Through its Annual Grants Program, the California Bar Foundation supports efforts to build a better justice system by funding projects that further its mission to champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of California's lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community.

Grant Cycle

Grant Applications should be submitted for projects taking place in 2011. The Application Deadline for the 2010-2011 grant cycle is October 6, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. (the deadline for applications from the State Bar is October 15, 2010, at 4:30 p.m.). Applicants will be notified in writing of the grant decision in December 2010. Grant recipients will receive an award letter setting forth grant payment arrangements, as well as a Grants Condition Form setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant.

Program Eligibility

The Grants Program is open to nonprofit organizations serving the public of California, local, minority, and specialty bar associations, the State Bar of California, and California courts in support of projects that build a better justice system in furtherance of the Foundation's mission. Grants are not awarded to individuals.

Funding Guidelines & Criteria

As in the 2009-2010 grant cycle, the California Bar Foundation will give fewer and larger grants than the $1,000-$5,000 grants that we funded in the past.

• Grant Size: We intend to fund most grants at the $15,000-$25,000 level. The Foundation will continue to support a limited number of smaller projects, typically from smaller organizations, at the $1,000-$10,000 level of funding. If you are a small organization, we encourage you to apply at the lower level of funding.

• Grant Duration: Although most grants will remain single-year allocations, the Foundation will consider two-year grant proposals.

• Priority Areas: For the 2010-2011 funding cycle, priority will be given to projects in the following areas:
  • Rural — projects that improve or increase the delivery of legal services and/or legal education to areas outside of the state's major metropolitan areas;
  • Language Access — projects that improve or increase accessibility to legal services and/or legal education for limited English proficiency clients; and/or
  • Diversity Pipeline — projects that support diversity in the legal profession.

• Particular attention will be paid to:
  • Projects that involve building and improving upon organizational effectiveness, including collaboration with other community organizations, management training, and fund development.
  • Projects supporting diverse, low-income, or under-represented communities;
  • Organizations that have been in existence for at least three years.

Contact Jasmine Guillory, Program Director, at 415-856-0780, ext. 302 or jguillory@calbarfoundation.org with questions.

The Foundation reserves the right to revise, change and expand its funding guidelines and criteria at any time, without notice, and may adopt additional criteria that it chooses not to publish.

Instructions for Submission

1. All portions of the Grant Application (Cover Sheet, responses to the Questionnaire, Signature Page, and all supporting documentation) must be received by the Foundation by 4:30 p.m. on October 6, 2010 (the deadline for State Bar applicants only is 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2010).

2. Applications may be submitted by fax, mail, email (as a PDF), or delivery service to:
   California Bar Foundation
   180 Howard Street
   San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
   Attention: Program Director
   Fax: 415-856-0788
   jguillory@calbarfoundation.org

3. Applications postmarked by the Application Deadline but not received in full by the Application Deadline may not be accepted.

4. An electronic version of the Grant Application is available www.calbarfoundation.org.

Conditions

Successful Applicants will be required to sign a Grant Conditions Form and agree to comply with certain terms and conditions set forth by the Foundation, including but not limited to the following:

1. Provide the Foundation a year-end report describing the use of the entire amount funded and results of evaluations of the Project.

2. Acknowledge the California Bar Foundation on all printed materials and all publicity related to activities supported by Foundation grants.

3. Obtain approval from the Foundation in advance for material variances from either (a) the use of funds of a grant, or (b) the timeframe of the Project, as described in the Grant Application.

4. Provide requested documentation, including financials or evidence of tax status, and accommodate reasonable site visits by the Foundation during the year in which grant funds are used by Applicant.