The District of Columbia Bar Foundation
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1977 to serve as a vehicle for lawyers and law firms to contribute to legal services organizations in the District of Columbia. The Foundation is the leading funder of civil legal aid in DC and operates from its headquarters at 200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.6M
+112.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.1M
-0.9% YoY
Grant Count
69
+3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$378K
-3.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To fund, support, and improve legal representation of people living in poverty and in vulnerable situations, or who are otherwise underserved in the District of Columbia.
The Foundation operates three primary program areas:
Access to Justice Grants: Beginning in 2007, when the DC Council designated the Foundation as administrator of the Access to Justice Initiative, the Foundation has awarded grants supporting legal assistance in three areas: (a) underserved areas, (b) housing-related matters, and (c) a shared legal services interpreter bank. Since 2007, the Foundation has administered over $115 million in Access to Justice funding.
DC Resource Bridge: Launched in 2020, this initiative aims to make grant investments more effective and ensure civil legal aid delivery is both accessible and responsive to client needs by establishing a user-centered coordinated intake and referral system. The effort was created through collaboration among the Foundation, the legal aid community, DC residents, and other key stakeholders.
General Support Grants: Provides unrestricted operating support to help cover overhead costs such as rent and client record databases.
Grantmaking
The Foundation awards grants annually to DC legal services organizations that provide free civil legal services to District residents with low incomes or who are otherwise underserved.
Review Cycle
before applying.
How to Apply
** Information sessions are held mid-July each year. Prospective applicants can contact grants@dcbarfoundation.org to discuss project deliverables, budgets, or reporting deadlines before applying.
Ready to take the next step with The District of Columbia Bar Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The District of Columbia only.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Revenues: $42,327,703
- Total Expenses: $31,160,834
- Total Assets: $29,607,013
- Number of Employees: 22
Earlier Financial Data (2023):
- Revenue: $37 million
- Expenses: $30.9 million
- Total Assets: $13.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $4.59 million
Funding Sources: Revenue comes from three main sources: the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program (established in 1985 when the District of Columbia Court of Appeals created the District's IOLTA program, which the Foundation administers), private donations from individuals and law firms, and appropriations from the DC Council (which began in 2006).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,607,013 | $13,921,702 | $5,411,709 |
| Revenue | $42,327,703 | $37,014,911 | $23,222,286 |
| Expenses | $31,160,834 | $30,938,109 | $22,748,986 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $361,321 | $5,165 | $3,086 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Access to Justice Initiative - Access to Justice Program
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP)
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Legal Aid Society of Dc ($2,647,564), Neighborhood Legal Services Program ($2,200,028), Bread for the City ($1,267,508).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF DC WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 CLCPP GRANTS | $2,647,564 |
| RISING FOR JUSTICE INC WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 CLCPP GRANTS | $800,000 |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR PRO BONO CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 CLCPP GRANTS | $937,923 |
| BREAD FOR THE CITY WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 CLCPP GRANTS | $1,022,310 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 CLCPP GRANTS | $1,140,478 |
| LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF DC WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 PRIVATE GRANTS PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 PRIVATE GRANTS PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| NETWORK FOR VICTIM RECOVERY DC WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 PRIVATE GRANTS PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| RISING FOR JUSTICE INC WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 PRIVATE GRANTS PROGRAM | $75,000 |
| FIRST SHIFT JUSTICE PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | FY24 PRIVATE GRANTS PROGRAM | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Chief Executive Officer: Kirra L. Jarratt, Esq.
Director of Development & Communications: Daryl Byler (Phone: 202-853-9025)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN F WILSON | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| RONALD S FLAGG | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| WAYNE T GIBSON | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DANIELLE M REYES | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MEREDITH FUCHS | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| ANGELA C MONTEZ | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| GAIL MAKODE | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JEHAN A PATTERSON | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JAYA SAXENA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| MELISSA WEBERMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TAB STEWART | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| JOHN P RELMAN | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KENYATTAH ROBINSON | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| KIRRA JARRATT | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $418,600 |
| JESSE DARYL BYLER | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $172,705 |
| ARACELIS GRAY | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM | 40 | $185,850 |
| STEPHANIE K SHAIN | CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $199,257 |
| KHESIA T TAYLOR | SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER | 40 | $117,157 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced record grant awards in 2025, distributing $30.5 million to 36 DC legal services organizations. This represents an increase from 2024 when $28.04 million was distributed to 35 organizations. The Foundation has emphasized its commitment to ensuring equal access to justice for DC residents regardless of income and continues to expand its coordinated intake and referral systems through the DC Resource Bridge initiative.
DC Bar Foundation Awards $30.5 Million for Legal Assistance in DCSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To fund, support, and improve legal representation of people living in poverty and in vulnerable situations, or who are otherwise underserved in the District of Columbia. The Foundation operates three primary program areas: **Access to Justice Grants:** Beginning in 2007, when the DC Council designated the Foundation as administrator of the Access to Justice Initiative, the Foundation has awarded grants supporting legal assistance in three areas: (a) underserved areas, (b) housing-…
How do I apply for a grant from The District of Columbia Bar Foundation?
The Foundation awards grants annually to DC legal services organizations that provide free civil legal services to District residents with low incomes or who are otherwise underserved. **Recent Grant Activity:** • 2025: $30.5 million awarded to 36 DC legal services organizations • 2024: $28.04 million awarded to 35 organizations • Since inception: More than $208 million in total grants awarded **Application Process:** Information sessions are held mid-July each year. Prospective applicants can …
Where does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation make grants?
The District of Columbia only.
What size grants does The District of Columbia Bar Foundation award?
In 2024, The District of Columbia Bar Foundation awarded 69 grants totaling $26.1M — an average of about $378K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
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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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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