The Bar Foundation

Grants

2011 Grant Application

Grant applications for the 2011 grantmaking cycle are due June 17, 2011.

Click here for guidelines and application.

Background

Each year, the Bar Foundation engages in a stringent grant application process and review. We fund only the highest caliber of local legal services providers, and we carefully direct funding within a clear set of priorities:

• Ensuring a fair and just society
• Helping the poor
• Caring for our children and elderly
• Addressing health and disability issues
• Focusing on issues affecting women
• Improving community welfare.

The strength of the Bar Foundation's grantmaking process is derived from our commitment to these priorities and to ensuring the effectiveness of our community's network of legal services providers.

Click here for a list of the Bar Foundation's 2010 Grantees.

The Philadelphia Bar Foundation Grants Committee is comprised of trustees of the Bar Foundation, attorneys in the commonwealth, current and former judges and financial management professionals.

More than 30 legal services organizations are supported annually by the Bar Foundation. We accept proposals for both special projects and general operating support each May.

Our Criteria

Applicant organizations must qualify as tax-exempt non-profits pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Bar Foundation Grants Committee considers proposals using the following criteria:

Does the applicant advance the Bar Foundation's mission to promote access to justice?

• Does the applicant provide free legal representation, or access to free legal representation to members of the community struggling with issues including (but not limited to) poverty, abuse or discrimination?
• Does the applicant provide services that advance the public interest through the legal process?

Is the applicant effective? Among possible measures of effectiveness are:

• Sets goals and pursues an array of strategies and programs to advance its mission;
• Has a reputation for substantive excellence;
• Produces seminal publications;
• Plays a leading role in advancing access to justice;
• Coordinates services with related organizations;
• Receives high marks in client surveys;
• Achieves results on major objectives.

Is the applicant well-managed?

• Has a strategic or business plan;
• Has submitted IRS 990 forms in a timely manner
• Has a strong, supportive, engaged Board;
• Has a development plan that is organized and diversified;
• Has sound financial reports;
• Has a highly qualified staff.

Our Process

Application and Review – Applicants are asked to provide a Proposal Narrative that includes, 1) a description of the project or organization, 2) goals and objectives for the application year, 3) challenges or emerging needs, 4) a detailed budget including recent audit information and, 5) the organization's IRS letter confirming their tax status.

Following the submission deadline, the Grants Committee is convened for application review. A financial management professional performs an in-depth analysis of each organization’s financial statement and may request additional information.

Site Visits and Interviews – The Grants Committee conducts site visits at all new applicant organizations and, approximately every three years, visits organizations that have received on-going grant support from the Bar Foundation. Early each fall, the committee schedules interviews with Executive Directors of applicant organizations.

Prioritizing – Applications are prioritized by the Grants Committee in October and November. Site visit and interview reports, financial review information and grant applications are reviewed by the full committee.

Six key factors are considered in the grantmaking prioritization and decision making process, 1) how well does the applicant meet the criteria set forth in the application, 2) does the applicant have an active Board of Directors and is it financially strong, 3) does the applicant have a Strategic Plan and is it achieving stated goals, 4) is the applicant addressing current needs of the community, 5) what is the current demand for services and, 6) has the applicant's capacity to serve been impacted during the current cycle.

Final decisions – Funding decisions are made in December with input from the Bar Foundation’s Finance Committee and with final approval of the Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Applicants are notified in writing following the Bar Foundation’s December board meeting.

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