Boston Bar Foundation IOLTA Grants

Funder: Boston Bar Foundation (charitable affiliate of Boston Bar Association)

Geographic Scope: Greater Boston area

Funding Source: Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and John & Abigail Adams Benefit proceeds

Mission: To promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in legal services, enhancing access to justice for the underserved, and supporting the public interest activities of the bar.

Funding Objectives

The BBF invites applications from eligible non-profit organizations for projects that advance the following objectives:

• Provide civil legal services to low-income persons and/or underserved populations, especially organizations and programs that address an unmet legal need
• Develop and strengthen pro bono programs which generate substantial voluntary legal services by the private bar to low-income and underserved populations
• Enhance the administration of justice in Massachusetts by improving the courts' effectiveness, addressing systemic problems in the court system, or providing information to low-income, underserved, or special needs populations regarding their legal rights and/or accessibility to the courts

Eligible Applicants

• Non-profit organizations in the Greater Boston area
• Organizations serving vulnerable and historically marginalized populations including: transgender and non-binary communities, domestic violence survivors, immigrants, prisoners, communities of color, low-income families, elderly, disabled persons, homeless individuals, asylum seekers, veterans, artists, and youth

Focus Areas

Grants support organizations working in:

• Civil rights and civil liberties
• Housing and homelessness
• Education law
• Access to public benefits
• Domestic violence services
• Immigration and asylum services
• Prisoner rights and criminal justice reform
• Family law
• Arts legal services
• Veterans services
• Youth justice and education advocacy

Contact Information

Summer Colley

• Phone: 617-778-1938
• Email: [email protected]

Ron Simms, Jr., Director of Communications

• Email: [email protected]

Boston Bar Association

• Address: 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108
• Phone: (617) 742-0615

Recent Grant History

• 2021: $1,200,000 distributed to 26 organizations
• 2020: $1,172,500 distributed to 25 organizations
• Recent years show consistent annual distributions ranging from approximately $1.1M to over $2M

Application Process

1. Application Period Opens: January 31st (typically)
2. Application Deadline: February 28th (typically)
3. Check Website: Download application once period opens at bostonbar.org
4. Submit Application: Return completed application to Boston Bar Foundation

Contact for Questions

• Summer Colley
  • Phone: 617-778-1938
  • Email: [email protected]

Note: Specific application materials and detailed requirements should be obtained directly from the foundation when the application period opens.