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Massachusetts Bar Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$6.7M
Decision Time
4mo

Massachusetts Bar Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6.7 million (2025/2026 - highest in MBF history)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (typically receives over 100 applications)
  • Decision Time: Applications due March; decisions announced by June/July
  • Grant Range: Variable (awards often for less than full amount requested)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts (statewide)
  • Total Assets: $20.3 million (2024)
  • Total Revenue: $10.7 million (2024)

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1964, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation (MBF) is the Commonwealth's premier legal charity and the philanthropic partner of the Massachusetts Bar Association. The MBF represents the commitment of lawyers and judges in Massachusetts to improve the administration of justice, promote understanding of the law, and ensure equal access to the legal system for all residents, particularly those most vulnerable.

As one of three charitable entities in Massachusetts charged with distributing Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account (IOLTA) funds—receiving 26 percent of total IOLTA interest—the MBF has been a steward of these funds since 1987. The Foundation celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2024 and in 2025 awarded a historic $6.7 million through its IOLTA Grants Program to 93 civil legal aid programs. With over $20 million in assets and annual revenue exceeding $10 million, the MBF addresses a critical need: civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts must turn away over 60% of eligible cases due to lack of resources.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. IOLTA Grants Program (Primary Program)

  • Annual grants totaling approximately $6-7 million
  • Supports 80-93+ programs annually
  • Funds nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services to low-income clients or improving administration of justice
  • Application deadline: March (for September-August grant cycle)

2. Special Grants Projects

  • Funding for requests outside standard IOLTA eligibility requirements
  • Supports innovative or experimental models for delivering civil legal services
  • Available as finances permit
  • Application via letter of inquiry process

3. Legal Intern Fellowship Program (LIFP)

  • Stipends of $8,000 to law students
  • For summer internships at legal aid organizations
  • Typically 3-12 awards annually
  • Application deadline: Early March

4. Gants Judicial Scholarship

  • Educational support in the judicial field

Priority Areas

The MBF funds programs addressing:

  • Housing instability and homelessness prevention
  • Domestic violence survivor support
  • Immigration assistance and humanitarian protection
  • Education access including special education advocacy
  • Health care access advocacy
  • Economic insecurity and family stability
  • Court-connected mediation and conciliation programs
  • "Lawyer of the Day" programs for court assistance
  • Child advocacy and family law

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual applicants (organizations only)
  • Fundraising activities related to political campaigns
  • Endowment campaigns
  • Scholarship campaigns
  • Capital campaigns
  • Organizations outside Massachusetts
  • Criminal defense (focus is civil legal services)

Governance and Leadership

Officers

  • G. Perry Wu, Esq. - President (Harvard College, Columbia Law School graduate; President's Circle Fellow of MBF; Life Fellow of American Bar Foundation)
  • Melissa Langa, Esq. - Vice President (Managing Shareholder, Bove Langa Witherell & Soiffer)
  • Edward F. Dombroski, Jr., Esq. - Treasurer
  • Paul J. Klehm, Esq. - Secretary

Board of Trustees (17 members)

Includes judges (Hon. Jennifer C. Boal, Hon. Jonathan J. Kane, Hon. Mark D Mason, Hon. Valerie A. Yarashus), attorneys from diverse practice areas (Akosua A. Agyepong, Frank J. Ciano, Patrice C. Dixon, James J. Duane III, Patrick Francomano, Margaret J. Hurley, Michael J. Leard, James F. Martin, Robert S. Molloy, Mary Jeanne Stone, Christopher P. Sullivan, Kimberly E. Winter, Tara Dunn Jackson).

Staff

  • Susannah Thomas - Executive Director
  • Allison D. Ford - Development Director

Leadership Quote

MBF President G. Perry Wu stated: "We are delighted that this year's funding represents the highest amount the Foundation has ever awarded. This historic level of funding reflects not only a milestone for the MBF but also a deepened investment in closing the civil justice gap in Massachusetts. These grants help protect people's ability to defend their rights and secure stability in times of crisis."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IOLTA Grants Program:

  1. Pre-submission requirement: New applicants MUST contact the MBF Grants Office at foundation@massbar.org to discuss proposals before submitting
  2. Review the Grant Priorities Statement and Request for Proposals & Application Instructions (available on website)
  3. Create login credentials for the online application portal
  4. Submit application via the online portal by deadline
  5. Applications available in January each year

Special Grants:

  1. Contact MBF Grants Office at foundation@massbar.org to discuss project eligibility
  2. If eligible, submit one-page letter of inquiry summarizing project
  3. Executive Committee reviews at next scheduled meeting
  4. If approved, full proposal requested

Decision Timeline

IOLTA Grants:

  • Applications open: January
  • Application deadline: Third week of March (e.g., March 21, 2025 for 2025/2026 cycle; March 20, 2026 for 2026/2027 cycle)
  • Grant Advisory Committee review: April-May
  • Awards announced: June/July
  • Grant cycle: September 1 - August 31

Review Process

Each application undergoes two rounds of review:

  1. Regional Committee Review: Members meet with applicants for in-depth review
  2. Subject Matter Committee Review: Paper review only

Over 80 attorneys and judges from the MBF's Society of Fellows volunteer to review applications, conduct site visits, and make funding recommendations.

Success Rates

  • The MBF typically receives over 100 applications annually
  • In 2025/2026, 93 programs were funded
  • In 2023/2024, 82 programs were funded (from $4.8M pool)
  • Awards are often for less than the full amount requested

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply annually. The grant cycle operates September 1 - August 31, with new applications accepted each year.

Application Success Factors

MBF-Specific Guidance

Mandatory Pre-Contact for New Applicants: The MBF explicitly requires new applicants to contact the Grants Office before submitting. This is not optional—use this opportunity to confirm your program aligns with their priorities.

Focus Areas That Get Funded (Based on Recent Awards):

  • Direct legal services addressing housing, domestic violence, immigration, education advocacy, healthcare advocacy
  • Court-connected programs: mediation, conciliation, lawyer for the day programs
  • Programs serving low-income Massachusetts residents who cannot otherwise access legal help

Examples of Successfully Funded Organizations:

  • Children's Law Center of Massachusetts - youth legal advocacy
  • De Novo - civil legal assistance and psychological counseling
  • DOVE Inc. - legal services for domestic violence survivors
  • Health Law Advocates - overcoming healthcare access barriers
  • Housing Families, Inc. - homelessness prevention through legal services
  • Massachusetts Advocates for Children - educational opportunity advocacy
  • Veterans Legal Services - civil legal needs of military veterans

What Makes Applications Stand Out:

  1. Clear alignment with IOLTA mission: Either provide civil legal services to low-income clients OR improve administration of justice
  2. Massachusetts focus: Must benefit Massachusetts residents
  3. Demonstrated capacity: Show organizational ability to deliver legal services effectively
  4. Impact documentation: Quantify how many clients you serve and outcomes achieved
  5. Realistic budget: Since awards are often less than requested, demonstrate financial sustainability

Common Ineligible Requests:

  • Political fundraising
  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowment building
  • Scholarship programs
  • Out-of-state organizations
  • Individual applicants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Contact MBF first if you're a new applicant - This is mandatory and helps ensure your application is appropriate before you invest time in the full proposal

  2. Focus on civil legal services for low-income clients OR justice administration improvement - These are the only two eligible categories for IOLTA funding

  3. Expect competitive process - Over 100 applications annually with many receiving less than requested; be realistic in your budget

  4. Leverage the pre-submission consultation - Use this opportunity to understand what reviewers look for and refine your approach

  5. Document your Massachusetts impact - Be specific about geographic reach within the Commonwealth and populations served

  6. Apply annually - The grant cycle runs September-August, with applications due in March; organizations may reapply each year

  7. Consider Special Grants for innovative models - If your program doesn't fit standard IOLTA criteria but aligns with the MBF mission, explore the Special Grants pathway

References

Accessed December 2025

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