Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (LTF) Grant

The Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (LTF) provides essential financial support to non-profit organizations that offer free legal aid to low-income residents. Funded through the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and attorney fees, LTF aims to enhance access to justice across Illinois. The fund prioritizes diverse service delivery methods and addresses critical legal needs such as housing, health, and family stability, ensuring equitable participation for marginalized communities.

NOTE: Deadline for requesting pre-application waiver of one-attorney requirement is represented by the pre-proposal deadline.
Illinois Supreme Court, the Lawyers Trust Fund receives revenue from the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program; a portion of the annual registration fee paid by Illinois attorneys; and the remittance of unidentified funds from IOLTA accounts. LTF uses the income from these sources to support the provision of direct legal aid services to low-income Illinoisans with civil legal problems.LTF Grantmaking Goals LTF makes grants to Illinois non-profit organizations that provide legal aid services free of charge to low-income families and individuals residing in Illinois. LTF awards grants annually, on a calendar- year basis.
In allocating grant funds and making awards to individual organizations, LTF prioritizes the following broad goals:
Supporting the availability of legal aid services throughout the state.Encouraging the use of a variety of methods to deliver services (e.g., advice desks, brief service projects, neighborhood clinics, unbundled representation, technology-based tools, extended representation by staff and volunteer attorneys).Supporting legal services that address the most critical needs of low-income individuals and families, including health, personal safety, family stability, housing, and economic security.Supporting legal services that assist low-income individuals and families in overcoming the impacts of historical discrimination and systemic barriers to meeting critical needs, and helping them attain full and equitable participation in society.Supporting legal services to meet critical needs that otherwise would not be addressed due to geographic location, area of the law, and/or client characteristics