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Criteria, Instructions and Conditions for Annual Grants

Through its Annual Grants Program, the California Bar Foundation supports efforts to build a better justice system by funding projects in furtherance of its mission to improve access to the justice system, educate the public about legal rights and responsibilities, foster confidence in the rule of law, and promote philanthropy as a core value of the state's lawyers.

Grant Cycle

Grant Applications should be submitted for projects taking place in 2009. The Application Deadline for the 2008-2009 grant cycle is October 1, 2008, at 4:30 p.m. (the deadline for applications from the State Bar is October 22, 2008, at 4:30 p.m.). Applicants will be notified in writing of the grant decision in December 2008. Grant recipients will receive an award letter setting forth grant payment arrangements, and will also receive a Grants Condition Form setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant.

Program Eligibility

The Grants Program is open to nonprofit organizations serving the public of California, local, minority, and specialty bar associations, the State Bar of California, and California courts in support of projects that build a better justice system in furtherance of the Foundation's mission. Grants are not awarded to individuals.

Criteria

For the 2008-2009 funding cycle, priority will be given to the following:

  • Rural — projects that improve or increase the delivery of legal services and/or legal education to areas outside of the state's major metropolitan areas,
  • Language Access — projects that improve or increase accessibility to legal services and/or legal education for limited English proficiency clients, and/or
  • Diversity Pipeline — projects that support diversity in the legal profession.

Preference is given to:

  • Grants of partial, rather than full, funding.
  • Projects in collaboration with other community organizations.
  • Organizations that have been in existence for at least three years.
  • Projects supporting diverse, low income, or underrepresented communities.

The Foundation typically awards one-year grants on a "one-time only" basis but will consider funding a project where expenditures are spent over up to a two-year period. Under special circumstances, further requests for funding will be considered upon submission of a new grant application during a subsequent grant cycle.

Contact the Program Director at 415-856-0780 ext. 302 or jgrove@calbarfoundation.org with questions.

The Foundation reserves the right to revise, change and expand its funding preferences and grant criteria at any time, without notice, and may adopt additional criteria that it chooses not to publish.

Instructions for Submission

  1. All portions of the Grant Application (Cover Sheet, responses to the Questionnaire, Signature Page, and all supporting documentation) must be received by the Foundation by 4:30 p.m. on October 1, 2008 (the deadline for State Bar applicants is 4:30 p.m. on October 22, 2008).

  2. Applications may be submitted by fax, mail, or delivery service to:

      California Bar Foundation
      180 Howard Street
      San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
      Attention: Program Director
      Fax: 415-856-0788
      jgrove@calbarfoundation.org

  3. Applications postmarked by the Application Deadline but not received in full by the Application Deadline may not be accepted.

  4. An electronic version of the Grant Application is available www.calbarfoundation.org.

Conditions

Successful Applicants will be required to sign a Grant Conditions Form and agree to comply with certain terms and conditions set forth by the Foundation, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Provide the Foundation a year-end report describing the use of the entire amount funded and results of evaluations of the Project.

  2. Acknowledge the California Bar Foundation on all printed materials and all publicity related to activities supported by Foundation grants.

  3. Obtain approval from the Foundation in advance for material variances from either (a) the use of funds of a grant, or (b) the timeframe of the Project, as described in the Grant Application.

  4. Provide requested documentation, including financials, and accommodate reasonable site visits by the Foundation during the year in which grant funds are used by Applicant.

California Bar Foundation — 180 Howard Street — San Francisco, CA 94105
www.calbarfoundation.org
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