The Illinois Bar Foundation seeks to provide grants to organizations across the state that improve and facilitate the administration of justice and foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the legal profession. Nonprofit organizations wishing to submit proposals to the Illinois Bar Foundation should review these guidelines to determine their eligibility and the application process.

Eligibility
The Illinois Bar Foundation awards grants only to 501(c)(3) organizations serving the State of Illinois. Bar Associations, though 501(c)(6) organizations, are encouraged to apply for project support. Bar Associations are encouraged to call the Foundation staff prior to submission for specific instructions.

Preferred Activities
The Illinois Bar Foundation prefers projects that:

• Encourage and promote legal assistance to poor, elderly and disadvantaged people
• Encourage pro bono legal work
• Reduce the incidents of domestic violence
• Make the court system more accessible and transparent to the public, especially those projects involving children
• Reduce recidivism of juvenile and adult offenders

The Foundation may also fund programs that:

• Strengthen the court system or the administration of justice
• Help members of the public understand their rights and responsibilities under the law
• Enhance the ethical and professional practice of law

The Illinois Bar Foundation prefers projects that have a statewide or regional impact. Programs with a local impact must show evidence of the significance of the program to the locality and local support for the project.

The Illinois Bar Foundation prefers projects that are new or innovative approaches that require "seed money" to launch and programs that are the result of collaboration between multiple organizations.

Disfavored or Excluded Activities
The Illinois Bar Foundation does not favor grant awards for:

• Additions to endowments.
• Continuing legal education programs, unless they are experimental or promote pro bono services.
• Operating expenses, unless the organization's mission fits squarely within the preferred activities of the Foundation.

The Illinois Bar Foundation will not fund grant applications for:

• Projects with no nexus to the State of Illinois
• Political campaigns, election activities or other political activities that are inconsistent with the organization's tax-exempt status.
• Fundraising benefits or mass appeal solicitations (However, the Foundation reserves the right to participate in organizations' fundraising benefits with funds outside the traditional grants program when it deems necessary or appropriate).
• Individuals (unless made through the Foundation's Subsistence Program)
• Fraternal groups
• Individual places of worship
• Sectarian organizations (unless participation in the program is not limited by religion)
• Individual pre-K – 12 schools (public or private)
• Individual Scouting organizations
• Scholarships for individuals (unless made through the Foundation's regular scholarship program)

• Right-click here and select "save target as..." to download an application form in Microsoft Word.
• Submit only one application per organization per fiscal year.
• Send three copies of the application and required materials.
• Do not fax or e-mail grant applications.
• Do not use spiral binding, folders or special covers.
• Review Application Check List to ensure the submission of all materials. Applications will not be considered complete until all materials are received.

Application Deadline
Applications are due to the Illinois Bar Foundation by 5:00 p.m. on October 1^st. If October 1^st falls on a weekend, applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on the following Monday.

Timeline for Application & Review
Proposals submitted by the October 1 deadline will be reviewed at the Foundation's April Board of Directors meeting. The Foundation reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, at any time, in its sole discretion. The Foundation generally receives substantially more requests than it can fund and there is no guarantee that any particular project or organization will receive funding. We encourage you to call if you have questions about these guidelines or about a particular proposal.

Grant Evaluation Criteria
Proposals submitted to the Illinois Bar Foundation will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The relative importance of the program to the Foundation's preferred activities.
• The impact of the program on the issue it addresses.
• The availability of funding from other sources.
• Whether Foundation funding will leverage funds from other sources.
• Whether the organization is efficient and well managed.
• The capability of the program to successfully manage the program.
• Whether the organization is doing an effective job of coordinating its services with other similar organizations.
• The involvement of the legal community in the program.
• Whether the organization has mechanisms in place to regularly evaluate and improve the services it provides.
• Whether the Foundation grant will have a material impact on the organization's operating budget.

Grant Disbursement
Grants of $10,000 or more will be disbursed in semi-annual installments. Mid-term reports will be required to release additional funds.

Conditions of Illinois Bar Foundation Grants

• All materials submitted to the Foundation become the property of the Foundation and will not be returned. Information contained in the proposals submitted may be shared with third parties and outside organizations as part of the Foundation's review process.
• The Foundation, in its discretion, may request a site visit and/or additional information to assist in its review and evaluation of the proposal.
• The Illinois Bar Foundation reserves the property rights, copyrights and all other rights of reproduction with respect to any intellectual property for which service is provided as a condition of this grant
• Grant awards must be used strictly in accordance with the proposal and budget submitted in writing to the Foundation. A grant recipient must petition the Foundation for permission to make any changes or alternate use of grant funds.
• If there are significant changes in a grant recipient's mission, structure or personnel (especially management staff) during the grant period, that grant recipient must notify the Foundation as soon as possible.
• Foundation funds must be expended within 12 months of the date of the award. The Executive Director may grant a six-month extension if there has been a good-faith effort to complete the project.
• Grant recipients are responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and for maintaining adequate supporting records consistent with generally accepted accounting practices.

Reporting Requirements
All grant recipients must submit a detailed final report on their activities by April 1 of the following year. Grant recipients of awards greater than $10,000 must submit a brief mid-term report on their activities on or by October 1. No checks will be released without the submission and approval of mid-term reports. Please do not submit reports via e-mail or fax. Please do not submit reports in binders or otherwise bind the report.

Grant recipients receiving multi- year grants are required to submit a detailed progress report at each 1-year interval after approval of the grant for the life of the grant. Payment of the next grant installment will not be made until receipt of the required progress report and approval by the Foundation that the organization is effectively carrying out the purposes of the grant.