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Fayette County Bar Foundation Grant Program

FAYETTE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION

Foundation Annual Human Rights Grants

Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

September 15, 2026

161 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Fayette County Bar Foundation Grant Program

Geographic Scope: Fayette County, Kentucky

Mission: Raise and distribute charitable funds for law-related projects and education in Fayette County, Kentucky; for improvement of the judiciary, the administration of justice; the legal profession and access to the justice system; and for the encouragement of FCBA members' involvement in the charitable activities of the community.

Funding Priorities

The Foundation will accept grant applications for projects that address its mission and fulfill one or more of the following objectives:

  • Projects that improve access to the legal system by persons of limited financial means
  • Projects that promote better access to legal information and the improved perception of the justice system by minorities
  • Projects that improve the operation of, and public confidence in, the Fayette County courts
  • Projects that provide public education about our legal system and promote a positive image of the legal profession
  • Projects that stimulate volunteer participation by Fayette County area attorneys

Eligible Applicants

  • Organizations recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or similar exempt organizations
  • Grants will not be made to individuals
  • Grant applications must be "sponsored" by an attorney who is a current member of the Fayette County Bar Association
  • The sponsoring attorney must agree to be an active volunteer participant in the project

Ineligible Projects

Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Foundation will not fund:

  • Capital construction projects

  • Endowment campaigns

  • Ticket purchases or sponsorships for charitable dinners, golf tournaments, or other special events, regardless of the nature of the work of the requesting organization

  • Multi-year funding (while the Foundation will consider requests for multi-year funding, selecting such an organization for such a grant will be the exception and not the rule)
  • Selection Criteria

    Grant applications will be evaluated based on:

    • Does the project meet eligibility requirements?
    • Is the project law-related? (Law-related projects receive priority)
    • What is the significance of the scope and impact of the project?
    • How many people will the project reach or serve, and can the impact be measured or tracked?
    • Does the proposal include a clear, detailed plan of action for implementation within the allowed timeframe?
    • Does the applicant have other sources of funding? (Foundation is inclined to fund stable organizations with other funding sources)
    • Will the project generate or encourage significant volunteer activity by attorneys?
    • Is this project part of a "bigger story" that will catch attention of the bar or public, or advance a significant issue within the legal community?

    Award Notification

    • Grants are awarded annually
    • Awards are announced each year by December 15th
    • Awards are announced at the subsequent Law Day banquet in May

    Contact Information

    Mailing Address:
    Fayette County Bar Foundation
    110 W. Vine Street, Suite 415
    Lexington, Kentucky 40507

    Email for Additional Documents:
    kris@smithmullins.com

    How to Apply

    Grant Application Process

    Application Deadlines:

  • Completed application packets must be received by September 15th each year to be eligible for a grant

  • Applications are accepted at any time
  • Online Application:

    Applications submitted online must be accompanied by:
    1. A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring FCBA attorney
    2. If applicable, copies of the audited or unaudited financial statements of the applicant organization
    3. Additional documents should be emailed to: kris@smithmullins.com

    Mail-In Application:

    Applications submitted by mail should be accompanied by:
    1. A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring FCBA attorney
    2. A project budget
    3. If applicable, copies of the audited or unaudited financial statements of the applicant organization
    4. A roster of the Board of Directors of the organization

    Application Review Process:

    1. The Foundation will acknowledge in writing the receipt of each application
    2. If the application meets the minimum requirements established by the Foundation, the application will be reviewed by the Grants Committee
    3. Applicants may be contacted for additional information or a site visit
    4. Based upon the review of the Grants Committee, a recommendation regarding funding will be made to the Fayette County Bar Foundation Board of Directors
    5. The Board approves all grant awards
    6. Notification of grant awards will be made in writing

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    human-rights

    Categories

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