Allegheny County Bar Foundation Grants: Fellows GIVE Grants

The Allegheny County Bar Foundation (ACBF) addresses the justice gap in Allegheny County by providing grants to innovative organizations supporting families in need. In 2022, ACBF awarded $60,000 to six legal aid programs focused on critical issues such as refugee services and tenant rights. The grant process includes a Letter of Inquiry followed by in-person pitches to ACBF Fellows, fostering creative proposals aimed at enhancing legal representation for underserved communities.

More than 11% of families in Allegheny County and 19% of families in the City of Pittsburgh live in poverty and struggle to get basic necessities for themselves and their families. Even those who have a slightly higher income may be unable to afford major expenses, including quality legal representation.
The ACBF supports organizations in Allegheny County that are working to close the justice gap through innovative programs and projects. Each year, the Foundation awards grants made possible by the members of Fellows GIVE in an effort to sustain and expand the legal assistance available to residents of Allegheny County who otherwise could not afford representation. In 2022, the Foundation’s Fellows awarded $60,000 in grants to 6 legal aid programs of varying focus, including refugee services, support for survivors of intimate partner violence, access to education, tenants rights, and more projects that are meeting crucial and urgent needs in our community.
Fixed-amount grant awards are distributed annually to approved grantees. Each application cycle, there will be a set number of grant awards available at the same amount.
The grant application process involves two rounds: first, a Letter of Inquiry submitted online; second, an opportunity for invited applicants to pitch the program in-person to ACBF Fellows, who fund the grants program. Pitches will be delivered live at a private event, and Fellows will vote on the programs they want to fund after hearing the proposals. Pitches will be limited to 3-5 minutes in length, and applicants are encouraged to think creatively on how to propose their program. Audio/Visual technology is not permitted for the pitches – please, no keynotes. Information from the LOI will be published for ACBF Fellows to review ahead of the pitch event to get a basic understanding of the organization and the proposed project/program.

Eligibility

Organizations in Allegheny County that are working to close the justice gap through innovative programs and projects.