Louisville Bar Foundation Grant

The Louisville Bar Foundation Grant supports projects that enhance legal services accessibility for low-income individuals and promote public legal education. Since its inception in 1981, the Foundation has awarded over $2.9 million in grants and aims to address immediate legal needs while fostering long-term improvements in the justice system. Eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized and have a sponsoring attorney, ensuring active volunteer participation and community involvement.

The Louisville Bar Foundation was established in 1981 as the charitable giving arm of the Louisville Bar Association. The LBF has distributed more than $2.9 million in grants to local organizations, and the endowment has increased to $3 million. The Foundation is supported by contributions from attorneys, law firms and corporations.
The LBF invests in innovative projects and initiatives through its grants process and helps to meet immediate legal needs in our community while also strengthening the pro bono and legal aid system and making longer-term systemic improvements in access to justice. Grants are awarded through a comprehensive screening and evaluation process that is overseen by our board of lawyers and judges. Organizations considering applying for a grant from the LBF are encouraged to first review the following eligibility requirements and funding priorities.
Funding Priorities
The Louisville Bar Foundation accepts grant applications for projects that fulfill one or more of the following objectives:
Projects that improve access to the legal system by persons of limited financial means, and if possible, produce a tangible product that can be distributed to the public;Projects that promote better access to legal information and improved perception of the justice system by minorities;Projects that improve the operation of, and public confidence in, the Jefferson County courts;Projects that provide public education about our legal system and promote a positive image of the legal profession.

Eligibility

All grant applications must be “sponsored” by an attorney who is a current member of the Louisville Bar Association. The sponsoring attorney must agree to be an active volunteer participant in the proposed project. A letter of endorsement from the sponsoring attorney must accompany the application. The LBF gives preference to projects with significant volunteer involvement by attorneys.Grant applications are accepted from organizations that are recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or similar exempt organizations.Non-profit organizations must be in good standing with the Secretary of State’s office.Grant requests for otherwise qualified multi-year projects or for staff positions will be considered, but the applicant must provide specific, detailed information about plans to secure future funding for the project or position. Multi-year funding from the LBF is rare, and is restricted to several pre-selected organizations which have a long-standing relationship with the Foundation. Successive annual requests for funding by an organization may be viewed by the LBF as a multi-year request.Grants requests for programs operated by faith-based or religious organizations will be considered for funding if:the specific program run by the faith-based or religious organization is open to people of all faiths,service decisions are not based on a particular client’s faith or religion, the organization’s staff do not promote a particular faith or religion to people served,the organization’s policies and practices do not discriminate against legally protected classes of individuals.

Ineligibility

Grants will not be made to individuals.Regardless of the nature or work of the requesting organization, the LBF does not fund grant requests: for capital construction projects,for endowment campaigns,to purchase tickets or sponsorships for charitable dinners, golf tournaments or other special events.No funds provided by the LBF may be used for the support of any political campaign, election activity, or other political activities that are inconsistent with the organization’s tax-exempt status.The LBF will not fund organizations or programs that use race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, national origin, veteran status, or any other protected classification as a basis to deny services to qualifying individuals who seek assistance that falls within the scope of the organization’s mission.