What Types of Work Does the Delaware Bar Foundation Support?

Here at Inside Philanthropy, we’ve covered the work of various bar foundations that are linked to state-specific Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA), including the ones in the District of Columbia, Michigan, Boston and Philadelphia. But the bar foundation in the state of Delaware stands out because of its accessible community grants program that goes beyond the very specific funding these outfits typically offer.

Here’s a look at how the Delaware Bar Foundation (DBF) operates and what this locally-focused funder supports throughout the state.

Some background on DBF

Since 1983, DBF has been supporting legal service agencies that help the poor, giving over $32 million throughout the state over the years. The Delaware Supreme Court authorized the Delaware Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Program nearly 40 years ago to use the interest accruing on lawyers’ aggregated escrow accounts with client deposits. Like other state-specific bar foundations across the U.S., DBF uses IOLTA funds to support its grantmaking and increase access to justice for people living in poverty. This is a unique way to impact the justice system through the work of Delaware attorneys.

The mission of DBF is to provide legal services for people who can’t afford them, promote the research and study of law, help citizens know their rights and responsibilities, and promote public respect for the law. DBF is run by President Kelly Farnan, Executive Director Megan S. Greenburg and a board of directors with about a dozen members.

Who’s getting funding?

Many nonprofits quickly write off bar foundations because they assume these funders only support legal aid societies. This actually is pretty accurate in some places. However, DBF has given grants to a wide range of organizations that have connections to the law, but often do much more than just provide legal aid.

For example, DBF recently awarded a grant to The Warehouse, a teen art center in Wilmington that teaches young people how to interact with police officers safely and effectively. The foundation also recently supported a youth summer book study of a bestselling book about defending people who were wrongly convicted of crimes.

Another DBF grant went to the Seaford District Library to purchase access to an online database that can be used for legal self-help and accessing legal forms. Meanwhile, Project New Start received a DBF grant to support a job readiness and occupational skills program for offenders who are in transition. Other DBF grants have gone toward a mural project created by foster children, bullying prevention in schools, the prevention of child abuse, and job shadowing at a technical school. In addition to grants like these, DBF also hosts a legal ethics writing competition and gives awards to individual legal professionals.

How to get a DBF grant

DBF reviews new grant applications twice a year, around April 1 and October 1. The foundation provides a link to a grant application on its website, which can be completed and submitted via email to the attention of the executive director. All grants are typically $5,000 or less, and the board votes on new grantees at meetings held in June and January. Applicants are notified of the board’s decisions in writing following those meetings.

To learn more about this foundation, check out IP’s full profile of the Delaware Bar Foundation, which is part of our Mid-Atlantic States funding guide.

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