New York Bar Foundation General Grants Program

The New York Bar Foundation awards charitable and educational grants to support law-related programs of legal services organizations, nonprofits, bar associations, and other organizations throughout New York State.

Geographic Scope: New York State, including all 12+ judicial districts

Focus Areas:

• Access to justice and education
• Domestic violence prevention
• Elder law assistance
• Family law matters
• Housing and homelessness prevention
• Veterans affairs
• Healthcare issues
• Food and sustenance benefits assistance
• Debt collection and consumer debt relief
• Immigration services
• Racial equity initiatives
• COVID-19 legal assistance (in pandemic period)
• Human trafficking
• LGBTQ+ youth services
• Asylum-seeking and immigrant services
• Attorney well-being and mental health support

Eligible Applicants: Legal services organizations, nonprofits, bar associations, and other law-related organizations throughout New York State

Grant Range: Typically $5,000 to $15,000 per recipient

Recent Award Totals:

• 2023: $600,000+ to 95 organizations
• 2022: $600,000+ to nearly 100 organizations
• 2021: $700,000+ to over 100 organizations
• Grants served 1.2+ million people and benefited 2.7+ million neighbors in 2023

Background: The New York Bar Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organization that receives charitable contributions from state bar members and other donors. Over $1 million in grant requests received annually.