How to apply for funding.
The Foundation makes grants to civil legal-aid organizations and access-to-justice initiatives that serve low-income Ohioans. Here's how funding requests work.
Who is eligible
Foundation funding supports organizations delivering civil legal aid and access-to-justice programming to Ohioans who are low-income or who lack access to the civil justice system. The Foundation's core grantees are Ohio's five legal aid organizations, alongside targeted programs and initiatives.
How funding is decided
- The Foundation pools IOLTA/IOTA interest, the civil filing-fee surcharge, grants, and donations.
- The board approves annual funding awards — $7.2 million for 2026.
- Grants are made with oversight to ensure the highest quality of civil legal aid work statewide.
Current application cycles, guidelines, and the grants portal are maintained on the Foundation's website.
Open the live How to Apply page ↗Justice works — when it's funded.
Every gift helps low-income Ohioans keep their homes, their families, and their footing. Invest in the systems that make justice real.
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