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About Us
Our Mission
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation promotes the role of lawyers in securing equal access to justice and supports the charitable and educational aims of the New Hampshire Bar and its members.
The Bar Foundation carries out its mission by reliably administering the Supreme Court Rule 50 “Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts” program, responsibly managing the Foundation’s Justice Grants program, and encouraging thoughtful philanthropy by members of the profession.
Key Issues
The Bar Foundation’s justice-related philanthropy addresses core issues involved in providing meaningful access to justice, including:
Protection of Legal Rights: Legal advice and representation for disadvantaged residents struggling to overcome poverty, abuse, and discrimination.
Education: Civic and constitutional education for students; training programs for attorneys offering pro bono (free) civil legal services; public seminars on fair housing laws and other protections for the elderly, the homeless, low-income populations, and social service agency staff; and multilingual programs for immigrants and refugees regarding their rights and responsibilities.
Emerging Needs: The Bar Foundation facilitates the identification of justice-related issues regarding emerging civil legal needs in our state, paying close attention to changing demographics, the economy, and the legal struggles facing different population groups. The Bar Foundation is involved in evaluating and identifying new approaches in the delivery of civil legal aid and education to help ensure New Hampshire residents will have access to critical legal services.
Resource Development and Management: The Bar Foundation initiates and builds relationships with the legal community and banks supporting the IOLTA Grants Program; promotes contributions to the Bar Foundation’s endowed Justice Funds in support of Justice Grants; provides planned giving opportunities for donors; encourages organizational development and coordination among legal aid agencies; and communicates funding needs to donors and others committed to ensuring meaningful access to the justice system for all New Hampshire residents.
The NH Bar Foundation is a nonprofit, public charity whose financial records are made available to the public upon request. If you have a request or questions, please contact us.
New Hampshire Bar Foundation funding reaches deep into communities statewide to assist with educational programs, direct legal services, and charitable projects aimed at meeting the law-related needs of the public and the profession.
By funding legal aid organizations, more than 25,000 residents receive free or low-cost civil legal services every year in New Hampshire. The nonprofit organizations we fund help the most vulnerable members in our communities, including:
Through the Bar Foundation’s funding of educational programs, our youth learn to understand the law and the justice system, thus ensuring another generation of socially responsible citizens.
Statewide lectures and workshops offered by our grantees explain legal processes or changes in the law, thus increasing public understanding.
By funding legal aid organizations, more than 25,000 residents receive free or low-cost civil legal services every year in New Hampshire. The nonprofit organizations we fund help the most vulnerable members in our communities, including:
- Abused, neglected and otherwise disadvantaged children
- Women and children victimized by domestic or sexual violence
- Elderly victims of consumer fraud and other abuse
- Immigrants trying to understand their rights and responsibilities
- Disabled people fighting for inclusion and independence
- Low-income families struggling to protect their right to safe housing and fight unlawful evictions
- Victims of predatory lending and other abusive practices
Through the Bar Foundation’s funding of educational programs, our youth learn to understand the law and the justice system, thus ensuring another generation of socially responsible citizens.
Statewide lectures and workshops offered by our grantees explain legal processes or changes in the law, thus increasing public understanding.
Across a broad spectrum of programs, the law and the justice system are instrumental in creating a better future for us all.
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors, drawn from diverse professions, including attorneys and business leaders committed to ensuring equal access to the justice system for all residents. The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is managed by a staff dedicated to the mission and vision of the organization.
Board of Directors
| Chair | Scott H. Harris |
| Treasurer | Jack Crisp |
| Secretary | Nina C. Gardner |
| Court Liaison | Hon. James P. Bassett |
Directors
Attorney Paul W. Chant Attorney Douglas P. Hill Attorney Kathleen M. Mahan Kelli Olsen Attorney Lyndsay N. Robinson Attorney James F. Scully Jr. Attorney Mary E. Tenn | Attorney Henry R. Klementowicz Attorney Derek D. Lick Hon. Richard B. McNamara Attorney Jennifer L. Parent Attorney Emma M. Sisti Attorney James J. Tenn Jr. |
Staff
| NHBA Executive Director | Sarah T. Blodgett, Esq. 603-715-3209 |
| NHBA Executive Department Assistant | Cindy Roberts 603-715-3267 |
2024 | $93,145 is awarded in Justice Grants to support 12 non-profit justice projects |
2024 | A total of $1,780,000 is awarded this year in IOLTA Grants |
2023 | A total of $1,300,000 is awarded this year in IOLTA Grants |
2022 | $102,250 is awarded in Justice Grants to support 14 non-profit justice projects |
2020 | NH Bar Foundation hosts its 1st ever virtual fundraising event |
2015 | NH Supreme Court adds OverDraft Notification to Rule 50 |
2011 | NH Supreme Court makes NH IOLTA a mandatory program for all NH Attorneys |
2009 | $1.7 million in IOLTA Grants is awarded to 11 New Hampshire nonprofit organizations. |
2008 | $1.73 million in IOLTA Grants is awarded to 12 New Hampshire nonprofit organizations. |
2008 | Justice Grants grow by 10% from 2007, reaching $35,771. |
2007 | NH Bar Foundation Law School Loan Assistance Program exceeds $588,000 in first seven years, in support of attorneys working for nonprofit, legal aid organizations. |
2007 | New Hampshire Bar Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary. |
2006 | NH Bar Foundation tops $20 million in grants to New Hampshire nonprofits since 1977. |
2006 | IOLTA and Justice Grants exceed $1.73 million in one year to 24 nonprofit programs serving the civil legal needs of New Hampshire residents. |
2006 | NH Bar Foundation Relocates (with New Hampshire Bar Association) to 2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord, NH. |
2005 | Nearly $1 Million Donated to the NH Bar Foundation during its Campaign for Legal Services. Beneficiaries of the campaign, NH Legal Assistance, Legal Advice & Referral Center, and the NH Pro Bono Referral Program, assume management to continue fundraising for their organizations. |
2004 | Eleven Leadership Banks offer interest rates on IOLTA of 2% or greater, providing 89% of the revenue for the NH Bar Foundation IOLTA Grants Program. |
2003 | NH Bar Foundation Initiates Three-Year Campaign for Legal Services and raises $950,000. |
2002 | 25th Anniversary of New Hampshire Bar Foundation – More than $16 million invested since 1982 by the Bar Foundation in New Hampshire nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services for the disadvantaged and law-related education programs. |
2000 | First Justice Grants from endowment approved by Board of Directors. NH Bar Foundation endowed funds now represent $500,000 of philanthropic capital. |
1998 | NH Bar Foundation Annual Grants Exceed $1 Million for the first time. |
1998 | NH Bar Foundation Initiates Statewide Legal Service Planning with NH Legal Assistance, Legal Advice and Referral Center, and NH Pro Bono Referral Program to develop a more fully integrated legal service system in New Hampshire. |
1998 | Frank Rowe Kenison Award established to recognize individuals who make substantial contributions to the administration of justice and the legal profession. |
1996 | Robert E. Kirby Award established in memory of Bob Kirby, a young lawyer “of great skill, civility and good humor” who died in 1996 at the age of 35. New Hampshire attorneys, 35 years old or younger, who demonstrate the traits of civility, courtesy, perspective and excellent advocacy, are eligible candidates. |
1995 | NH Remembrances held at Franklin Pierce Law Center is the first public event highlighting several Legal History Project interviews with New Hampshire attorneys. |
1994 | The Justice Society is formed in response to donor requests for planned giving opportunities. Justice Society funds are part of the NH Bar Foundation’s endowment and are disbursed through the Justice Grants Program. |
1990 | Advancement of Justice Fund established by the NH Bar Foundation to improve access to justice and to support law-related public education initiatives. |
1989 | First Move – NH Bar Foundation and Bar Association move to new quarters at 112 Pleasant Street. Capital Campaign raises $600,000 to the credit of Jack Middleton and Tom Richards. |
1988 | Legal History Project created to collect and preserve the recollections of senior members of the legal community through oral history interviews with senior lawyers, judges, and court staff. |
1987 | First Honorary Fellow – Retired NH Supreme Court Justice, John W. King, unanimously chosen to become NH Bar Foundation’s first Honorary Fellow. |
1986 | Honorary Fellows Program initiated to recognize senior, esteemed members of the NH Bar who demonstrate significant, long-term commitment to the NH Bar Foundation. |
1985 | Fellows Program created as a NH Bar Foundation membership program to recognize excellence in the science of jurisprudence. |
1983 | NH Bar Foundation’s IOLTA Program – 374 lawyers and 70 firms participating first year, generating over $63,000. Grants committee formed to review grant applications and make recommendations for funding to the Board of Directors. |
1982 | Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program – The NH Supreme Court approves the IOLTA Program, establishing New Hampshire as the second state in the country, following Florida, to operate an IOLTA Program. The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is named recipient of IOLTA revenue to be used for charitable purposes as outlined in Rule 50. |
1979 | NH Bar Foundation’s First Home – The New Hampshire Bar Foundation and New Hampshire Bar Association purchase 18 Centre Street to house both organizations. The Bar Foundation initiated the capital campaign and Jack Middleton was credited for its success. |
1978 | First Grant – The NH Bar Foundation makes its first grant to the New Hampshire State Law Library to purchase legal publications. |
1977 | Stanley M. Brown – The New Hampshire Bar Foundation Founding Directors, attorneys Stanley M. Brown, Fred W. Hall, Jr., Joseph M. Kerrigan, N. Michael Plaut, and Gordon M. Tiffany, convene at the law office of Stanley Brown in Concord to establish the New Hampshire Bar Foundation as a charitable, nonprofit, 501 (C) 3 organization. |