Nevada Bar Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $16.6 million (IOLTA 2025) + $400,000 (Foundation Grants)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: IOLTA: 6-8 weeks (application January, decision February, distribution March); Foundation: Approximately 8-12 weeks (application August, decision/distribution timing varies)
• Grant Range: IOLTA: $50,000 - $8,944,080; Foundation: $5,000 - $50,000 (plus matching grants)
• Geographic Focus: Nevada statewide

Contact Details

Address: 3100 W. Charleston Boulevard, Ste. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102

Website: https://nevadabarfoundation.org

Phone: 702-382-2200 (State Bar of Nevada main office)

Grant Inquiries: Claudia Mason at claudiam@nvbar.org

Online Application Portal: Available through foundation website

Overview

The Nevada Bar Foundation (NBF) was incorporated in 1997 as the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the State Bar of Nevada and transitioned from a private foundation to a public charity on January 1, 2015. The foundation's mission is to provide legally-related services to the poor, victims of domestic violence, and children protected by or in need of protection of the juvenile court, and to promote law-related educational programs. With annual grant awards exceeding $17 million, NBF operates two distinct grant programs: the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts) program created by the Nevada Supreme Court in 1982, which distributes the majority of funding for direct legal services, and the Foundation Grant program established in 2022 to support educational, pipeline, and pro bono initiatives within the legal community. The foundation has demonstrated remarkable growth, with IOLTA grants increasing from $2.9 million in 2015 to $16.6 million in 2025, reflecting its expanding impact on access to justice throughout Nevada.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

IOLTA Grants: $50,000 - $8,944,080

• The foundation's primary grant mechanism supporting direct legal services
• Funded through interest earned on lawyer trust accounts
• Application deadline: Mid-January (2026 deadline: January 16)
• Distribution: March annually
• Major recipients include Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada ($8.9M in 2025), Northern Nevada Legal Aid ($2.4M in 2025), and Nevada Legal Services ($2.3M in 2025)

Foundation Grants: $5,000 - $50,000 (with matching grant opportunities)

• Annual awards up to $200,000 total, often structured as matching grants
• Funded through late fees and penalties from Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education
• Application deadline: Early August (recent deadline: August 1)
• Supports organizations including bar associations, law-related education programs, and pro bono service providers
• Matching grants strongly encouraged - foundation provides instructional video to maximize matching dollars

Priority Areas

IOLTA Grant Priorities:

• Direct legal services to the poor
• Support for victims of domestic violence
• Legal assistance for children protected by or in need of protection of the juvenile court
• Programs serving senior citizens
• Services promoting access to justice for underserved populations
• Preference given to organizations with evidence of community support and matching funds

Foundation Grant Priorities:

• Education for Nevada attorneys on civility, well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Law-related education programs that promote interest in and understanding of the law
• Support for affinity bar associations serving minority lawyers
• LSAT preparation, law school scholarships, and bar exam preparation programs
• Pipeline programs to increase diversity in the legal profession
• Pro bono legal assistance programs
• Continuing legal education initiatives

What They Don't Fund

• Political contributions or campaigns
• Fundraising events or activities
• Additions to endowments
• Projects outside Nevada
• Individuals (organizations only)
• Private foundations or supporting organizations (Foundation Grants)
• Programs that do not align with legally-related services or legal education

Governance and Leadership

Board Officers

• Paul Matteoni - President
• Will Sykes - Treasurer
• Kimberly Farmer - Secretary

Board of Trustees

The 9-member Board of Trustees serves as the foundation's governing body, responsible for granting of IOLTA funds, management and investment of funding, strategic planning, and establishing policies. Current trustees include:

• Austin Barnum
• Mary Chapman
• Tyson Hafen
• Patricia Halstead
• Mike Hix
• David Lopez Negrete
• Kyle Morishita
• Michael Morton
• Dave Zerhusen

The Board of Trustees holds two in-person meetings per year and engages in telephonic Board and stakeholder meetings as needed. All grant awards are made at the sole discretion of the NBF Board of Trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IOLTA Grants:

• Online application through the Nevada Bar Foundation website
• Application opens annually in early January
• Deadline: Mid-January (2026: January 16)
• Board consideration: Mid-February (2026: February 19)
• Grant distribution: March

Foundation Grants:

• Online application through the Nevada Bar Foundation website
• Application deadline: Early August (recent deadline: August 1)
• Awards announced and distributed later in the year
• Matching grant recipients should watch the instructional video provided by NBF

Required Documents (Both Programs): All documents must be uploaded in PDF format:

• List of organization's Board of Directors (including names, phone numbers, and email addresses)
• Copy of organization's Form 990 tax returns for the past year (or statement explaining why not required to file)
• Copy of organization's IRS determination letter (501(c)(3) status)

Application Components:

• Organization information and background
• Organizational purpose and mission alignment
• Detailed program description
• Geographic service areas
• Budget breakdown (program expenses, staff salaries, operational costs)
• Explanation of how funds will be used
• Marketing plan (Foundation Grants)
• Sustainability plan (Foundation Grants)

Decision Timeline

IOLTA Grants:

• Application deadline: Mid-January
• NBF Board consideration: Mid-February
• Decision notification: Late February
• Grant distribution: March
• Total timeline: Approximately 6-8 weeks from application to distribution

Foundation Grants:

• Application deadline: Early August
• Decision and notification timeline: Not publicly specified, estimated 8-12 weeks
• Applicants receive email confirmation upon successful submission

Grant Reporting:

• IOLTA: Year-end grant reports due early January following the grant year
• Foundation: Grant reports due the following August

Reapplication Policy

The NBF reserves the right to deny applications with or without prejudice. Applications denied "without prejudice" may be resubmitted in future grant cycles. The foundation does not publish specific waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants, suggesting annual reapplication is permissible. Organizations should address any weaknesses identified in previous applications and demonstrate program improvements or changes that better align with NBF priorities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Nevada Bar Foundation's stated priorities and funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

For IOLTA Grants:

1. Direct Service Delivery: Organizations providing hands-on legal services to underserved populations consistently receive funding. The three largest recipients (Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada Legal Aid, Nevada Legal Services) focus exclusively on direct legal representation and advice.

2. Community Support: The foundation explicitly states "preference will be given to organizations with evidence of community support." Applications should document partnerships, community endorsements, volunteer engagement, and collaborative relationships.

3. Matching Funds: While not required, organizations that secure matching funds strengthen their applications. The foundation views this as evidence of community support and organizational capacity.

4. Target Population Clarity: Successful applicants clearly articulate how they serve the poor, domestic violence victims, children in juvenile court, or senior citizens. Quantifiable service metrics (number of clients served, cases handled, outcomes achieved) strengthen applications.

5. Nevada Focus: All services must be delivered within Nevada, and applications should specify geographic coverage areas within the state.

For Foundation Grants:

1. Attorney and Legal Community Benefit: Programs that educate attorneys or support the legal profession's development receive priority. Recent awards went to continuing legal education programs, attorney well-being initiatives, and diversity education.

2. Pipeline and Access Programs: The foundation strongly supports programs that increase diversity in the legal profession, including LSAT preparation, law school scholarships, bar exam support, and programs introducing underrepresented youth to legal careers.

3. Affinity Bar Support: Organizations supporting minority lawyers and fostering inclusion receive consistent funding. Recent recipients include the South Asian Bar Association ($25,000 grant plus $12,500 match).

4. Matching Grant Strategy: Foundation Grants frequently include matching components. Organizations should identify potential matching sources and watch NBF's instructional video on maximizing matching dollars.

5. Sustainable Programs: Applications must demonstrate how programs will continue beyond the grant period, showing organizational capacity and long-term viability.

General Success Factors:

• Complete Documentation: Ensure all required documents (Board list, Form 990, IRS determination letter) are properly formatted in PDF and uploaded successfully
• Budget Alignment: Clearly connect requested funds to specific program expenses, avoiding vague or overhead-heavy budgets
• Measurable Outcomes: Define concrete metrics for success and demonstrate how impact will be evaluated
• Compliance with Restrictions: Explicitly confirm funds will not be used for political activities, fundraising events, or endowments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Dual Opportunities: Consider both IOLTA and Foundation Grants if your organization serves both direct legal services and legal education/professional development - these are separate programs with different eligibility and deadlines

• Timing is Critical: IOLTA applications (January deadline) and Foundation Grant applications (August deadline) occur at different times; plan accordingly and note that decisions follow within 6-12 weeks

• Matching Grants Maximize Impact: For Foundation Grants, securing matching commitments significantly increases potential funding - awards can effectively double through matching opportunities

• Scale Matters for IOLTA: The three major legal aid organizations receive the vast majority of IOLTA funding ($13.7M of $16.6M in 2025), suggesting the foundation prioritizes established, high-capacity service providers for its largest grants while smaller grants support specialized programs like CASA and domestic violence services

• Evidence and Outcomes: Both programs value demonstrated community support, measurable outcomes, and proven track records - new or unproven programs face higher barriers

• Nevada-Centric Mission: All funded work must serve Nevada populations and align with Nevada's legal community development - multi-state programs should clearly delineate Nevada-specific activities

• Board Discretion: All decisions rest with the Board of Trustees, and applications can be denied with or without prejudice - building relationships with board members and understanding their strategic priorities can provide insight into funding decisions

References

• Nevada Bar Foundation official website: https://nevadabarfoundation.org (Accessed February 2026)
• Nevada Bar Foundation Grants Page: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/grants/ (Accessed February 2026)
• IOLTA Grant Application Page: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/grants/iolta-grant/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Foundation Grant Request Page: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/foundation-grant-request/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Foundation Grant Recipients: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/foundation-grant-recipients/ (Accessed February 2026)
• IOLTA Grant Recipients: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/grants/past-iolta-grant-recipients/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Board of Trustees: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/board-of-trustees/ (Accessed February 2026)
• About Us: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/about-us/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Contact Us: https://nevadabarfoundation.org/contact-us/ (Accessed February 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/88-0399023 (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/880399023 (Accessed February 2026)
• National Conference of Bar Foundations - Nevada Bar Foundation: https://ncbf.org/nevada-bar-foundation/ (Accessed February 2026)
• State Bar of Nevada social media post regarding grant deadlines and contact (Claudia Mason email) (Accessed February 2026)