The AAML Foundation Grant

The AAML Foundation Grant is sponsored by AAML Foundation, Southern California Chapter. The AAML Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving families and children in crisis, with focused support for legal services, mental health care, domestic violence intervention, and family court-related programs.

Grant Application and Policies – AAMLF 321 N Clark Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60654 Grant Opportunities and Policies The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation was chartered in 1990 for charitable and educational purposes by the now 1400 members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Foundation’s purpose is to advance one of the AAML’s most important goals – the protection of children and families.

The Foundation solicits proposals for programs or activities which promote these goals and awards grants to those organizations which the Foundation deems most meritorious. The completed application with required documents found below, must be received by the Foundation no later than 5:00 p. m.

, May 15th, of the year in which the grant is submitted. An application received after the deadline will not be considered.

Email the completed application and documents to Kimberley Scott 2025-2026 Mid-year Progress Report 2025-2026 Year-end Progress Report Please Review the AAMLF Grant Policies Before Completing the Grant Application The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation aspires to elevate the standards of family law practice through the funding of programs to educate the public, Judges, and attorneys about various aspects of family law.

The Foundation solicits proposals for programs or activities which promote these goals and awards funds to those organizations which the Foundation deems most meritorious.

The Board of Directors of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation will consider grant applications for proposals designed to: Provide financial assistance to organizations by way of grants in order to help protect families, parents and children adversely affected by the breakup of the family unit; Support projects pertaining to children in custody disputes, dependency cases and similar situations; Support programs in schools, courts and organizations to help children cope with the breakup of families; Teach mothers, fathers and parental caregivers how to co-parent effectively; Provide counseling to children of families experiencing domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness; Promote relationship enrichment programs to help prevent the breakup of families; Promote pro bono and low-cost family law legal representation and ancillary mental health services for both indigent clients and their children, who are adversely affected by the breakup of the family unit; and Promote innovation, research and education in support of the mission of the Foundation.

As a general rule, the Foundation will give priority to projects which are either initiated and completed within the grant year or receive funding from other sources after the Foundation provides the initial start-up funds. Also, a grant awarded to an approved applicant will ordinarily not exceed $5,000 and not exceed a 12-month budget period.

To be eligible to apply for funds from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, an applicant must: Be a U.S.-based organization that has received a determination letter (which is in effect during the application process) from the Internal Revenue Service that it qualifies as an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; or Be able to demonstrate that the proposed project for which the funds will be used qualifies as an activity in which a Section 501(c)(3) organization is permitted to engage; or Be an individual or individuals who provide research and/or education involving issues pertinent to family law.

Grant awards will not be made to: Organizations designed primarily for lobbying or dissemination of religious or political views; Political organizations or campaigns; Endowment funds or campaigns; Scholarship funds or campaigns; Lawyers or law firms in private practice; or Organizations substantially funded by the Legal Services Corporation or its equivalent.

Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the annual amount of funding for grants will be the greater of: The total donations toward the current billable hour campaign received by August 15; or Between 4% and 8% of the Foundation’s April 30 total account balances if the billable hour campaign donations are less than 8% Based on the above parameters, the Board will determine the amount of total grant dollars awarded each year.

Non-Discrimination Policy for Grants It is the policy of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation to support organizations, projects and programs that do not discriminate for or against on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics.

The Foundation does not knowingly award grants to organizations that discriminate in their hiring or those they accept as volunteers or the clients they serve.

Since its creation, the Foundation’s mission has been providing financial assistance through grants, to help families and, particularly children, negatively impacted by the breakup of the family unit—whether that breakup be the result of physical or mental abuse, substance abuse, financial devastation, abandonment, or mental illness. Whatever the cause, The Foundation is there to help with the aftermath.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) was founded in 1962 by highly regarded family lawyers to promote the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law. In 1990, leaders of the AAML recognized the need to focus their philanthropic and charitable activities, which they achieved by organizing the AAML Foundation. 321 N Clark Street, Suite 1200