Texas Access to Justice Foundation Grants (IOLTA, BCLS, CVCLS)

Texas Access to Justice Foundation Grants (IOLTA, BCLS, CVCLS) is sponsored by Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The Texas Access to Justice Foundation grants funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income Texans through its Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA), Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS), and Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) progra…

Lawyer's Guide to Trust Accounts Account Information / Changes Choose a Financial Institution New Account / IOLTA Notice Form IOLTA Account Closure Form Firm Information / Changes New Account / IOLTA Notice Form Rate Comparability Compliance Financial Institutions Guidebook Champions of Justice Gala Frequently Asked Questions – Grants From where does the Foundation Who is eligible for services from the funds distributed What kind of assistance do Foundation grantees provide?

How and when does my organization apply for funds? How are grant decisions made? What are the specific funding source restrictions?

Q: From where does the Foundation get its money? A: On behalf of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Foundation administers the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program, established in 1984 by the Supreme Court of Texas. The IOLTA program allows attorneys to pool short-term or nominal deposits made on behalf of clients or third parties into one account.

Interest generated by these accounts is dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that provide free civil Legal Aid to low-income Texans. The Foundation also administers the Basic Civil Legal Services (BCLS) Fund, enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1997. People who file lawsuits must pay a small additional fee.

These fees are designated to assist nonprofit organizations in providing free civil legal services to low-income Texans. The Foundation is also the administrator of the Crime Victims Civil Legal Services (CVCLS) fund. The monies granted must be used to provide free civil legal services to low-income victims of crime, immediate family members and claimants.

Q: Who may receive funding? A: Prospective grantees must be nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations that have as a primary purpose the delivery of civil legal services to low-income Texans. The Foundation does not grant funds to individuals.

Each funding source has several additional requirements that prospective grantee organizations must meet. For more information, please see the rules governing operation of the individual funding Rules Governing the Operation of TAJF and the CVCLS Court Order Q: Who is eligible for services from the funds distributed A: Funds from the Foundation help Low-Income Texans.

For the distribution of IOLTA and BCLS funds, the Foundation defines low-income as those who live at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. The CVCLS program assists low-income victims of crime that live at or below 187. 5 percent of poverty level.

See the Financial Eligibility Guidelines. Q: What kind of assistance do Foundation grantees provide? A: Grantees provide civil Legal Aid to indigent Texans who cannot otherwise afford an attorney.

These individuals may receive legal assistance in consumer matters, employment, divorce, adoption, access to health care and public benefits, housing, individual rights, and wills and estates. Through the CVCLS program, certain victims of crime may receive similar civil legal services in relation to the specific injury Q: How and when does my organization apply for funds?

A: The Texas Access to Justice Foundation accepts applications usually between February and April each year if there are fund available to new applicants. Our website will announce any requests for proposals. Completed applications must be submitted to TEAJF by the published deadline.

The TAJF Board of Directors makes funding decisions during the summer. Grant awards announcements are made shortly thereafter. For any questions, email TAJFmail@teajf.

org or call 800-252-3401, ext. 103 Q: How are grant decisions made? A: The Foundation's Board of Directors reviews both administrative and programmatic aspects of applicant organizations.

Some funds are distributed to organizations that provide statewide services, while other funds are distributed to organizations that provide services to their local communities. The funds are distributed using the poverty population, as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau, of the area where the grantee is located.

The Board attempts to ensure that funds granted by the Foundation are not used to duplicate a service already funded by another entity or in a place where other funds are available for the same purpose. Q: What are the specific funding source restrictions? A: Each program has its own particular set of restrictions, some of which are listed below.

For more information on funding restrictions, please see the and the General Grant Provisions for each funding source.

may not be used to directly fund class action lawsuits; to directly fund lawsuits against governmental entities, except by individuals to gain benefits authorized by statute or regulation; to support lobbying for a candidate or issue; and may not be used in matters that might reasonably be expected to result in a fee from public funds or from an opposing party unless appropriate attempts have been made to obtain representation from an attorney in private practice.

may not be used to directly or indirectly support a class action lawsuit; to directly or indirectly support a lawsuit against a governmental entity (except by groups or individuals to gain benefits authorized by statute or regulation), political party or candidate; to directly or indirectly support lobbying for or against a candidate or issue; to directly or indirectly support abortion litigation; to directly or indirectly represent an individual who is confined to jail or prison; to directly or indirectly provide legal services to an individual who is not legally in this country unless necessary to protect the physical safety of the individual; and in matters that might reasonably be expected to result in a fee from public funds or from an opposing party unless appropriate attempts have been made to obtain representation from an attorney in private practice.

CVCLS funds may not be used for class actions; may not be used against a governmental entity, except by groups or individuals to gain benefits authorized by statute or regulation; may not be used for lobbying; and may not be used for any case or matter that, if undertaken on behalf of an indigent person by an attorney in private practice, might reasonably be expected to result in the payment of a fee for legal services from an award to the client from public funds or from an opposing party unless applicant has been unable to obtain counsel because the potential fee is inadequate, likely uncollectable, would substantially consume recovery, or otherwise prevent applicant from obtaining For grants-related questions, not covered here, please The Texas Justice Dispatch LinkedIn newsletter J oin us for LAWteria - May 7 Do you have unclaimed IOLTA funds?

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