Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m., May 1, 2026

Applications have closed for 2026.

Notice of Invitation to Present to Committee: By May 21, 2026

Presentation, if invited: June 4, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Notice of Grant Finalists: June 5

Fellows Voting to Determine 2026 Recipient: June 10 - 30, 2026

Public Announcement of Grant Recipient: July 10, 2026

Public Recognition at the Community Empowerment Breakfast: September 30, 2026

The project to be funded must meet the IndyBar Foundation’s mission to advance the administration of justice and an understanding of the law through philanthropy, education and service. Through its grant award, the IndyBar Foundation wishes to support a project presented by an organization or collaborating organizations that seek to affect a substantial positive impact in central Indiana. 

All of the following criteria must apply to your grant proposal:

1. Project funding from IndyBar Foundation may be awarded only to non-profit organizations or government entities.

2. Project supports the IndyBar Foundation’s purpose by one or more of the following: (1) providing public education and understanding of the law; (2) providing direct delivery of legal services; or (3) advancement of justice.

3. Project presents opportunities for members of the central Indiana legal community to participate on a pro bono or modest means basis.

4. Project articulates a plan to be sustained by other funding beyond the grant from the IndyBar Foundation.  For example, if salary is a significant component and it will require on-going funds, please explain the plan to obtain on-going funds in the future.

5. Project makes a significant impact in Central Indiana.  For example, either a new venture for the applicant organization(s) or a plan for significant supplementation to an existing service.

6. Preference will be given to organizations who utilize the full $35,000 grant and where the grant represents all, or a significant portion of, the total budget for the project. The IndyBar Foundation typically funds one-year grant cycles. Organizations may partner to propose funding for a collaborative project.

The Community Empowerment Grant selection process involves three steps which are discussed in detail below.

Step 1: Written Proposal

The IndyBar Foundation encourages all organizations that meet the Community Empowerment Grant’s criteria to submit a written proposal before May 1, 2026. The proposal must be submitted electronically to ibf@indybar.org. The application period is closed for 2026.

The written proposal must include the following:

• Completed Application Form.

• Maximum 2-page proposal with 12-point font size submitted on the organization's letterhead and signed by at least two officers of the organization providing the following information about the project:

  • Identify:

    • One of the following areas: public education and understanding of the law through direct delivery of services, direct delivery of legal services, or enhance the administration of justice in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

    • The unmet need

    • The target population

    • The timeline for program development and rollout to the public.

    • The budget and financial sustainability of the project past this grant cycle including other support already received and/or pledged.

    • How the Indianapolis legal community can participate and support the project through service.

• Board of Directors roster with business affiliation.

The IndyBar Foundation will acknowledge receipt of all complete submissions by electronic mail. Because the IndyBar Foundation does not have the resources to meet with all potential grant applicants, it does not meet to discuss applications with any applicants. If a potential grant applicant has questions about the application or process, requests can be submitted via email to ibf@indybar.org.

Step 2: Presentation to Community Empowerment Committee

Organizations whose written proposals are approved to receive grant consideration will be notified by Thursday, May 21, 2026, and invited to meet the morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026 with the members of the Community Empowerment Committee. Note: The invitation to meet with the Committee does not imply a guarantee for selection.

Step 3: Distinguished Fellows Vote

The Distinguished Fellows of the IndyBar Foundation will vote from June 10, 2026 to June 30, 2026 to determine the winning proposal. The organizations will be notified by July 10, 2026.

2025 - Exodus Refugee – Exodus Refugee worked to create a volunteer-based legal intake system that will give volunteer attorneys and law students the opportunity to meet with humanitarian immigrants seeking legal assistance to assess their potential cases through the development of an electronic form and training sessions that will guide volunteers through necessary questions to determine if clients have a strong legal case.

2024 – Indiana Legal Services – The Keeping Wealth In our Communities Project focuses on keeping wealth in our low-income communities by facilitating real property transfers through education, collaboration, and direct service to clients.

2023 – You. Yes, You! – Continuing work to encourage relationships between incarcerated fathers and their children, connecting them with the resources they need to be successful parents both inside and outside of prison. Outreach funded by the Indianapolis Bar Foundation includes the active participation of Indianapolis Bar Association members.

2022 – Indiana Disability Rights —Created an accessible Advanced Directives (AD) Toolkit for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) that includes plain language information about AD options and sample legal forms with step-by-step guides on how to complete and use them. Following development of the toolkit, workshops throughout central Indiana were held to help individuals with I/DD get assistance with understanding and completing the forms, along with having forms notarized. This program assisted 21 individuals and ultimately resulted in changes to legislation.

2021 – Reach for Youth — Developed the Restorative Justice Circles pilot program to replace punitive forms of discipline for school violations with facilitator led discussions bringing those affected by a violation together to address the root causes of the incident, hold the student accountable, to promote healing for impacted community member and ultimately, after a period of absence related to suspension or expulsion, welcoming the student back by offering the opportunity to repair relationships, creating an accountability/safety plan and creating supports for the student to ensure their academic success.

2020 – Redirected the $35,000 funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to cover the hourly expenses of IndyBar solo and small law firm practitioners of $100 per hour, up to five hours per client, devoted to assisting referred clients in the areas of family law, landlord/tenant and employment law from indigent service provider agencies.

2019 – Center for Victim and Human Rights — Launched the Pro Bono Attorney Project for Marion County-area attorneys to provide limited-scope advice and counsel to pro se victims filing a petition for a protective order.

2018 – Indiana Legal Services, Inc.’s Eviction Avoidance Project — Employed a "right to counsel" approach, meaning that all eligible applicants received legal representation. As 2018 was the 50th anniversary of the Bar Foundation, this Impact Fund Grant was $50,000.

2017 – Kids’ Voice of Indiana — Launched a Community Mobile Law Program that provided training, resources and technical assistance to Marion County attorneys and free legal advice on family law issues to both youth and adults at local community centers.

2016 – Indy Reads — Developed a program to address adult literacy issues, and specifically those facing individuals in our criminal justice system, through a year-long joint project that delivered legal literacy workshops to student inmates.

2015 – Peace Learning Center — Launched innovative programs to encourage happier and safer environments while reducing suspensions, expulsions and instructional time lost for Indianapolis Public School elementary students.

2014 - The Joseph Maley Foundation Parent Education and Pro Bono Legal Assistance Program — Created a project that raised awareness and provided pro bono legal assistance to those in our community facing legal issues associated with caring for a loved one with a disability.

2013 - Indiana Legal Services, Inc.’s Military Assistance Project —Developed a Military Cultural Competency Manual being utilized as a resource by pro bono attorneys in implementing workshops, clinics and training sessions and/or offering direct legal services addressing common legal issues encountered by Hoosier veterans on a regular basis.

2012 — Reach for Youth’s Teen Court to fund the expansion of their successful program, which diverts approximately 600 juvenile offenders a year from the traditional juvenile justice system, and boasts a 16% recidivism rate, compared to 39% in the traditional system.

2011 - IU McKinney School of Law’s Health and Human Rights Clinic — Trained pro bono volunteers who then provided direct legal representation to low income clients on the near-west side.