 to Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, $150,000 to Colorado Center on Law and Policy, and $140,000 to Spero Justice Center, all for program support.
COLTAF’s website says applicants may request general support or funding for a specific process. Discretionary and pro bono applications are submitted through its online grant portal, and organizations applying for both types must submit separate applications. Current grantees applying in the 2026 cycle were required to upload their completed 2025 grant report; that cycle’s April 1, 2026 deadline has passed. The website says to contact staff before applying and indicates that the next application period will open in spring 2027.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sam Niebrugge as president, Elizabeth A Och as vice president, Erin M Eiselein as secretary, and Kim Eilber as treasurer. It also lists Amanda Hopkins, Angela D Boykins, Ben Sparks, C Adam Foster, Chris Nicholl, and Clarissa Collier as trustees.
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation is led by Sam Niebrugge, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 19 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sam Niebrugge
President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Bates-Rogers
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M Johnson
Trustee
Vice President → President, 2024
President → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trung Nguyen
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela D Boykins
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William J Martinez
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
C Adam Foster
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clarissa Collier
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey M Kane
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Gifford
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew R Baca
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Nicholl
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Hopkins
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Sparks
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Klaralee R Charlton
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Patrick
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin M Eiselein
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth A Och
Vice President
Director → Trustee, 2024
Trustee → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Eilber
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Chuong M Le (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Diana M. Poole (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: J Steven Patrick (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Aigler (2023) — Director
- Former: David Schafer (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Ilene L. Bloom (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jonathan D. Asher (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Keith D. Lapuyade (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Madison Stinnett (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Bruce L. Plotkin (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Elizabeth H. Titus (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Janette L. Ferguson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Josh W. Mack (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jessica A. Ryan (2020) — Director
- Former: Mary A. Wells (2020) — President
- Former: Winston P. Crowley (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation
How much does Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation give each year?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation gave $9.7M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $9.7M across 17 grants.
What is Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's typical grant size?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $571,824, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation that year got $170K on average.
Where does Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation give grants?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (7 grants) and Colorado Springs, CO (3 grants).
Does Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program support" (17 grants).
Who are Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's largest grantees?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Colorado Legal Services ($7,961,125), Colorado Access to Justice Commission ($350,000) and Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network ($330,208), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation reported $32.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.9M.
What does Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to fund legal services, pro bono, and legal education projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation?
Submit an application through COLTAF’s online grant portal during the application period. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's EIN?
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2250921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-lawyer-trust-account-foundation-morg_f3b21792089c4dd6bfe654fbd65a7f53
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_742250921_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/colorado-lawyer-trust-account-foundation-morg_f3b21792089c4dd6bfe654fbd65a7f53},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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