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Connecticut Bar Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$43.3M

Connecticut Bar Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $43.3 million (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Annual cycle (application typically September)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified - varies by program
  • Geographic Focus: Connecticut statewide
  • Total Assets: $54.7 million
  • Historical Impact: Over $336 million distributed since 1987

Contact Details

Address: 100 Pearl Street, 11th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 722-2494
Email: ctbf@ctbarfdn.org
Website: https://www.ctbarfdn.org/

Key Contacts:

  • Angela Schlingheyde, Executive Director
  • For application inquiries: ctbf@ctbarfdn.org

Overview

The Connecticut Bar Foundation (CBF) was established in 1952 as the philanthropic arm of the Connecticut Bar Association. With $54.7 million in total assets and $43.3 million in annual revenue (FY 2024), the Foundation serves as Connecticut's primary funder of civil legal services for low-income residents. The organization operates on the fundamental premise that the rule of law must be available to all, regardless of power or resources. Since 1987, CBF has awarded more than $336 million in grants and law school scholarships. The Foundation earned a Four-Star rating (100% score) from Charity Navigator, reflecting its excellence in financial management and accountability. CBF's strategic approach focuses on administering multiple funding streams—including IOLTA/IOTA programs, Judicial Branch grants, and the statewide Right to Counsel program—to ensure comprehensive access to justice throughout Connecticut.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

IOLTA/IOTA Legal Services Grants (Primary Program)

  • Distributes interest generated from lawyers' trust accounts (IOLTA - established 1984) and mortgage lender trust accounts (IOTA - established 2005)
  • Supports 12 nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services to low-income Connecticut residents
  • Annual cycle with applications typically due in September
  • Governed by Connecticut General Statute 51-81c

Court Fees Grants-in-Aid

  • Distributes revenue from designated court filing fees
  • Funds current IOLTA/IOTA grantees for additional civil legal services capacity
  • Administered through the Connecticut Judicial Branch partnership

Judicial Branch Grants-in-Aid

  • Supplemental funding provided by Connecticut Judicial Branch
  • Supports IOLTA/IOTA programs

Right to Counsel (RTC) in Eviction Defense

  • Connecticut's statewide program (launched January 31, 2022 - second state in U.S.)
  • Initially funded with $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds
  • Provides free legal representation to income-eligible tenants (≤80% statewide median income) facing eviction
  • Veterans receive immediate statewide coverage regardless of income
  • Served nearly 5,500 households (approximately 13,000 individuals) from January 2022 to November 2024
  • Four legal aid organizations deliver services: Connecticut Legal Services, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and New Haven Legal Assistance Association

Law School Scholarships

  • Grants to Connecticut's three law schools for need-based scholarships
  • Funded through IOLTA and IOTA programs

Herbert & Nell Singer Connecticut Public Service Fellowship

  • Supports placement of talented new lawyers with legal service organizations
  • Funded by the Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation, administered by CBF
  • Eligible: law students graduating within the school year or attorneys graduated within past two years with demonstrated public interest commitment

David A. Pels Homelessness Prevention Fund

  • Established June 2019 to benefit low-income tenants facing homelessness
  • Honors Attorney David A. Pels, pioneer of landlord-tenant law in Connecticut

Priority Areas

Primary Focus: Civil legal services for low-income Connecticut residents who cannot afford private counsel

Specific Service Areas Funded:

  • General civil legal assistance (family law, housing, public benefits, consumer issues)
  • Children's advocacy and legal representation
  • Fair housing and housing discrimination cases
  • Veterans' legal services
  • Mental health advocacy (representation for people in state psychiatric hospitals)
  • Eviction defense and homelessness prevention
  • Legal technology access (CTLawHelp.org)

Geographic Coverage:

  • Statewide Connecticut
  • Both urban centers and rural areas
  • Special emphasis on "eviction hot spots" (14 neighborhoods across 8 municipalities identified under RTC program)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations whose principal purpose is not providing legal services to the poor in Connecticut
  • Organizations outside Connecticut
  • Criminal defense (focus is civil legal services)
  • Private legal practices or for-profit entities
  • Organizations without proper registration and audit requirements
  • Individual attorneys or solo practitioners (must be nonprofit corporations)

Governance and Leadership

Officers (2024-2025)

  • President: Attorney Anika Singh Lemar, Yale Law School
  • Vice President: Attorney Edward J. Heath, Robinson & Cole, LLP
  • Treasurer: Stephen L. Lewis, Thomaston Savings Bank
  • Secretary: Attorney Lina Lee, Executive Director, Connecticut Bar Association

Board of Directors

The Board includes 18 members representing the judiciary, legal profession, banking sector, and community organizations:

  • Hon. Barry F. Armata, Connecticut Superior Court
  • Attorney Arthur T. Corey, Connecticut Bankers Association
  • Hon. Karen DeMeola, Connecticut Superior Court
  • Hon. Cody N. Guarnieri, Connecticut Superior Court
  • Attorney Jonathan Harding, City of Hartford
  • Kristen Jacoby, United Way of Greater Waterbury
  • Hon. Joette Katz (ret.), Shipman & Goodwin, LLP
  • Attorney Yamuna Menon, Connecticut Office of the State Comptroller
  • Attorney Vincent Pace, Eversource Energy
  • Attorney Sonia Pedraza, Travelers Insurance
  • Hon. Robert A. Richardson, United States District Court
  • Attorney Asker A. Saeed, KPPB Law
  • Attorney Paul Slager, Slager Madry LLC
  • Attorney Isabella Squicciarini, Allied World Insurance Company
  • Hon. Cecil J. Thomas, Connecticut Superior Court
  • Attorney Namita Tripathi Shah, Day Pitney LLP
  • Attorney Calvin K. Woo, Verrill
  • Hon. Victoria Woodin Chavey (Immediate Past President), Connecticut Superior Court

Ex-Officio Directors

Six ex-officio directors including Hon. Barry Armata, Dean Brian Gallini, Attorney Lina Lee, Interim Dean Yair Listoken, Hon. Raheem Mullins, and Dean Eboni S. Nelson

Staff

  • Executive Director: Angela Schlingheyde
  • Staff Members: Ashleigh Backman, Bruce Hiltunen, Emma Bayer, Alaina Underwood, Randy Muenzner, Carolyn Arnold, Keelie Ni, Gina Casella (9-person team)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For IOLTA/IOTA Legal Services Grants: The application process is primarily for existing IOLTA grantees or organizations specifically invited to apply. New applicants must contact CBF before applying.

Process:

  1. New Applicants: Contact ctbf@ctbarfdn.org to request an application and discuss eligibility
  2. Application Submission: Typically due in September (based on archived 2021 deadline of September 17)
  3. Contact: Natalie Wagner, Executive Director (natalie@ctbarfdn.org) or Anne Goico, Finance Director (anne@ctbarfdn.org) or call (860) 722-2494

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a nonstock nonprofit corporation
  • Principal purpose must be delivery of legal services to the poor in Connecticut
  • Must have certified financial statements for the three preceding years
  • Must have an appointed independent certified auditing firm
  • Must have registered with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

For Right to Counsel Program: The RTC program funds are distributed to existing legal aid organizations selected to participate. Organizations interested in participating should contact CBF directly or visit evictionhelpct.org.

For Law School Scholarships: Grants are made directly to Connecticut's three law schools, which then award need-based scholarships to students.

Decision Timeline

Based on available information:

  • Application Period: Typically September annually for IOLTA/IOTA grants
  • Decision Timeline: Not publicly specified, but appears to follow annual funding cycles
  • Notification Method: Not publicly specified

Note: New applicants should allow additional time for initial eligibility discussions before the formal application period.

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. However, the program structure indicates:

  • CBF currently funds 12 established legal services organizations through IOLTA/IOTA
  • The grant program appears to prioritize stability and ongoing support for existing grantees
  • New organizations entering the program likely face significant competition given the limited number of grantees and established funding relationships

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Organizations should contact CBF directly at ctbf@ctbarfdn.org to inquire about eligibility for future funding cycles.

Application Success Factors

Organizational Requirements Are Critical: The Connecticut Bar Foundation has strict eligibility criteria that must be met before any programmatic considerations. Organizations must have three years of audited financial statements and proper nonprofit registration—these are threshold requirements, not just preferences.

Principal Purpose Must Be Legal Services to the Poor: CBF's statutory mandate under Connecticut General Statute 51-81c is specific: organizations must have as their "principal purpose" the delivery of legal services to poor Connecticut residents. Organizations where legal services are secondary to other missions, even if they serve low-income populations, will not qualify.

Existing Grantee Relationships Are Strong: The Foundation currently supports 12 legal services organizations through IOLTA/IOTA, and the program structure emphasizes stability and ongoing partnerships. The archived application materials note that applications were only available to "current IOLTA grant recipients," suggesting that breaking into the grantee pool as a new organization requires exceptional circumstances or significant gaps in service coverage.

Geographic Coverage and Service Gaps Matter: CBF's grantees collectively cover different regions and specialized populations across Connecticut. New applicants would likely need to demonstrate either:

  • Service to an underserved geographic area not adequately covered by existing grantees
  • Specialized legal services not currently provided by the grantee network
  • Capacity to enhance access to justice in identified priority areas (e.g., eviction hot spots)

Financial Stability and Audit Capacity: The requirement for certified financial statements and an independent auditing firm indicates that CBF seeks organizationally mature partners. Start-up legal aid organizations or those without established financial management systems would need to develop these capacities before becoming eligible.

Statewide Impact and Collaboration: Several of CBF's grantees (Connecticut Legal Services, Statewide Legal Services, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center) serve statewide populations or coordinate across regions. Organizations that can demonstrate collaborative relationships with existing grantees or fill specific gaps in the statewide legal aid network may be viewed more favorably.

Alignment with Emerging Priorities: CBF's administration of the Right to Counsel program and the David A. Pels Homelessness Prevention Fund demonstrates responsiveness to urgent access-to-justice needs. Organizations addressing housing insecurity, eviction defense, or other high-priority civil legal needs identified by Connecticut policymakers may find opportunities for partnership or funding.

Contact Before Applying: The explicit instruction that "new applicants should contact the Connecticut Bar Foundation at ctbf@ctbarfdn.org to request an application" signals that CBF prefers to assess eligibility and fit before receiving formal applications. Organizations should use this initial contact to understand current priorities, funding availability, and whether their proposed services align with CBF's strategic direction.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is primarily a closed funding pool: CBF's IOLTA/IOTA grants go to 12 established legal services organizations. New entrants face significant barriers and should expect that funding opportunities are rare unless service gaps are identified.

  • Make initial contact mandatory: Don't submit a cold application. Contact ctbf@ctbarfdn.org to discuss eligibility, timing, and strategic fit before investing time in application development.

  • Ensure strict compliance with eligibility requirements: Three years of certified audited financials, independent auditor, nonprofit registration with Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, and principal purpose being legal services to the poor are non-negotiable thresholds.

  • Demonstrate geographic or service gaps: To break into the grantee pool, you'll need compelling evidence that existing grantees don't adequately serve your target population or region. Study the 12 current grantees' service areas carefully.

  • Consider collaboration over competition: Given CBF's emphasis on stable, long-term partnerships with existing grantees, new organizations might find more success proposing collaborations or partnerships with current grantees rather than seeking independent funding.

  • Align with Connecticut policy priorities: CBF's administration of the Right to Counsel program demonstrates responsiveness to state legislative priorities. Organizations addressing areas where Connecticut has made policy commitments (eviction defense, housing stability, veterans' services) may find more receptivity.

  • Prepare for annual cycles: IOLTA/IOTA grants appear to operate on annual funding cycles with September deadlines. Plan application development well in advance, particularly if you're a new applicant requiring initial eligibility discussions.

References

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