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Legal Foundation of Washington

Annual Giving
$29.4M
Grant Range
$5K - $10.6M
Decision Time
4mo

Legal Foundation of Washington - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $29,388,845 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 months from LOI to final decision
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $10,600,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Washington State
  • Total Awards: 47 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 1325 4th Ave Ste 1335, Seattle, WA 98101

Phone: (206) 624-2536

Website: www.legalfoundation.org

Email: melinda@legalfoundation.org (Melinda Mann, Chief Development and Stewardship Officer)

Grant Portal: Accessible through the LFW website for all application submissions

Overview

The Legal Foundation of Washington (LFW) was established in 1984 at the direction of the Washington Supreme Court to distribute Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) funds to legal aid organizations across the state. Since its founding, LFW has distributed more than $200 million to Washington's legal aid community. The foundation currently provides over $15 million annually in grants for direct civil legal aid and systemic advocacy, supporting more than 40 civil justice organizations across Washington State. LFW manages the Endowment for Equal Justice, the largest civil legal aid endowment in the nation with a corpus exceeding $22 million. The organization is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization and strives to reflect racial justice and inclusion in all grantmaking activities, recognizing the historical impact of racism and the disparate outcomes it creates for communities of color, particularly in the justice system.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Partnership Grants (Rolling general operating support, up to 4-year terms)

  • Grant amounts vary significantly: $206,000 - $10,600,000
  • For the 2024-2025 grant cycle, LFW awarded $27,338,000 to 29 organizations
  • Provides recurring general operating funds to civil justice programs across Washington
  • Requires Letter of Inquiry (LOI) first, followed by full application for selected applicants
  • Application process: LOIs due August 15, notification by September 22, full applications due October 3, final decisions announced by November 24

Race Equity Grants ($50,000 each, 2-year terms)

  • Twenty grants of $50,000 awarded per cycle
  • Two-year terms (e.g., July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026)
  • Uses community-driven grantmaking model with advisory panel of community leaders
  • Designed to advance racial justice in civil legal aid and build power in communities most impacted by structural racism

Accelerator Grants ($20,000 - $100,000, 1-year terms)

  • One-year grants (January 1 - December 31)
  • Requires Letter of Inquiry first
  • Full applications due October 3, decisions announced by November 24
  • Supports innovative approaches to civil legal aid

Native American & Tribal Communities Grant (Amount varies)

  • Designed to build and strengthen capacity of civil legal aid services for Native and Tribal communities
  • Supports Indigenous models and approaches to civil justice
  • Aims to build long-lasting legal aid infrastructure and partnerships

Central Washington BIPOC Communities Grant (Amount varies)

  • Focuses on building capacity for legal services to BIPOC communities in Central Washington

Small Grants (Up to $5,000)

  • Funds projects taking fresh, inventive approaches to legal aid
  • More flexible, innovative funding stream

Goldmark Equal Access to Justice Internship Host Program Grant

  • Supports 10-week paid summer internships for 2nd and 3rd year law students
  • Hosted by legal aid organizations in Washington State

Priority Areas

LFW seeks partners that are client-centered, community-based, and anti-racist in their approach. The foundation funds:

  • Direct Civil Legal Aid: Organizations providing legal representation and advice to low-income individuals
  • Impact Litigation: Systemic legal reform addressing unfair barriers and discriminatory systems
  • Policy Reform: Advocacy work to change laws and policies affecting low-income communities
  • Systemic Advocacy: Efforts to address root causes of injustice

Specific Issue Areas Funded:

  • Immigration and refugee services
  • Worker rights and employment justice
  • Housing and eviction defense
  • Domestic violence legal aid
  • Healthcare access
  • Discriminatory electoral systems
  • Legal financial obligations reform
  • Farmworker justice
  • LGBTQ+ rights
  • Tribal legal services

LFW commits more than half of its funding to impact litigation and policy reform that advance rights for people living in poverty.

What They Don't Fund

  • Criminal Legal Defense: IOLTA grants do not support criminal legal defense work
  • Fee-Generating Cases: Cases that could generate attorney fees for clients are typically excluded (standard IOLTA restriction)
  • Organizations Outside Washington State: Geographic restriction to Washington State
  • Non-Civil Legal Aid: Must focus on civil justice issues, not criminal matters
  • Organizations Not Serving Low-Income Communities: Must demonstrate service to low-income populations

Governance and Leadership

LFW Board of Trustees - Executive Committee

Joanna Plichta Boisen - President

Anthony Powers - Vice President

Hon. Kristin Ferrera - Secretary

Gary Melonson - Co-Treasurer

Michael Sprangers - Co-Treasurer

Juli Farris - Past-President

Additional board members include Sean M. Davis, Candelaria Murillo, Jennifer Bereskin-SeaMonster, William D. Pickett, and Shaun T. Greer.

Board members are appointed by the Governor, the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors, and the Washington Supreme Court. They serve three-year terms and are eligible for one re-appointment.

Key Staff

Caitlin Davis Carlson - Executive Director (serving since 2005)

  • Has been active in Washington's legal aid community for more than two decades
  • Previously coordinated King County Bar Association's revenue enhancement and membership programs
  • Joined LFW as Grants Manager before becoming Executive Director

Annie Ramirez - Endowment Director

Emily - Oversees LFW's grant portfolio of civil justice work across the state

Katie - Major Gifts Officer for the Endowment for Equal Justice and LFW

Shara Markel - Administrative Coordinator, provides administrative support to the LFW Board of Trustees

Kristin - Handles day-to-day operations, provides administrative support to the Board, serves as staff coordinator for the Goldmark Internship Program

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Create an Account: All applicants must create an account in LFW's Grant Portal using the "Log In" button. It is suggested to create your account well in advance of grant deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.

Access Grant Opportunities: Once logged in, click "Apply" on the top menu to see a list of open grant opportunities.

Preview Applications: Click the "Preview" button to review application questions before starting.

Application Types:

  • Some grants (Partnership Grants, Accelerator Grants) require a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) first
  • If selected to move forward, applicants receive invitation to submit full application
  • Other grants may use direct full application process

Submission: Complete all questions and either save or submit your application through the online portal.

Review Process: LFW staff and Board of Trustees review applications and reach out if additional information is needed. Applicants are notified whether proposals are approved or denied.

Support Available: LFW is committed to supporting programs through every step of their work and offers grant application assistance and ongoing technical support to grantees.

Decision Timeline

Partnership Grants and Accelerator Grants (Annual Cycle):

  • August 15: LOIs due
  • September 22: Notification if selected to move to full application
  • October 3: Full applications due
  • November 24: Final award decisions announced

Race Equity Grants: Timeline varies; uses community-driven grantmaking model with advisory panel review

Total Timeline: Approximately 3-4 months from initial LOI submission to final decision

Success Rates

LFW does not publicly disclose specific success rates or the number of applications received versus approved. In 2023, the foundation made 47 grant awards totaling $29,388,845.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact LFW directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Based on LFW's documented priorities and grantmaking practices, the following factors appear critical for success:

1. Alignment with Equity and Anti-Racist Values

LFW explicitly seeks partners that are "client-centered, community-based, and anti-racist in their approach." The foundation is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization and uses equity analysis in evaluating grant applications and making award decisions. Applications should demonstrate:

  • Concrete anti-racist practices and policies
  • Community-based approach with meaningful community engagement
  • Client-centered service delivery models
  • Commitment to addressing structural racism and oppression

2. Service to Priority Populations

Strong applications demonstrate service to:

  • Low-income families in Washington State
  • Communities most impacted by structural racism and oppression
  • Communities of color facing disparate outcomes in the justice system
  • Native American and Tribal communities
  • Immigrant and refugee populations
  • BIPOC communities, particularly in underserved areas

3. Focus on Civil Legal Aid Priority Areas

LFW targets inequalities in the civil legal system where people seeking justice in cases including immigration, worker rights, housing, and domestic violence are not entitled to a lawyer. Applications should clearly address:

  • Direct civil legal aid needs
  • Impact litigation opportunities
  • Policy reform potential
  • Systemic advocacy strategies

4. Community-Driven Approach

For Race Equity Grants specifically, LFW uses a community-driven grantmaking model designed to center the voices of communities most impacted by grantmaking decisions. An advisory panel of community leaders who have lived experience with the legal aid system, poverty, and racism review applications and prioritize the most impactful projects.

Applications should demonstrate:

  • Lived experience representation in leadership or advisory roles
  • Meaningful community input in program design
  • Community accountability mechanisms

5. Demonstrated Capacity and Impact

Given the range of grant sizes (from $5,000 to over $10 million), LFW funds organizations at various capacity levels. However, reviewing recent Partnership Grant awards shows substantial funding to established organizations with proven track records:

  • Columbia Legal Services: $10,600,000
  • Northwest Immigrant Rights Project: $3,500,000
  • King County Bar Association Pro Bono Services: $1,310,000
  • Benefits Law Center: $1,080,000

Smaller organizations can access opportunities through Accelerator Grants, Small Grants, and targeted programs.

6. Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

Partnership Grants provide up to four-year terms, indicating LFW's interest in long-term partnerships that ensure stability of civil legal aid in Washington and "build an aligned movement toward equity and lasting change."

7. Compliance with IOLTA Restrictions

As the primary distributor of IOLTA funds in Washington, LFW must ensure grants comply with IOLTA restrictions. Applications should not include:

  • Criminal defense work
  • Fee-generating cases (with narrow exceptions)
  • Work outside Washington State

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Equity is Central, Not Optional: LFW's commitment to anti-racist grantmaking is fundamental. Applications must demonstrate concrete equity practices, not just aspirational language. The foundation uses equity analysis in all grant decisions and seeks partners who are anti-racist in their approach.

  2. Community Voice Matters: Particularly for Race Equity Grants, community-driven decision-making is built into the process. Applications should show how community members—especially those with lived experience of poverty and the legal aid system—inform program design and governance.

  3. Know Your Grant Program: LFW offers multiple distinct grant programs with different purposes, amounts, and timelines. Carefully review eligibility and guidelines for each program. Partnership Grants ($206,000-$10.6M) are fundamentally different from Small Grants (up to $5,000).

  4. Plan for the LOI Process: Major grant programs (Partnership Grants, Accelerator Grants) use a two-stage process starting with Letters of Inquiry. Not all LOIs are invited to submit full applications, so the LOI is a critical screening step.

  5. Utilize Available Support: LFW offers grant application assistance and ongoing technical support. Take advantage of these resources, especially if applying for the first time or tackling a larger grant program.

  6. Think Beyond Direct Services: While LFW funds direct legal aid, they commit more than half their funding to impact litigation and policy reform. Strong applications may combine direct services with systemic change strategies.

  7. Geographic Focus is Washington-Specific: All funding is restricted to organizations serving low-income people in Washington State. Applications should clearly demonstrate Washington State focus and impact.

References

All sources accessed December 2025.

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