*The 2026 IICJ Grant application for Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2026 is open from Friday, Aug. 22 through Sept. 12, 2025. Scroll down to review organizational requirements if you have questions about eligibility.

Connecticut Bar Foundation grants provide a significant portion of the funding for civil legal services for the poor in Connecticut. Since 1987 the Foundation has awarded more than $371,852,940 in grants and law school scholarships.

$189,286,736 - IOLTA/IOTA Grants
$144,591,504 - Court Fees Grants-in-Aid
$  22,256,089 - Judicial Branch Grants-in-Aid
$    4,475,989 - IOLTA Law School Scholarships
$    3,110,278 - Bank of America Settlement Fund Grants

The Connecticut Bar Foundation seeks to further the rule of law and assist in efforts to improve the administration of justice in Connecticut based on the fundamental premise that the rule of law is essential to an orderly and just society and must be available to all, regardless of power or resources.  The Foundation tries to accomplish this objective in part by working to secure and administer a reliable and sufficient flow of funds to support legal services and access to justice for persons of limited means. 

The Foundation receives and distributes funds generated from IOLTA and IOTA through grants that support nonprofit corporations whose principal purpose is providing legal services to the poor in Connecticut. This source of funding is also used to provide grants to the three law schools in Connecticut, to award scholarships to qualified law school students based on financial need.

The Foundation also receives revenue from the Judicial Branch to support nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income people, and distributes these funds through the Judicial Branch Grants-in-Aid and Court Fees Grants-in-Aid programs to current IOLTA grantees.

Learn about our Legal Service Provider Grantees

Grant Eligibility:

Connecticut General Statue 51-81c stipulates that CBF’s Legal Services Grants  (IOLTA/IOTA; JBGIA; CFGIA) fund nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to provide civil legal services to low-income people in Connecticut.  

An IICJ grant recipient must: 

1. Be a nonstock nonprofit corporation qualified as tax exempt under Sections 501(a) and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; 
2. Have as its principal purpose the delivery of legal services to the poor in Connecticut; 
3. Have certified financial statements for the three preceding years and have an appointed independent certified auditing firm; and 
4. Have registered with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. 

Nonprofit organizations that meet the above requirements and are interested in applying for a grant may fill out a preliminary form that CBF will review to assess eligibility.