The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation is a Washington, DC-based public charity that funds, supports, and improves civil legal representation for people with low incomes or who are otherwise underserved in the District. It awards grants to DC-based nonprofit organizations providing free civil legal aid to DC residents.
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: The District of Columbia Bar Foundation gave $31.5M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $450K), mostly in District of Columbia. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $31,510,724
- +20.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $450,153
- +19.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $151,824
- Total assets
- $36,473,218
- +23.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (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 The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation uses an online grants management system for applications and grant administration. Applicants should review the program overview and instructions and the sample application materials for the program before starting an application. The FY2027 application cycle, for grants covering January 1 through December 31, 2027, is a past cycle; the Foundation’s website says applications closed on August 31, 2026.
- Review Cycle
- The FY2027 application deadline was August 31, 2026.
- Deadline
- The FY2027 application deadline was August 31, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Massachusetts Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 467-3750
Website: https://dcbarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
Access to Justice (ATJ) Grants Program
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Access to Justice Initiative - Access to Justice Program
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP)
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The District of Columbia Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Legal Aid Society of DC ($6.9M across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $24.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
336 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 336 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grant programs support DC-based organizations providing free civil legal aid to DC residents. All grant dollars listed in its 2025 filing went to recipients in DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The District of Columbia Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 36 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $98K; repeat grants $921K. How we count
Medians: $98K first-time, $294K 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 $10.6M (2020) to $31.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $31.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid Society of DC Washington, DC | FY25 ATJ Grants | $3,185,451 |
| Legal Aid Society of DC Washington, DC | FY25 CLCPP Grants | $2,912,320 |
| Neighborhood Legal Services Program Washington, DC | FY25 ATJ Grants | $2,357,947 |
| Bread for the City Washington, DC | FY25 ATJ Grants | $1,526,014 |
| Rising for Justice Inc Washington, DC | FY25 CLCPP Grants | $1,467,878 |
| District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center Washington, DC | FY25 ATJ Grants | $1,310,129 |
| Neighborhood Legal Services Program Washington, DC | FY25 CLCPP Grants | $1,250,686 |
| District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center Washington, DC | FY25 CLCPP Grants | $1,131,745 |
| Legal Counsel for the Elderly Washington, DC | FY25 CLCPP Grants | $1,097,776 |
| DC Volunteer Lawyers Project Washington, DC | FY25 ATJ Grants | $1,081,636 |
Ready to take the next step with The District of Columbia Bar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 grant total covers 70 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $36,473,218 | $44,499,655 | $37,100,654 | $31,510,724 | 70 | $842,209 |
| 2024 | $29,607,013 | $42,327,703 | $31,160,834 | $26,089,486 | 69 | $361,321 |
| 2023 | $13,921,702 | $37,014,911 | $30,938,109 | $26,330,523 | 67 | $5,165 |
| 2022 | $5,411,709 | $23,222,286 | $22,748,986 | $19,891,138 | 65 | $3,086 |
| 2021 | $3,658,871 | $13,481,858 | $13,786,328 | $11,225,001 | 65 | $6,231 |
| 2020 | $4,000,614 | $12,762,887 | $12,921,837 | $10,646,000 | 100 | $22,716 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation states that it works to expand access to justice for DC residents with low incomes by using public and private resources to fund and strengthen the civil legal aid network.
General Support grants provide unrestricted operating support, including for overhead costs. ATJ grants support legal assistance in underserved areas, housing-related matters, and a shared legal services interpreter bank. CLCPP grants support legal services for low-income tenants in covered housing matters, including eviction-related proceedings, rent increases, housing code violations, and certain housing subsidy and human rights matters.
The Foundation’s 2025 grants illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia describes its mission as making justice real for people living in poverty and providing civil legal assistance to people who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. Neighborhood Legal Services Program of DC says it helps underserved residents make their voices heard in forums where their rights are at stake. Bread for the City describes providing legal and social services alongside food, clothing, and medical care to DC residents with low incomes.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reported 70 grants totaling $31,510,724 in filing year 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $3,185,451, with a median of $151,824. All listed 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in DC. Among the largest awards were $3,185,451 to the Legal Aid Society of DC for FY25 ATJ grants and $2,912,320 to the same organization for FY25 CLCPP grants; $2,357,947 to Neighborhood Legal Services Program for ATJ grants; and $1,526,014 to Bread for the City for ATJ grants.
The Foundation’s website describes its grants as competitively awarded based on eligibility factors in publicly available application materials. Applications are submitted electronically and include program and financial information and proposed budgets. Its review and monitoring processes include applicant interviews, site visits, financial evaluations, and written programmatic and financial reports. The website says applicants may submit multiple applications, creating one for each project for which they seek funding.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2025 filing lists Benjamin F. Wilson as president; Ronald S. Flagg as vice president; Meredith Fuchs as treasurer; and Gail Makode as secretary. It also lists Wayne T. Gibson, Kim LeBlanc-Ross, Jehan A. Patterson, Angels C. Montez, Melissa Weberman, and Kenyattah Robinson as board members.
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation is led by Kirra Jarratt, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 5 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kirra Jarratt
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$196K (2020) → $429K (2025)
Benjamin F. Wilson
President
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Daryl Byler
Director of Development
Development Director → Director of Development, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2020) → $186K (2025)
Aracelis Gray
Director of Program
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$186K (2024) → $212K (2025)
Farid Forozi
Director of Evaluation & Innovation
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$175K (2025)
Stephanie K. Shain
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$133K (2023) → $242K (2025)
Wayne T. Gibson
Board Member
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald S. Flagg
Vice President
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Fuchs
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tab Stewart
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angels C. Montez
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Weberman
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Makode
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jaya Saxena
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jehan A. Patterson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenyattah Robinson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Pollett
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Leblanc-Ross
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liz Oyer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Parris
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Danielle M. Reyes (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: John P. Relman (2020–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Khesia T. Taylor (2024) — Senior Communications Officer
- Former: Anne Wallestad (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kelly Veney Darnell (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Nathalie F. P. Gilfoyle (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Philip W. Horton (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Vernetta Walker (2022) — Board Member
- Former: David W. Ogden (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Karen A. Lash (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mark E. Herzog (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Connie N. Bertram (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Bruce V. Spiva (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ellen M. Jakovic (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Imoni M. Washington (2020) — Director of Programs
- Former: Paul M. Smith (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $429K, to Kirra Jarratt (Chief Executive Officer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
How much does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation give each year?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation gave $31.5M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $26.1M across 69 grants.
What is The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $151,824, and its average grant was $450,153, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The District of Columbia Bar Foundation that year got $98K on average.
Where does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation give grants?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (70 grants).
Does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "FY25 Private Grants Program" (32 grants), "FY25 ATJ Grants" (30 grants) and "FY25 CLCPP Grants" (7 grants).
Who are The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Legal Aid Society of DC ($6,929,196 across 4 grants), Neighborhood Legal Services Program ($3,731,513 across 3 grants) and Bread for the City ($2,548,324 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The District of Columbia Bar Foundation?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation reported $36.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $44.5M.
What does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation states that it works to expand access to justice for DC residents with low incomes by using public and private resources to fund and strengthen the civil legal aid network. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The District of Columbia Bar Foundation?
The Foundation uses an online grants management system for applications and grant administration. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's EIN?
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1109547. 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 August 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The District of Columbia Bar Foundation funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The District of Columbia Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The District of Columbia Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-district-of-columbia-bar-foundation-morg_2ab2313cc660454f80b42aabbd387127
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521109547_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The District of Columbia Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-district-of-columbia-bar-foundation-morg_2ab2313cc660454f80b42aabbd387127},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 The District of Columbia 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.
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