The Nevada Bar Foundation (NBF) is responsible for the distribution of funding provided by the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program. Pursuant to SCR 216, substantially, all IOLTA funds are granted to organizations that provide legally related services to the poor, to victims of domestic violence and to children protected by or in need of protection of the juvenile court.
Selection Criteria
The NBF desires to make maximum use of IOLTA funds and has adopted the following guidelines for its consideration of grant requests. In making its selections, the following criteria will be taken into account:
- The NBF shall make grants available to organizations rather than individuals.
- The NBF will not make grants to fund personnel, except when personnel are devoted to a particular project.
- Grants involving matching funds, or other types of arrangements to leverage grant funds, are favored.
- A single organization may apply for more than one grant for special projects administered by that organization.
- Weight will be given to organizations with a prior history of successfully rendering quality service.
- Preference will be given to organizations with evidence of community support.
- Broad geographic distribution of funds throughout Nevada is preferred.
Excluded Use of Funds
No funds will be granted to provide:
- Legal assistance for the defense of criminal prosecutions or habeas corpus types of civil actions.
- Contributions to or be made available to any political party or association of the campaign of any candidate for public office.
- Fund raising benefits or mass appeal solicitations.
- Additions to endowments.
- Projects outside the State of Nevada.
Grant Process
The NBF Board of Trustees will annually consider grant requests. The Nevada Bar Foundation may contact applicants for additional information if needed and will present applications to the NBF Board of Trustees for approval. The NBF reserves the right to deny applications with or without prejudice. Grants are awarded at the sole discretion of the NBF Board of Trustees.
Grant Timeline
Grants are awarded for the time period of January 1 thru December 31 each calendar year. All applications must be submitted online no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 8, 2020. Grant awards will be disbursed within the first two business weeks of February of the application year.
Grant recipients will also be required to submit a final accounting of grant money used. A final report must be submitted showing how funds were used and what was accomplished as a result of, or in conjunction with the funds awarded. Any unused funding – or funding used for purposes other than identified in the grant application must be returned or an extension requested.