Ohio State Bar Foundation Awards Over $450,000 Through Its 2023 Fall Grant Cycle

Columbus, OH (January 2024) – The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) Board of Trustees has approved $459,500 in grants to 18 Ohio nonprofit organizations through its 2023 Fall Grant Cycle. Each project supports the OSBF’s mission to educate the public about the rule of law and build a better justice system.

 "The Ohio State Bar Foundation's latest round of grants showcases a diverse and impactful array of initiatives across Ohio, encompassing projects that work to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities, provide legal assistance to asylum seekers, support mental health professionals, educate youth on critical legal issues, and more” said Belinda S. Barnes, OSBF President. “These dollars demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to justice, and we are proud to support this important work.” 

• $10,000 to the Ability Center of Greater Toledo to create educational resources which will help businesses and public entities ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. Serving Lucas, Wood, Fulton counties. 

• $7,500 to Catholic Charities Corporation to provide legal assistance and resources to pro se asylum applicants. Serving Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Summit counties. 

• $7,500 to Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio for their Refugee, Immigrant Language, and Educational Adjustment of Status Services Project which will provide legal resources and translation services to refugees and immigrants. Serving Hamilton and Butler counties. 

• $20,000 to Children's Law Center to create large-scale narrative change around the legal issues impacting youth, including education about mandatory bind over, special education resources, juvenile record expungement, youth mental health, and more. Serving Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Franklin counties. 

• $25,000 to the Do It for James Foundation for the Enlightening Minds Project which will educate middle and high school students about sextortion, harassment, bullying, physical and mental abuse, and depression. Serving Portage, Cuyahoga, and Franklin counties. 

• $10,000 to Guardian Support Services to create a website to facilitate volunteer recruitment and training and provide educational resources on the legal process of applying for guardianship. Serving Stark County. 

• $25,000 to Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice to promote the expansion of the Grandparent Power of Attorney and Caretaker Affidavit Project which aims to reduce the number of children entering the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Serving all 88 counties statewide. 

• $15,000 to Kent State University Foundation for the Youth Police Academy Experience which will give high school seniors a comprehensive view of the criminal justice system, educating on topics such as traffic control, court testimony, crime scene processing, and more. Serving Trumbull, Mahoning, and Portage counties. 

• $117,500 to the Law and Leadership Institute for their Diversity in Leadership Fellowship which prepares high schoolers from underserved areas for success in high school, college, and their future professions. This project will utilize law students as instructors and explore issues of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and civic leadership. Serving Franklin, Cuyahoga, and Summit counties. 

• $25,000 to LegalWorks to provide 20+ low to no-cost legal clinics, including one-day record sealing clinics which allow motions to be executed by judges on site. Serving Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Summit counties. 

• $30,000 to Lorain County Bar Association for their Attorney Incubation Program which will encourage new attorneys to practice in Lorain County by providing office space and mentorship. Serving Lorain County. 

• $42,000 to Make A Day Foundation to create Columbus' first completely mobile application site to provide tenants’ rights education and support to the zip codes where it is most needed. Serving Franklin County. 

• $20,000 to Mid-Ohio Psychological Services Inc for their Ethics, Legal, & Diversity Training Expansion Project which will enhance training programs regarding justice, fairness, and collaboration with the legal systems for Ohio mental health professionals. Serving Fairfield, Franklin, and Delaware counties. 

• $25,000 to Ohio Domestic Violence Network to update Self Help Legal Manuals in English and Spanish and distribute them to domestic violence programs statewide; additionally educational workshops will be offered to incarcerated survivors on topics of judicial release, clemency, and more. Serving all 88 counties statewide. 

• $5,000 to Ohio State Bar Association for their My Ohio Rights Project which will create new educational videos for students and young adults about civic engagement and the justice system. Serving all 88 counties statewide. 

• $50,000 to Summer Work Experience in Law to grow its membership program which supports black high school and college students interested in careers in the law. This project will fund student internships with government offices and nonprofit organizations. Serving Franklin, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties. 

• $15,000 to The International Welcome Center for their Educational Sessions on Navigating the Path to Citizenship Initiative which will develop virtual seminars and translation services. Serving Summit, Stark, and Cuyahoga counties. 

• $10,000 to Women Helping Women to provide support, education, and legal advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Serving Hamilton, Butler, and Brown counties. 

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 Laura Spires at LSpires@osbf.org.