Grant Programs

Grant Recipients

San Diego County Bar Foundation grants are awarded to organizations that offer legal services and promote understanding of the legal system with funds used to assist victims of poverty, abuse and discrimination. The grants also support programs that educate children and adults about the legal system and individuals’ rights and responsibilities. The board and Foundation staff expertly review each application and organization before a grant is awarded.

The Foundation’s funds come from contributions from the local legal and business communities and from fundraising programs throughout the year. We have funded over 70 legal aid and public interest organizations who provide direct support to abused women and children, immigrants seeking political asylum, the working poor who cannot afford legal representation, and others who are in desperate need of legal assistance and have nowhere else to turn.

Since its inception, the San Diego County Bar Foundation has granted over $5 million throughout the County. The legal aid and public interest organizations supported by the SDCBF include:

The Access Center of San Diego
Access, Inc.
American Bar Association – IJP Program
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Appellate Defenders
Becky’s House
California Rural Legal Assistance
California Veterans Legal Task Force
California Western School of Law/Community Law Project
Casa Cornelia Law Center
Casa de Amparo
Catholic Charities
Center for Community Solutions
Community Resource Center
Center for Employment Homeless Court
Children at Risk
Children’s Advocacy Institute at the USD
Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, Inc.
Coming Home to Stay
Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance
The Community Resource Center
The Crime Victims Fund
Elder Law and Advocacy
Equality Alliance of San Diego
Father Joe’s Villages
Free to Thrive
Hannah’s House
Home of Guiding Hands
Homeless Court
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
Interfaith Community Services, Inc.
International Rescue Committee
Jewish Family Service
Karen Organization of San Diego
Kids Included Together
Kids Turn San Diego
La Cuna, Inc.
La Maestra Family Clinic, Inc.
Labor Training and Community Development Alliance
Las Valientes
Legal Aid Society of San Diego
License to Freedom
National Center on Deaf Advocacy
National Conflict Resolution Center
Orozco Law Firm, APC
Pag-Asa Law Clinic
Parkinson’s Association of San Diego County
Peninsula Family YMCA
People’s Legal Services, Inc.
Pillars of the Community
Professional Alliance for Children
Reading Legacies
Saint Clare’s Home
San Diego Advocates for Social Justice
San Diego Coastkeeper
San Diego Family Justice Center Foundation
San Diego Justice Foundation for the San Diego Superior Court
San Diego Restorative Justice Mediation Program
San Diego Teen Court, Inc.
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
Second Chance
Sharia’s Closet
Southern California Immigration Project
Southwest Center for Asian Pacific American Law
St. Vincent de Paul Village
Survivors of Torture International
The Bail Project, Inc.
Think Dignity/Girls Think Tank
US Committee for Refugees & Immigrants
USD Women’s Law Clinic
USD Legal Advocacy & Education for Foster Youth
Uprise Theatre
Voices for Children
Volunteers in Parole of San Diego County
Women’s Resource Fair
YMCA of San Diego County
YWCA of San Diego County

2024 Grant Applications

Our 2024 Grant Application Cycle is open. Please see details below:

  • General Grant Fund
    Applications that facilitate and expand the availability of legal services, improve the administration of justice and the San Diego court system; and/or promote public understanding of the law. General Grant applications are due September 1, 2024 @ 11:59pm.
  • Indigent Criminal Defense Fund
    Funding will be provided exclusively for the furtherance of and to support Indigent Criminal Defense purposes, including programs, projects and activities in San Diego County. Indigent Criminal Defense applications are due August 1, 2024 @ 11:59pm.

Note: Funding will be provided for start-up projects or on-going program support. With prior approval from the SDCBF’s Director of Administration, legal aid organizations may apply for operating support.

First Time Applications/New Programs

The San Diego County Bar Foundation is committed to supporting new organizations and getting new projects/programs off the ground. New organizations/programs are encouraged to apply, but need to effectively communicate their ability to successfully deliver a sustainable program that supports those in our community impacted by poverty, abuse or discrimination.

If your organization has never applied for SDCBF funding, or has applied but never received funding, we require that a representative from your organization call to discuss the application prior to submission.

To apply for a Bar Foundation grant please click the link below. First time grant applicants can call our administrative office at (619) 231-7015 or email info@sdcbf.org to schedule a call.

To get started on your online grant application CLICK HERE.

Donations

Your donations will provide access to justice to the San Diego community. To support our grant funds, please consider making a charitable contribution to the Foundation.

To make a donation click here.