Michigan State Bar Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Michigan State Bar Foundation supports civil legal services and the administration of justice in Michigan.
IP TAKE: This is an accessible grantmaker for nonprofits throughout the state of Michigan that support underserved populations with legal services.
PROFILE: Established in 1947, the Michigan State Bar Foundation (MSBF) is an organization of legal professionals based in Lansing, Michigan. Past State Bar of Michigan president Glenn Gillespie, and other organizational leaders, created the foundation to focus on civil legal aid for the poor. MSBF’s funding derives from an Interest on Lawyers Trust account and private donations. The foundation “provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution.”
The Michigan State Bar Foundation looks to improve the criminal justice system through leadership and grantmaking. It mostly funds civic legal aid programs to assure fairness in the justice system. These legal aid programs assist with over 50,000 cases for low-income people in Michigan each year. Other MSBF interests include educating adults and children about their legal rights and responsibilities, as well as resolving conflicts outside of the courtroom and making improvements to the justice system. MSBF also administers the Access to Justice Fund in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan to increase resources for regional and statewide legal aid programs.
Grants range between about $2,000 and $25,000, and funding is exclusive to Michigan. Past local grantees include Michigan Community Resources, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan and the Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and uses an online system to receive requests. For civic legal services to the poor, annual operating grants have an October deadline, and project grants have deadlines in December and April. The deadlines for administration of justice grants are also in December and April. Direct general questions to the staff at msbf@msbf.org or 517-346-6400.
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