Columbus, OH (June 2024) – The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) Board of Trustees has approved $435,645 in grants to 9 Ohio nonprofit organizations through its 2024 Spring Grant Cycle. Each project supports the OSBF’s mission to create a more just and equitable legal system for all Ohioans.
"The Ohio State Bar Foundation is proud to support 9 exceptional nonprofit organizations through our Spring Grants Cycle," said Belinda S. Barnes, OSBF President. "These grants address a wide range of critical issues, including mentorship for minority students in law, pro bono services, improved access to justice, civics education, trauma-informed lawyering, and more. The collective efforts of these organizations are making a significant, tangible difference, fostering a more equitable and just society for all Ohioans."
Southwest
- $18,000 to Adopt A Class Foundation to expand its Pathways to Law and Legal Services Careers through Mentorship program. This grant will recruit 15 additional mentor teams, reaching a total of 1,000 students. The program includes modules with case studies, vignettes, and role-play activities to explore legal careers. Serving Hamilton and Butler counties.
- $60,145 to Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio to enhance its Expanding Attorney Volunteer Engagement in Pro Bono Services for Nonprofits project. This funding will help expand the attorney volunteer base, appreciate current volunteers, recruit new corporate and transactional attorneys, and improve volunteer communications. Serving Hamilton, Montgomery, and Warren counties.
Northeast
- $16,500 to Northeast Ohio Worker Center to expand the Improving Accessibility and Scale of NEOWC Worker Services project. The grant will support monthly and weekly drop-in wage theft clinics, bilingual outreach, virtual services, and increased community outreach through training programs. Serving Cuyahoga County.
Central and Southwest
- $100,000 to Summer Work Experience In Law Inc to expand its Pathways to Law and Legal Services Careers through Mentorship program for minority high school and college students interested in legal careers. The grant will fund updates to the website, data collection, curriculum development, emergency transportation, clothing resources, LSAT prep, legal writing workshops, etiquette dinners, and collaborations with educators and law schools. Serving Franklin, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties.
Central and Northwest
- $30,000 to We Amplify Voices (WAV) to fund the Life Stories II project. This initiative provides law students, attorneys, judges, and public defenders an intimate look at the lives of inmates sentenced to life in prison, promoting trauma-informed practices. WAV will create educational modules based on interviews with inmates, available for free on digital platforms. Serving Franklin, Marion, and Union counties.
Statewide
- $7,500 to Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio (LASCO) to upgrade the Collaboration to Improve Access to Justice project’s listserv platform for statewide legal aid staff. The funding will facilitate a migration to a modern listserv management platform for better communication and information sharing. Serving counties statewide.
- $128,500 to Ohio Center for Law Related Education to support Civic Education Programs, Teacher Training & Outreach. This project will continue providing high-quality civic education, teacher training, and outreach to schools, especially in under-resourced areas, fostering a more informed citizenry. Serving counties statewide.
- $25,000 to Equality Ohio Education Fund to update and disseminate the Ohio Trans Know Your Rights Guide. This project will revise the guide to reflect current challenges and distribute it widely, empowering transgender individuals and service providers with crucial information. Serving counties statewide.
- $50,000 to YMCA Ohio Youth & Government to support the Civic Engagement Program. This initiative allows students to participate in a model legislative and judicial program, interact with diverse peers, and engage in activities like a Supreme Court simulation and the Appellate program. Serving counties statewide.
If you’d like to learn more about any of the grantees, be connected with one of the organizations directly, or know more about the OSBF’s grantmaking process, contact OSBF’s Grants Manager Michelle Hendricks at MHendricks@OSBF.org. The deadline for the 2024 Fall Grants Cycle is August 15, 2024.
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