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Texas Access To Justice Foundation

Annual Giving
$91.7M
Grant Range
Up to $1.8M00
Decision Time
4mo
0

Texas Access to Justice Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $91.7 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $131 million
  • Grant Range: Varies by program; recent awards include $1.8 million to individual organizations
  • Application Cycle: February-April (when funds available)
  • Decision Time: Summer decisions (typically 3-5 months after deadline)
  • Geographic Focus: Texas statewide
  • Funding Sources: IOLTA, Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS), Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS)

Contact Details

Texas Access to Justice Foundation

  • Website: https://www.teajf.org/
  • Grants Portal: https://grants.tajf.org/
  • Phone: (512) 320-0099 or toll-free 800-252-3401, ext. 103
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12886, Austin, TX 78711-2886
  • Physical Address: 1601 Rio Grande, Suite 351, Austin, TX 78701

Overview

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) is the leading funding source for legal aid in Texas. Created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984 to administer the newly implemented Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program, TAJF now grants millions of dollars annually to approximately 30 organizations statewide that provide free civil legal assistance to low-income Texans. With $91.7 million in annual revenue (2023) and $131 million in total assets, TAJF's funding enables legal aid organizations to serve over 100,000 low-income Texas families each year in civil matters. The Foundation's mission ensures that all Texans, regardless of income, have equal access to the civil justice system. Recent strategic initiatives include the innovative Moonshot Grant Program supporting Community Justice Workers and expanded funding for veterans' legal services and sexual assault survivors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

IOLTA & Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS) Grants

  • Two-year grant cycles (e.g., September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2027)
  • Distributes over $63 million biennially to 30+ organizations
  • Supports basic civil legal services for low-income Texans
  • Applications typically due in April (e.g., April 30, 2026 for next cycle)

Veterans Legal Services

  • $3 million approved by Texas Legislature for legal services to Texas veterans and their families
  • Fellowships available for post-graduate attorneys serving veterans

Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA)

  • Statewide network serving every Texas county
  • Funded through state tax on sexually-oriented businesses
  • Provides holistic direct representation and advice for civil legal matters stemming from sexual assault

Student Loan Repayment Assistance Program

  • Supports attorneys choosing careers in legal aid
  • Encourages retention of legal aid professionals

Fellowships

  • Post-graduate fellowship programs (including 15-year partnership with Greenberg Traurig)
  • Special fellowships for veterans' services

Disaster Planning Grants

  • Emergency Legal Aid Fund for eligible nonprofits
  • Recent example: $1.8 million to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid for flood survivors

Moonshot Grants (2024)

  • Innovative funding for Community Justice Workers Program
  • Recipients: Disability Rights Texas, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Lone Star Legal Aid, Texas Legal Services Center, and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
  • Expands access using trained lay advocates for limited-scope civil legal services

Priority Areas

TAJF funds civil legal services including:

  • Consumer matters
  • Employment disputes
  • Family law (divorce, adoption, child support)
  • Access to health care and public benefits
  • Housing and landlord-tenant disputes
  • Individual rights
  • Wills and estates
  • Veterans' legal needs
  • Sexual assault survivors' civil legal matters

Client Eligibility Standard: TAJF defines low-income as individuals living at or below 125% of federal poverty level (IOLTA & BCLS funding)

What They Don't Fund

IOLTA Restrictions:

  • Class action lawsuits
  • Lawsuits against government entities (except for statutory benefits)
  • Lobbying activities
  • Cases expected to generate attorney fees from opposing parties without first attempting to secure private counsel

BCLS Additional Restrictions:

  • Abortion-related cases
  • Representation for imprisoned individuals
  • Services to undocumented immigrants (unless personal safety is threatened)

CVCLS Restrictions:

  • Similar to IOLTA with focus on crime victims only

General Exclusions:

  • Grants to individuals (only to nonprofit organizations)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations where civil legal services to low-income Texans is not a primary purpose

Governance and Leadership

Board Structure: The TAJF Board includes 13 attorney and public members—seven appointed by the Texas Supreme Court and six by the State Bar of Texas.

Board Chair: Deborah Hankinson, former Texas Supreme Court Justice, serves as TAJF's fifth chair and the first woman to hold this position. She was reappointed for another three-year term in 2023.

Executive Director: Betty Balli Torres has served as Executive Director since 2001. She was honored with the 2021 Innovations in Equal Justice Award and is a Past President of the National Association of IOLTA Programs. Torres is board chair of ProBonoNet and serves on the Management Information Exchange board. As Torres stated in an interview: "We have dedicated our professional career to public interest work serving as an advocate for civil legal services for the poor."

Recent Board Members Include:

  • Travis Torrence, Managing Counsel of U.S. Litigation at Shell
  • Jose "Pepe" A. Aranda, Real estate brokerage owner and former mayor of Eagle Pass
  • Terry O. Tottenham
  • Dr. Benjamin Alexander
  • Margarita Sanchez

Honorary Recognition: TAJF honored Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht with the Kleinman Award, its highest honor, for his years of leadership and contributions to access to justice.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application System: All grant applications must be submitted through TAJF's WebGrants online system at https://grants.tajf.org/. New applicants must register for an account.

Application Period: Applications are typically accepted between February and April each year, when funds are available. The TAJF website announces requests for proposals.

Contact for Questions: Email [email protected] or call 800-252-3401, ext. 103

Grant Period: Recent cycles cover two-year periods (e.g., September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2027), though TAJF reserves the right to award grants for shorter durations.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet ALL of the following:

  • Nonprofit Status: Must be Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing
  • Primary Purpose: Delivery of civil legal services to low-income Texans must be a primary organizational purpose
  • Current Provider: Must already be currently providing free civil legal aid to low-income individuals OR be an existing bar association interested in developing a pro bono program
  • Geographic Presence: Must serve Texas communities
  • Additional Requirements: Specific requirements vary by funding source (IOLTA, BCLS, or CVCLS)

Operational Requirements:

  • Adopt TAJF annual financial income guidelines (based on 125% of federal poverty level for IOLTA & BCLS)
  • Implement asset guidelines for eligibility determination
  • Maintain accounting and financial management systems to track grant funds
  • Utilize case management system with accurate, timely data recording and reporting capacity
  • Undergo annual financial audit
  • Screen all clients for eligibility and qualification

Collaboration: Applicants should contact programs within their service area to ensure proposed projects are not duplicative and demonstrate ability to work with local bar associations, pro bono and legal aid programs.

Decision Timeline

Summer Decisions: The Board of Directors makes funding decisions during summer months, typically 3-5 months after application deadline.

Announcement: Funding announcements follow shortly after Board decisions.

Reporting Requirements After Award:

  • Quarterly financial expenditure reports (due Dec. 15, March 15, June 15, Sept. 15)
  • Bi-annual programmatic reports
  • Annual programmatic and financial reports
  • TAJF conducts in-person site visits with each grantee to assess compliance and evaluate quality and effectiveness

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, TAJF typically funds approximately 30 organizations statewide per grant cycle, demonstrating a selective but substantial grantmaking portfolio.

Reapplication Policy

The application process repeats every grant cycle (typically every two years). Organizations may reapply in subsequent cycles. IOLTA and BCLS grants allow carryover of up to 10% of unspent funds to the subsequent year with approval. CVCLS funds must be returned if unspent.

Application Success Factors

Critical Alignment Factors:

  1. Mission Alignment with Client Eligibility Standards: TAJF requires strict adherence to income guidelines (125% of federal poverty level for IOLTA & BCLS). Organizations must demonstrate robust screening processes to ensure all clients funded with TAJF funds meet eligibility requirements. Applications must show clear systems for eligibility determination and documentation.

  2. Geographic Considerations: The Foundation "recognizing the size and vast geographic diversity of the state and the unique needs of its various areas, will consider" geographic criteria in making grants. Applications should articulate how they address unique regional needs and avoid duplication with other funded programs.

  3. Demonstrated Capacity for Compliance: TAJF emphasizes operational infrastructure. Successful applicants demonstrate:

    • Robust financial management and accounting systems
    • Capacity to produce quarterly and annual reports
    • Case management systems with accurate data recording
    • Ability to undergo annual financial audits
    • Track record of compliance (for existing grantees)

  4. Collaboration and Non-Duplication: TAJF values applicants who "contact programs within their service area to ensure proposed projects are not duplicative" and "demonstrate an ability to work with local bar associations, pro bono and legal aid programs, and capitalize on the existing infrastructure to deliver pro bono services."

  5. Understanding Funding Source Restrictions: Each funding stream (IOLTA, BCLS, CVCLS) has specific restrictions. Successful applications demonstrate clear understanding of what activities can and cannot be funded with each source and show appropriate budget allocation.

  6. Types of Organizations Funded: Recent grantees include volunteer lawyers programs, legal aid offices, law school clinics, local bar association projects, family violence shelters, and specialized nonprofits like Disability Rights Texas. TAJF funds both large statewide providers (Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Lone Star Legal Aid) and smaller community-based organizations.

Recent Successful Projects:

  • Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: $1.8 million for legal aid for flood survivors
  • Moonshot Grant recipients: Community Justice Workers Program using trained lay advocates
  • Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs partnership: Housing stabilization legal services
  • Veterans fellowship programs in partnership with Greenberg Traurig

What TAJF Values:

  • Innovation in service delivery (as evidenced by Moonshot Grant Program)
  • Partnerships that leverage resources (corporate partnerships, government collaborations)
  • Services to underserved populations (veterans, sexual assault survivors, disaster victims)
  • Programs that expand capacity and reach of civil legal aid

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Eligibility is Strict: Only apply if your organization is already providing free civil legal aid to low-income Texans or is a bar association developing pro bono programs. New organizations without a track record should not apply.

  • Infrastructure Matters: TAJF requires substantial operational capacity including financial management systems, case management technology, audit capability, and reporting systems. Demonstrate these capabilities clearly in your application.

  • Know Your Funding Stream: Understand the specific restrictions of IOLTA vs. BCLS vs. CVCLS funding and ensure your proposed activities comply. Material budget deviations require revision requests.

  • Collaboration is Expected: Contact other programs in your service area before applying. Show how you will work with the existing legal aid infrastructure rather than duplicate services. TAJF values coordination and partnership.

  • Geographic Diversity: TAJF recognizes Texas's vast geographic diversity and unique regional needs. Articulate how your services address specific community needs and gaps in coverage.

  • Plan for Biennial Funding: Most grants run on two-year cycles, allowing you to plan sustainable programming. However, demonstrate fiscal responsibility as unspent CVCLS funds must be returned and IOLTA/BCLS carryover is limited to 10%.

  • Innovation is Valued: The Moonshot Grant Program and partnerships with entities like Greenberg Traurig and Texas DHCA show TAJF's interest in innovative approaches to expanding access. Don't be afraid to propose creative service delivery models if they align with mission and restrictions.

References

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