Profiles of recent grants

Throughout its history, the Ohio State Bar Foundation has provided financial support to organizations and programs designed to translate the mission of the Foundation into reality.

Download Grant Application (PDF) or Grant Agreement (PDF)

Ohio State Bar Foundation Grant Application Procedures

BACKGROUND
The Ohio State Bar Foundation is a public charity committed to advancing the philanthropic interest of Ohio's Lawyers to recognize excellence, improve the justice system and ehance public understanding of the law throughout Ohio. Our core values include a commitment to a society served by a fair, impartial and accessible system of justice. We believe that such a justice system results from the combined efforts of private citizens, educators, judges and lawyers.

The Grants Program is one aspect of the Foundation's efforts to translate that mission and those values into reality.

PRE-SUBMISSION CONFERENCE
All proposals are screened and evaluated by staff before presentation to the Foundation Grants and Programs Committee. Potential grant applicants are required to schedule a pre-submission conference with staff prior to completing any grant request. To schedule a pre-submission conference please contact Alison Belfrage, Executive Director at 614-487-4443 or 800-282-6556.

TYPES OF GRANTS
Believing that we are a catalyst, convener and collaborator with our grant recipients, the Ohio State Bar Foundation has developed a nationally recognized approach to grantmaking that continues to aid organizations needing seed money for short-term projects, as well as acknowledging long-term partnerships with organizations whose efforts advance the Foundation’s mission. In addition, the Foundation has begun to partner with promising organizations that need help building their capacity to become self-sustaining charitable entities.

Descriptions of these funding categories are as follows:

Short-Term Project-Based Funding
Grants are given for a limited purpose and not for situations where ongoing funding is needed. The Foundation will use a streamlined monitoring process for these grants. The Foundation will consider projects of limited scope in this category. Although repeated applications for funding will be discouraged, an applicant may approach the Foundation with requests to fund other projects. Grants are available for projects that meet the following criteria:

  • Single Project
  • Pilot or unique purposes (clearly defined and contained)
  • Applicant clearly defines future funding sources if an ongoing project
  • Applicant must provide a plan to disseminate or replicate the product produced by the grant funds

Long-Term Partnerships/Alliances
Grants are given in recognition of the fact that there are some programs or organizations that are critical to the mission of the Foundation. If these programs or organizations did not exist, the Foundation would place a high priority on their development. The scope of these Mission Critical programs or organizations is primarily statewide and significant in its impact; however, consideration will be given to local alliances with a strong Foundation mission emphasis. The Foundation will not fund overhead expenses in this category. The duration of Foundation funding support may be over a number of years, however, the Foundation will re-certify the applicant annually. Grants are available for programs and organizations that meet the following criteria:

  • Deemed to be Mission Critical by the Foundation
  • Produce a durable outcome.
  • Applicant will work cooperatively with the Foundation to develop a shared philosophy related to the Foundation mission.
  • Recognition of Foundation support will reflect this shared philosophy.
  • Applicant will work with the Foundation to develop benchmarks, metric targets and clear statements of desired outcomes.
  • Applicant will resubmit an annual funding request including a report of progress in relation to targets.
  • Applicant will subject to an annual review by the Foundation.
  • Applicant will provide evidence on ongoing increasing support from additional funding sources.
  • Historical funding time frame – up to 10 years

Capacity Building
Grants recognize the fact that the strength of an organization and its ability to sustain the necessary platform for program delivery play a key role in achieving maximum impact. Capacity Building grants are intended to catalyze an organization as it moves through a transition or refines its focus. Although there is a bias toward operationally oriented funding, Capacity Building grants will not fund normal budgetary expenses or ongoing operations. Capacity Building grants are intended to be developmental and proactive in nature. Grants are available for organizations that meet the following criteria:

  • Applicant will clearly identify the specific developmental area in the grant request and tie the request to the Mission of the Foundation.
  • Applicant will develop a Business Plan with clear objectives.
  • Applicant will work with the Foundation to identify non cash resources that will contribute to the success of the business plan including consultation and technical assistance.
  • The Applicant will work with the Foundation to establish an exit strategy during the grant approval process.
  • Applicant will resubmit an annual funding request including a report of progress in relation to the business plan.
  • Applicant will be subject to ongoing review by the Foundation.
  • Expected funding time frame – 3 to 5 years.

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Proposals are considered by the Foundation's Trustees twice each year. Deadlines for submitting grant applications are February 15 and August 15. Proposal decisions are made by June 30 and November 30.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Each proposal should include a one-page cover letter describing the project and the amount of funding being requested. In addition, the proposal should include: 

  • Organizational Background - History, mission, types of programs offered, constituencies served.
  • Project Description - Justification of need, statistics on socio-economic information for population served, specific goals and objectives, activities planned to meet goals and objectives, anticipated outcomes, anticipated challenges/difficulties, project timeline, qualifications of key personnel, methods of evaluation, collaborating organizations, linkages between the program and additional community resources.
  • Project Budget - Anticipated expenses, including details about how Foundation funds will be used, and anticipated income, including information about other sources approached for funding.
  • Organizational Budget - Current year budget and proposed budget for project year(s) showing both income and expenses, the organization's most recent audited financial statement and 990.
  • Supporting Documents - List of current board of trustees, letters of support, readily available printed material about the organization such as annual reports or brochures, IRS letter confirming Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) status and classification as a public charity or information confirming status as a governmental unit or agency. 

APPLICATION SUBMISSION
Each proposal should include a completed Ohio State Bar Foundation Grant Application.

PRE-SUBMISSION CONFERENCE
All proposals are screened and evaluated by staff before presentation to the Foundation Grants and Programs Committee. Potential grant applicants are required to schedule a pre-submission conference with staff prior to completing any grant request. To schedule a pre-submission conference please contact the Alison Belfrage at 614-487-4443 or 800-282-6556.

All grant applications and requests for information should be addressed to:

Ohio State Bar Foundation
1700 Lake Shore Drive
P.O. Box 16562
Columbus, Ohio 43216-6562
(800) 282-6556
(614) 487-4444

Please do not submit proposals in notebooks, binders or plastic folders.

LIMITATIONS
With the exception of grants to the state and local bar associations, the Foundation makes grants only to organizations that meet Internal Revenue Code requirements as nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or to qualified governmental units or agencies. Grant funds may not be used to carry on propaganda or otherwise attempt to influence legislation, participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or to conduct, directly or indirectly, any voter registration drive within the meaning of Section 4945 (d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Foundation cannot fund all grant applications and cannot meet the time constraints of some applications. Further, the Foundation may award limited or partial grants and may pay grants in installments.

The Foundation does not consider grants for:

  • endowments
  • for capital needs, including renovation, equipment and construction
  • previously completed programs
  • debt reduction
  • benefit events
  • normal budgetary expenses
  • ongoing operations
  • CLE Programs*

* CLE Programs - The Ohio State Bar Foundation does not make grants for CLE programs. In 1999 the Ohio State Bar Foundation Continuing Legal Education Fund was established as a result of the merger of the Ohio Continuing Legal Education Institute into and with the Foundation. This "sinking" fund was used to fund programs and projects in accordance with the terms of an agreement established at the time of the merger. Grants from the Fund were awarded from 1999 until 2007. The balance of the Continuing Legal Education Fund was encumbered as of May 2007 and therefore applications to the fund were closed at that time.

The Foundation does not make grants to individuals. Normally, grants are limited to activities performed and/or organizations located within Ohio.

The Foundation also will accept the Ohio Common Grant Form, available at www.ohiograntmakers.org, only if organizations are using it to apply to multiple funders.