Our Work
For 60 years, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation has worked to make justice more accessible for everyone. We support civil legal aid, connect the legal and business communities, and invest in programs that strengthen the legal system. Through funding, fellowships, partnerships, and awards, we help ensure that all people—no matter their background or income—can get the legal help they need.
Strengthening Nonprofit Partners
Through our robust grantmaking, the Bar Foundation provides critical, unrestricted funding to dozens of nonprofit legal aid organizations each year. These partners are on the front lines of civil legal aid—protecting tenants from eviction, helping survivors of abuse, advocating for disability rights, and more. Our support sustains their daily operations and long-term impact, ensuring that people facing poverty, discrimination, or systemic barriers can access the legal help they need. We don’t just fund programs—we strengthen a network of justice.
Building Justice Champions
The Bar Foundation’s programs cultivate the next generation and support current public interest attorneys and leaders. Through fellowships, the Board Observer Program, trainings, and educational forums, we equip legal professionals at every stage with the tools to lead with purpose and advance equity. These programs strengthen ties between the legal and nonprofit sectors and help build a more just and inclusive legal system.
Justice Empowerment
Justice Empowerment is at the core of everything we do. Through strategic initiatives like the Equal Justice Center, we address system-wide barriers to legal access by fostering shared infrastructure, integrated service delivery, and cross-sector collaboration. Our work elevates the capacity of the entire legal aid ecosystem, so that individuals, families, and communities can navigate the justice system with dignity and support. We empower justice not just through service, but through transformation.
Celebrating Justice Champions
The Bar Foundation honors the individuals and organizations that drive change, inspire action, and uphold the values of equal access to justice. Our annual awards spotlight trailblazers in the legal community whose work exemplifies courage, leadership, and commitment to the public good. By recognizing these champions, we amplify their impact—and galvanize our community to join in the pursuit of justice for all.
