Texas Access to Justice Foundation Grant: Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA)

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation Grant, established in 1984, supports legal aid for low-income Texans through the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. This nonprofit organization funds approximately 40 groups providing free civil legal assistance, helping over 100,000 individuals annually with issues like domestic violence and housing. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on civil legal services, while individuals and certain legal actions are ineligible for funding.

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation is the leading funder of legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their income.
The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984 to administer the newly implemented Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. Since then, TAJF has diversified its funding sources to include public funding and private donations.
The Foundation grants millions of dollars per year to approximately 40 organizations statewide that provide free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans. With TAJF grants, legal aid organizations provide free legal assistance in civil matters, such as protection from domestic violence and assistance with housing issues, to more than 100,000 low-income Texans each year.
Grants
On behalf of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Foundation administers the following funds:

• Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA)Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS)Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS)
• Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA)

On behalf of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Foundation administers the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program, established in 1984 by the Supreme Court of Texas. The IOLTA program allows attorneys to pool short-term or nominal deposits made on behalf of clients or third parties into one account. Interest generated by these accounts is dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that provide free civil Legal Aid to low-income Texans.
For the distribution of IOLTA funds, the Foundation defines low-income as those who live at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
What kind of assistance do Foundation grantees provide?
Grantees provide civil Legal Aid to indigent Texans who cannot otherwise afford an attorney. These individuals may receive legal assistance in consumer matters, employment, divorce, adoption, access to health care and public benefits, housing, individual rights, and wills and estates.

Eligibility

Who may receive funding?Prospective grantees must be nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations that have as a primary purpose the delivery of civil legal services to low-income Texans.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not grant funds to individuals.IOLTA funds may not be used:to directly fund class action lawsuits; to directly fund lawsuits against governmental entities, except by individuals to gain benefits authorized by statute or regulation; to support lobbying for a candidate or issue; and in matters that might reasonably be expected to result in a fee from public funds or from an opposing party unless appropriate attempts have been made to obtain representation from an attorney in private practice.