Michigan State Bar Foundation
The Michigan State Bar Foundation is a public charity based in Lansing, Michigan. Established in 1947 by lawyers and judges, it provides leadership and grants to improve access to the justice system, with its largest grant program supporting civil legal aid for low-income households.
Michigan State Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Michigan State Bar Foundation gave $22.1M across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $402K), mostly in Michigan. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $22,123,044
- +80.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +12.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $402,237
- +60.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $122,133
- Total assets
- $56,892,930
- +41.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (3 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (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 Michigan State Bar Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit through the Foundation’s online grant portal after requesting access as described above.
- Review Cycle
- Civil legal aid annual operating grant submissions are due October 9, 2026. Administration of Justice project grant deadlines are October 9, 2026; February 5, 2027; May 7, 2027; and October 8, 2027.
- Deadline
- Civil legal aid annual operating grant submissions are due October 9, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 306 Townsend Street, Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 346-6400
Website: https://msbf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Michigan State Bar Foundation
Administration of Justice Grants
Michigan State Bar Foundation
Amount
US $12,000 - US $15,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Civil Legal Aid for Low-Income Households Project Grants
Michigan State Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Civil Legal Services for Low-Income Households
Michigan State Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Michigan State Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lakeshore Legal Aid ($5.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $20.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
252 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 252 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grantmaking supports Michigan residents. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Michigan State Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 26 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $959K. How we count
Medians: $26K first-time, $271K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.9M (2019) to $22.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $22.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Legal Aid Warren, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction | $4,338,671 |
| Lakeshore Legal Aidcounsel and Advocacy Law Line Warren, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households | $1,801,640 |
| Lakeshore Legal Aidmetro Warren, MI | Mshda - edp - legal services for low-income households facing eviction | $1,777,996 |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction | $1,705,015 |
| Michigan Advocacy Program Ypsilanti, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction | $970,500 |
| Legal Services of Eastern Michigan Flint, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction | $916,301 |
| Legal Aid of Western Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Mshda - edp - legal services for low-income households facing eviction | $796,438 |
| Michigan Legal Services Detroit, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction | $794,945 |
| Lakeshore Legal Aid Warren, MI | Legal Services for Low-Income Households | $771,710 |
| Michigan Advocacy Programmichigan Poverty Law Program Ypsilanti, MI | Improvements in Delivery of Legal Services | $692,623 |
Ready to take the next step with Michigan State Bar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,892,930 | $25,552,675 | $23,918,318 | $22,123,044 | 55 | $931,160 |
| 2024 | $40,164,129 | $29,616,731 | $13,778,507 | $12,278,071 | 49 | $1,107,709 |
| 2023 | $19,720,425 | $19,857,772 | $14,032,060 | $12,847,652 | 38 | $438,663 |
| 2022 | $11,655,602 | $12,794,353 | $13,406,074 | $12,252,265 | 46 | $375,517 |
| 2021 | $14,254,116 | $12,232,628 | $12,229,382 | $11,228,238 | 64 | $389,110 |
| 2020 | $14,729,028 | $5,949,555 | $5,822,816 | $4,837,903 | 44 | $369,174 |
| 2019 | $13,976,475 | $3,371,017 | $3,811,597 | $2,922,508 | 41 | $354,349 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid for low-income individuals, law-related education, and conflict resolution.
Its website describes recurring annual operating grants to four statewide and six regional nonprofit legal aid programs, as well as project grants through its Administration of Justice program. Priorities for those projects include educating children and adults about legal rights and the justice system, creating opportunities for conflict and dispute resolution, and supporting civil legal aid.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. Lakeshore Legal Aid says it fights poverty and injustice through advocacy and access to the legal system. Legal Aid of Western Michigan says it protects rights, challenges injustice, and fights poverty through free legal advocacy. Michigan Advocacy Program says it works to increase access to justice and advance systemic solutions for people affected by poverty, racism, and other oppressive systems.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 55 grants totaling $22,123,044. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $4,338,671, with a median of $122,133. The largest reported awards included $4,338,671 to Lakeshore Legal Aid for legal services for low-income households facing eviction; $1,801,640 to Lakeshore Legal Aid for legal services for low-income households; $1,705,015 to Legal Aid of Western Michigan for legal services for low-income households facing eviction; and $970,500 to Michigan Advocacy Program for legal services for low-income households facing eviction.
The Foundation’s website says it accepts grant applications through an online portal. For civil legal aid grants, applicants must request portal access at least one week before the deadline and provide a brief project description or summary. For Administration of Justice grants, applicants are asked to send a brief project description or summary and questions about the criteria at least two weeks before the deadline. The Foundation’s criteria favor innovative projects benefiting Michigan residents, with collaboration, evaluation, and potential for continuity or wider application. Grants are not made for political campaigns, lobbying, or political advocacy, or to support religious activities. Grants are generally not made to individuals, for endowment or capital campaigns, to repay loans, as substitutes for other funds, for continuing operating support or projects exceeding three years, or for general overhead above 10% of the grant amount.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Karen Leppanen Miller, Steven G. Howell, Michael L. Pitt, Thomas W. Cranmer, Hon. William B. Murphy, Nicole M. Wotlinski, Hon. Victoria A. Roberts, Richard A. Soble, Robert F. Riley, and Jonathan E. Osgood.
Michigan State Bar Foundation is led by Jennifer S. Bentley, Executive Director, Assistant Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer S. Bentley
Executive Director, Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
47 hrs/week
$143K (2019) → $186K (2025)
Craig H. Lubben
President
Vice President & Trustee → Trustee & President, 2022
Trustee & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan E. Osgood
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael L. Pitt
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard A. Soble
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas W. Cranmer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria A. Roberts
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William B. Murphy
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Behm
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Leppanen Miller
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert F. Riley
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven G. Howell
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole M. Wotlinski
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Traci L. Thrana-Kuiper
CFO
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$43K (2024) → $131K (2025)
Julie I. Fershtman
Vice President
Secretary & Trustee → Vice President & Trustee, 2022
Vice President & Trustee → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard K. Rappleye
Treasurer
Treasurer & Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronda L. Tate Truvillion
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary & Trustee, 2022
Secretary & Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: W. Anthony Jenkins (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Laura C. Musachio (2024) — Atj Campaign Coordinator
- Former: Jonathan Fowler (2019–2023) — CFO
- Former: Peter H. Ellsworth (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Edward H. Pappas (2019–2022) — President & Trustee
- Former: Elizabeth Pollard Hines (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Bridget M. McCormack (2019–2021) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: H. Rhett Pinsky (2019–2021) — Secretary & Trustee
- Former: Robert J. Buchanan (2019–2021) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: Stefani A. Carter (2019–2021) — Vice President & Trustee
- Former: Dana Warnez (2020–2021) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: James W. Heath (2021) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: Dennis M. Barnes (2019–2020) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: Jennifer M. Grieco (2019) — Executive Officio Trustee
- Former: Lamont E. Buffington (2019) — Treasurer & Trustee
- Former: Richard E. Winder (2019) — Deputy Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $186K, to Jennifer S Bentley (Executive Director, Asst Sec/Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Michigan State Bar Foundation
How much does Michigan State Bar Foundation give each year?
Michigan State Bar Foundation gave $22.1M across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $12.3M across 49 grants.
What is Michigan State Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Michigan State Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $122,133, and its average grant was $402,237, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Michigan State Bar Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Michigan State Bar Foundation give grants?
Michigan State Bar Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (15 grants), Ypsilanti, MI (13 grants), Warren, MI (12 grants) and Grand Rapids, MI (5 grants).
Does Michigan State Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 55 grants with a stated purpose on Michigan State Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Legal Services for Low-Income Households" (18 grants), "Improvements in Delivery of Legal Services" (8 grants) and "Legal Services for Low-Income Households Facing Eviction" (8 grants).
Who are Michigan State Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Michigan State Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lakeshore Legal Aid ($5,110,381 across 2 grants), Legal Aid of Western Michigan ($3,226,515 across 5 grants) and Lakeshore Legal Aidmetro ($2,333,885 across 4 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Michigan State Bar Foundation?
Michigan State Bar Foundation reported $56.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $25.6M.
What does Michigan State Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to provide leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid for low-income individuals, law-related education, and conflict resolution. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michigan State Bar Foundation?
Submit through the Foundation’s online grant portal after requesting access as described above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Michigan State Bar Foundation's EIN?
Michigan State Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-1459016. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 20, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Michigan State Bar Foundation funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Michigan State Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michigan State Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michigan-state-bar-foundation-morg_f6944e1754bb4bfc9113982351c9b48d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_381459016_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michigan State Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michigan-state-bar-foundation-morg_f6944e1754bb4bfc9113982351c9b48d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Michigan State Bar 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.
Michigan State Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?