Grant Programs
The Bar Foundation makes significant grants in three main areas:
- Legal Advice, Representation, and Advocacy for the Disadvantaged
- Student and Community Education about the Law and the Justice System
- Innovation in the Administration of Justice
Since 1977, the Bar Foundation has made grants totaling more than $36 million dollars through the IOLTA and Justice Grants Programs. The majority of funding supports organizations that provide legal services to low-income people, children, the elderly, victims of domestic violence, and others in New Hampshire who have limited access to, or representation in, the justice system. A smaller, but significant portion of funding supports public education about the law and the courts.
Justice Grants are funded by distributions from restricted and unrestricted endowed funds. Justice Grants are generally in the $500-$8,000 range. View Justice Society Funds.
IOLTA Grants are funded by revenue from the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts Program. IOLTA Grants are generally $5,000 or more.
The Law School Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides funding to help alleviate law school loan debt for lawyers who practice in the public interest at selected New Hampshire nonprofit legal service organizations.
Justice Grants
IOLTA Grants
Loan Forgiveness Program
Justice Grants
NH Bar Foundation grants help protect our most vulnerable from harm.
The NH Bar Foundation program broadens the NH Bar Foundation’s mission of strengthening the system of justice in New Hampshire by funding efforts to encourage innovation in the administration of justice, provide community education about the law and improve access to the legal system.
Justice Grant applications are accepted biennially (even-numbered years) from New Hampshire nonprofit organizations and/or programs that:
- Envision new ways to create equal justice for all people.
- Develop concrete innovations in the delivery of legal services, court operations, legal education or in other justice related areas.
- Address legal needs or projects which are important in a democratic society but that may go against public or political sentiment.
- Bring together diverse resources and people to find solutions to justice related problems.
- Build public confidence in the justice system.
Justice Grants are usually available for start-up costs, planning and research, or for funding to help stabilize new programs, but not for ongoing operational support. Justice Grants are funded by donor-supported Justice Funds; some of which are broad in scope and other have specific, designated purposes. Please review the Justice Funds for additional information.
For more information, please call 603-715-3210 or email.
IOLTA Grants
The New Hampshire Bar Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the fiscal year 2025 IOLTA Grant cycle. We are currently accepting applications for projects supporting public education relating to the courts and legal matters. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 26, 2024, at 4 pm.
Recipients of IOLTA grants can expect to receive between $5,000 and $50,000 in awards. Eligible organizations must submit a complete IOLTA Grant Application, including a narrative, all attachments and/or supporting materials, plus a completed Financial Resources Worksheet. The application includes IOLTA Grant Guidelines detailing additional requirements.
Eligible applicants will be asked to present their application to the IOLTA Grants Committee in person. Interviews are preliminarily scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024.
2025 IOLTA Application and Guidelines
2025 Financial Resources Worksheet
IOLTA Grant applications are accepted from New Hampshire nonprofit organizations and/or programs under the guidelines of the NH Supreme Court, Rule 50:
- For the support of civil legal services to the disadvantaged
- For public education relating to the courts and legal matters
- For such other programs as may be approved by the Supreme Court
FY 2023-2024 IOLTA Grant Final Reports:
For information about IOLTA Grants, please contact the NH Bar Foundation at (603) 715-3210 or by email.
Funding decisions are made by the NH Bar Foundation Board of Directors, in consideration of the IOLTA Grants Committee recommendations. The five-member committee is elected by NH Bar members participating in the IOLTA Program.
Loan Forgiveness Program
The burden of law school loans often deter promising law school graduates from accepting staff attorney positions at legal services agencies that assist the poor and elderly in New Hampshire. These debt burdens have also caused the departure of experienced and talented staff attorneys from these agencies. In response to this situation, the Bar Foundation created the Loan Forgiveness Assistance Program. The purpose of the Loan Forgiveness Assistance Program is to provide law school loan assistance, in the form of forgivable loans, to help legal service providers recruit and maintain a diverse body of highly qualified staff attorneys.
Loan Forgiveness Program Description
This program is currently open to all attorneys employed by:
For more information about the Loan Forgiveness Assistance Program, please contact the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, 603-715-3210.
