District of Columbia Bar Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The District of Columbia Bar Foundation supports Justice, equality, civic legal aid, training and technical assistance in the D.C. Metro Area.
IP TAKE: This legal-focused funder addresses the needs of the approximately 110,000 D.C. residents living in poverty through topics like unemployment, homelessness, domestic abuse, eviction, disability benefit denials, and other justice infringements.
PROFILE: Established in 1977, the District of Columbia Bar Foundation (DCBF) is a laywers’ bar association foundation based in Washington, D.C. Its purpose is to be a vehicle for local lawyers and law firms to contribute to legal service organizations in the District to help poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged residents. The foundation aims to " fund, support, and improve legal representation of low-income District residents through grants to civil legal aid providers, training and technical assistance for legal aid organizations and their attorneys, and loan repayment assistance for legal aid attorneys.” DCBF funds local efforts for justice, equality, civic legal aid, and training and technical assistance.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement, and Community Development
The District of Columbia Bar Foundation administers the District’s IOLTA program and awards grants for civil legal services and also for loan repayment assistance for poverty lawyers. This foundation focuses on nonprofits that provide free civic legal services to thousands of low-income and underserved local residents. DCBF has three annual grant programs: General Support Grants Program, Access to Justice Grants Program, and the Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program. Additionally, DCBF provides training and technical assistance for legal aid organizations in D.C. and administers the Jerrold Scoutt Award to a lawyer each year.
Past local grantees include the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, School Justice Project, and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $25,000 and $400,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the D.C. Metro Area.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. Check the foundation’s website for information on when the three grants programs are open and accepting new applications. In the past, the applications have been released in July and have been due in August. DCBF uses an online system to receive grant applications. Direct general questions to the staff at 202-467-3750 or info@dcbarfoundation.org.
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