Ohio Access To Justice Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,153,134 (2023)
• Grant Range: Varies by program - Justice for All Fellowships up to $75,000 annually; LRAP up to $6,000 annually
• Geographic Focus: Ohio (statewide)
• Total Grants Made: 21 awards (2023)
• Assets: $37,503,663 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 88 E. Broad Street, Suite 720, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3506

Phone: (614) 715-8560

Fax: (614) 715-8559

Email: [email protected] (general inquiries); [email protected] (grant applications)

Website: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/

Note: The Foundation does not provide legal advice or assistance directly to individuals. Requests for legal help must be made to local legal aid organizations.

Overview

The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation was founded in 1993 (originally as the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation) and designated as the official access to justice entity of Ohio by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 2019. With assets of $37.5 million and annual giving of over $7.1 million in 2023, the Foundation serves as the largest funder of civil legal services in Ohio. Its mission is to ensure that Ohioans who are low-income or who lack access can fully and fairly participate in civil systems that produce just outcomes. The Foundation achieves this by distributing resources from the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) programs, civil filing fee surcharges, and raising additional dollars for civil legal aid. In 2023, the Foundation received Philanthropy Ohio's prestigious Innovation Award for its Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Legal Aid Funding: The Foundation provides substantial funding to Ohio's six primary legal aid organizations that serve low-income Ohioans across the state:

• Advocates for Basic Legal Equality & Legal Aid of Western Ohio
• The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
• Community Legal Aid
• Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio
• Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati & Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio
• Pro Seniors

Justice for All Fellowship Program: Two-year fellowships for recent law school graduates to develop and execute projects addressing urgent civil legal problems facing Ohioans. The Foundation provides host organizations with grants up to $75,000 annually to support the fellow's salary and benefits. Fellows must receive a minimum salary of $50,000 or the equivalent of a new staff attorney salary, whichever is higher.

Justice for All Summer Clerks Program: Funding for law students to work in civil legal services organizations during the summer.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP): Up to $6,000 in annual educational loan repayment assistance for attorneys employed by eligible Ohio legal aid organizations, offered as annual forgivable loans. Lifetime benefit of up to $75,000 per qualifying participant, making it one of the most generous LRAP programs in the country.

Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program: Award-winning initiative funding community economic development (CED) projects. The Foundation has disbursed over $12.8 million over six years, with an additional $1.55 million committed. Projects focus on affordable housing development, support for healthy housing, and promotion of homeownership.

Veterans Grant Program: With state General Revenue Fund support, the Foundation provides up to $500,000 annually for legal aids to dedicate additional attorneys to serve veterans facing unique civil legal challenges.

Substance Use Disorder Grant Program: State-funded program addressing legal issues arising from substance use disorders.

Ukrainian Legal Services Grant Program: In partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, this program has served over 1,000 Ukrainians seeking safety and stability. Extended through 2026.

Priority Areas

• Civil legal services for low-income Ohioans
• Housing stability and affordable housing development
• Veterans services
• Substance use disorder-related legal issues
• Immigration and refugee services (particularly Ukrainian arrivals)
• Domestic violence survivor support
• Senior legal services
• Community economic development
• Workforce development through legal aid
• Pro bono support and coordination
• Access to justice innovation and technology (Ohio Legal Help, Ohio Justice Bus)
• Diversity in the legal profession

What They Don't Fund

• Direct legal services to individuals (the Foundation funds organizations, not individual clients)
• Organizations outside of Ohio
• Criminal legal services
• Programs unrelated to civil legal aid or access to justice

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Angie Lloyd, Esq. - Executive Director and Corporate Secretary

• Phone: (614) 715-8565
• Quote: "Access to civil legal help is critical to helping Ohioans live safe, stable, and financially secure lives."
• On the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program: "The Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program perfectly illustrates how the intersections of community economic development, racial justice, and civil legal services are critical to moving communities forward."

Kiko Yee, Esq. - General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer

• Phone: (614) 715-8573

Camille Gill, Esq. - Programs and Grants Counsel

• Phone: (614) 715-8571

Sophia Chang, Esq. - Pro Bono Director

• Phone: (614) 715-8568

Robby Southers, Esq. - Policy and Justice Initiatives Counsel

• Phone: (614) 715-8561

Board Officers

• Mary Amos Augsburger - President, Executive Director, Ohio State Bar Association
• Hon. William A. Klatt - Vice President, Tenth District Court of Appeals (Retired)
• Jordan A. Miller Jr. - Treasurer, Adelphi Bank
• Hon. Howard H. Harcha III - At-Large Executive Member, Scioto County Court of Common Pleas
• Paula Boggs Muething - Past President, 3CDC

Selected Board Members

The Foundation's board is composed of appointees from the Ohio Supreme Court, executive and legislative branch leadership, bar associations, law schools, and community leaders, including Hon. John Eklund (Eleventh District Court of Appeals), Richard W. Pogue (Jones Day), Gary J. Leppla (Leppla Associates, Ltd.), and Sally W. Bloomfield (Bricker Graydon).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation uses a Letter of Intent (LOI) Process with two tracks:

Track 1: Solicited LOIs

• Foundation initiates grant opportunities and solicits LOIs
• Specific deadlines and request amounts defined in solicitation
• Foundation staff review and may invite full application

Track 2: Unsolicited LOIs

• Organizations can submit LOIs at any time
• Staff may hold LOIs up to 3 months for consideration
• May be considered for future grant opportunities

LOI Requirements:

• Single Word document (no PDFs)
• Maximum 2 pages
• Must include: organization details, contact information, requested amount, project description, funding purpose, total project cost, potential additional funding sources
• Applicants should include desired decision timeline (though Foundation cannot guarantee meeting specific dates)
• Submit via email to [email protected]

Full Application Process:

• When invited to submit a full application, Foundation staff provide detailed instructions
• Applications reviewed by Foundation's Program Committee
• Staff may reach out for additional questions during review

Eligibility

• Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status
• Located in Ohio
• Must provide civil legal services or work on access to justice issues related to civil legal services
• Some grant opportunities may be limited to particular subsets of organizations (e.g., LRAP is limited to attorneys employed by specific legal aid organizations)

Decision Timeline

• Specific timelines vary by grant opportunity
• Foundation encourages applicants to include desired decision date in LOI
• LOIs that are not invited to submit full applications receive communication from Foundation
• Foundation may hold unsolicited LOIs and reconsider in next quarter

Success Rates

• 21 grants awarded in 2023 (up from 15 in 2022 and 9 in 2021)
• Specific success rate data not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

• Organizations that are not invited to submit full applications may receive communication that the request will be held and considered again in the next quarter
• No specific restrictions on reapplication mentioned

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment: The Foundation prioritizes projects that align with their core mission of ensuring low-income Ohioans can "fully and fairly participate in civil systems that produce just outcomes." Executive Director Angie Lloyd emphasizes that their goal is to support "programs and partnerships that help more Ohioans access critically important legal services."

Innovation and Impact: The Foundation's 2023 Philanthropy Ohio Innovation Award demonstrates their commitment to innovative approaches. The Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program succeeded because it addressed "intersections of community economic development, racial justice, and civil legal services."

Address Social Determinants: Lloyd has stated: "Addressing SDOH [social determinants of health] is one of the first lines of defense in building safer, more stable, and financially secure communities." Projects that connect legal services to broader community stability are valued.

Workforce and Community Focus: The Foundation's 2023 Annual Report, "Accelerating Justice," highlights how funding "supports work that strengthens the workforce, improves communities, and stabilizes families." Applications demonstrating multi-faceted community impact are favorable.

Partnership Development: Successful programs often involve partnerships with other organizations. The Ukrainian Legal Services Grant Program partnered with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The veterans program develops partnerships with veterans courts, VA bureaus, and Veterans Service Centers.

Capacity Building: The Foundation values projects that enhance the overall capacity of Ohio's legal aid system, not just individual case outcomes.

Recent Funding Priorities: Based on recent awards and programs, the Foundation has shown particular interest in:

• Housing stability and affordable housing development
• Services for veterans
• Services for refugees and immigrants (particularly Ukrainians)
• Community economic development approaches
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the legal profession
• Technology and innovation in legal service delivery

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on systemic impact: The Foundation values projects that create lasting change beyond individual cases, emphasizing community stabilization and workforce development
• Demonstrate innovation: The Foundation's award-winning programs show commitment to creative approaches that intersect legal services with community economic development and social determinants of health
• Start with an LOI: Use the two-page Letter of Intent to clearly articulate your project's alignment with Foundation priorities before investing in a full application
• Ohio-specific service delivery: All funded work must serve low-income Ohioans or address access to justice issues in Ohio
• Partnership approaches: Projects involving collaboration with other community organizations, government agencies, or legal aid providers are well-regarded
• Consider special programs: If your organization serves veterans, immigrants, or focuses on housing stability, investigate whether special grant programs align with your work
• LRAP for recruitment: If you're a legal aid organization, the Foundation's generous LRAP program (up to $75,000 lifetime benefit) can be a recruitment and retention tool
• Multi-year thinking: Many Foundation programs (Fellowships, Neighborhood Stabilization) involve multi-year commitments, suggesting patience for complex projects

References

• Ohio Access to Justice Foundation official website: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• How to Apply page: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/how-to-apply/ (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-4044686 (accessed January 2026)
• Foundation Releases 2023 Annual Report: Accelerating Justice: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/foundation-releases-2023-annual-report-accelerating-justice/ (accessed January 2026)
• Ohio Court News: "Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation Announces Name Change" (September 24, 2019): https://www.courtnewsohio.gov/happening/2019/OAJF_092419.asp
• Foundation Honored with Philanthropy Ohio Innovation Award: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/foundation-honored-with-philanthropy-ohio-innovation-award/ (accessed January 2026)
• Neighborhood Stabilization Grant Program Transforms Communities through CED: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/neighborhood-stabilization-grant-program-transforms-communities-through-ced/ (accessed January 2026)
• Foundation's Grant Program Supports Expanded Civil Legal Services for Veterans: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/foundations-grant-program-supports-expanded-civil-legal-services-for-veterans/ (accessed January 2026)
• Ukrainians Seeking Safety and Security Find Help from Foundation Grantees: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/ukrainians-seeking-safety-and-security-find-help-from-foundation-grantees/ (accessed January 2026)
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/grantees/lrap/ (accessed January 2026)
• Justice for All Fellows: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/grantees/fellows/ (accessed January 2026)
• Board of Trustees: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/about-us/board/ (accessed January 2026)
• Staff: https://www.ohiojusticefoundation.org/staff/ (accessed January 2026)