Legal Aid Grants
Funding Amount
Approximately $500,000 annually
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Geographic Scope: California
Background: According to California statute, California ChangeLawyers distributes approximately $500,000 annually in grants to legal aid organizations across California to increase access to justice.
Distribution Process: ChangeLawyers is mandated to grant awards to organizations deemed eligible by the State Bar of California's Legal Services Trust Fund Commission. The organization does not conduct competitive grant rounds.
Eligible Organizations: 102 legal aid organizations across California have received funding, including organizations serving:
- Immigrants and refugees
- Low-income individuals
- Seniors
- People with disabilities
- Youth
- Incarcerated individuals
- Victims of domestic violence
- Housing/homelessness issues
- Healthcare access
- And other civil legal needs
Contact Information:
- Phone: 415-856-0780
- Address: 1 Embarcadero Center Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94111
- Website: changelawyers.org
How to Apply
Application Process
There is no open RFP for these funds. Organizations cannot apply independently. Eligibility is determined by the State Bar of California's Legal Services Trust Fund Commission.
For Questions: Fill out the contact form at changelawyers.org and the Director of Programs will respond.
Past recipients of this program
Recent awards under this program (from California Changelawyers's IRS filings)
Sacramento, CA · 2023
$111K
California Rural Legal Assistance
Modesto, CA · 2023
$86K
Inland Counties Legal Services
Riverside, CA · 2023
$62K
Berkeley, CA · 2023
$56K
Legal Services of Northern California
Sacramento, CA · 2023
$47K
40 grants in California Changelawyers's 2023 filings reference “Legal Aid Grants” in their stated purpose. Amounts and places as reported by the funder.
What California Changelawyers actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 24
- Total given
- $692K
- Median grant
- $30K
- Range
- $10K–$80K
- By dollars: California 82%, District of Columbia 12%, Illinois 6%. Top recipient cities: Oakland, CA; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 29% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
For the People · Oakland, CA
Legal fellowship
$80K
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area · San Francisco, CA
Legal fellowship
$80K
Equal Justice Works · Washington, DC
Legal fellowship
$42K
American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education · Chicago, IL
Legal empowerment fund
$40K
California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice · Oakland, CA
Legal empowerment fund
$40K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofits
- Immigration
- Human services
- Social services
- Domestic violence
- Housing
- Seniors
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
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ChangeLawyers California Immigration Legal Fellowship
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Varies
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Deadline not published
California Immigration Legal Fellowship
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Deadline not published
Legal Empowerment Fund
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ChangeLawyers Next Gen Scholars Program
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Supplemental Legal Aid for Vulnerable Populations
California Access to Justice Commission
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2026 Older Adult Case Management Grant Campaign
Scan Health Plan
Amount
Up to US $15,000
Deadline
October 30, 2026
Listed date — confirm with the funder
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