Our mission, and how we pursue it.

To ensure that Ohioans who are low-income or who lack access can fully and fairly participate in civil systems that produce just outcomes.

— The Foundation's mission

Five functions

We carry out that mission through five core functions:

• Promote access to justice across Ohio's civil systems.
• Fund civil legal aid — we are the state's largest funder.
• Expand legal capacity so more Ohioans can be served.
• Foster innovation in how civil legal help is delivered.
• Collaborate with partners to achieve systemic change.

Where the money comes from

The Foundation derives most of its income from two primary sources: interest earned on lawyer trust accounts (IOLTA) and title-agent trust accounts (IOTA), and a civil filing-fee surcharge collected by the courts — supplemented by grants and private donations. Those dollars became $7.2 million in approved funding for 2026.

Why it matters — Corey's story

Corey, three years old, was struggling with severe asthma. While treating him, his pediatrician learned the family was facing eviction — and, trained to identify patients with legal problems, referred Corey's mother, Shakira, to the medical-legal partnership between the hospital and legal aid. Legal aid represented the family against a landlord who repeatedly threatened eviction over fees he claimed were unpaid; with legal aid's help, Shakira showed that every fee had been paid and nothing was owed. Corey and his family are now stable in their home — and can focus on improving Corey's health.

That is the Foundation's work in one family: the funding machinery in the background, a stable home in the foreground.

For the complete overview on the Foundation's website, visit the live Overview page ↗.