Kansas Bar Foundation Awards $525,000 in IOLTA and CRHA GrantsThis year, the KBF approved funding for eight organizations that provide essential civil legal and educational services to Kansans.
Annually, the Kansas Bar Foundation (KBF) Board of Trustees reviews recommendations from its Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA)/Community Reinvestment Homeowners Assistance (CRHA) Committee to award grants to qualifying organizations. This year, the KBF approved funding for eight organizations that provide essential civil legal and educational services to Kansans.
“This year, we’ve seen increased remittances from the IOLTA program, allowing us to distribute more resources than in previous years,” said KBF President Scott Nehrbass. “We were able to increase the total amount awarded this year from last year, and members of the IOLTA/CRHA Committee selected proposals that would benefit Kansans across the state.”
IOLTA Grants
Funding for the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account program (IOLTA) comes from the interest on lawyer trust accounts. IOLTA is a partnership with over 100 financial institutions, the Kansas Bar Foundation, and attorneys who hold the accounts. Since 1984, interest from the accounts has provided more than $5 million in funding for grants to support civil legal services programs, law related education, and projects throughout the state.
Kansas Legal Services — $163,600
To provide civil legal services to 3,000 Kansans. This grant will be used to supplement and enhance their work providing holistic legal services to victims of crime in Kansas, including representation and advice, and may include victim compensation, employment, housing, eviction, home foreclosure, victims’ rights enforcement, orders of protection, divorce or spousal support, and child custody.
KBA Bench-Bar Committee — $22,200
To sustain and improve www.yourkansasjudges.org, a resource designed to educate Kansas voters about Supreme Court justices and Appellate Court judges in our state. This website offers survey results from Kansas lawyers, detailed biographic profiles, sample opinions, and key information on the Kansas Judiciary. One important goal is to explain the role of the judiciary in maintaining a fair legal system.
Disability Rights Center of Kansas — $20,200
To continue to expand its services and to better meet the civil legal needs of their clients. DRC provides free legal representation and legal advice in situations where the disabled person’s civil or disability rights are at stake, or they are a victim of crime.
Kansas CASA — $12,000
To support statewide travel (mileage, lodging and per diem), the creation of educational materials, and staff time dedicated to outreach efforts. Through this project, they aim to expand CASA's impact, ensuring children across Kansas have a consistent, dedicated advocate to amplify their voices in court proceedings.
KBA Young Lawyers Section High School Mock Trial Program — $10,000
This program advances the interests of the law and the legal profession by introducing high school students to a realistic legal environment in a practical way. Students use case materials to prepare plaintiff and defense cases, including opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination, and evidentiary matters. The students learn the relevant skills and then put them into practice in actual Kansas courtrooms where they are also expected to practice their skills according to professional standards of ethics and decorum.
National Institute for Trial Advocacy — $10,000
To provide support for the Kansas Public Service Advocacy Skills Program. Twenty-four public service attorneys will attend tuition free. The learning-by-doing program provides a setting for attorneys to develop trial advocacy skills.
Housing and Credit Counseling Inc. — $7,000
Funding provides for the printing and postage for their HCCI Tenant Handbook. This is a 70-page booklet that will be mailed to all Kansas counties and made available through nonprofits, city housing offices, public libraries, county offices, student housing offices, tenant advocate organizations, and the public. The handbook provides easy to understand information about the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.
El Centro — $5,000
To provide additional funding for their Immigration Assistance Clinic. Client consultations provide education on legal options and help them navigate the complexities of immigration law. The funding will provide critical legal services to low-income individuals through consultation, civic engagement and family unity.
Community Redevelopment and Homeowners Assistance Grants
In 2015, the Kansas Bar Foundation received $3,273,938.50 from a national settlement to be used for the sole purpose of providing funding to legal aid organizations in Kansas. The focus is to provide legal services for foreclosure prevention and community redevelopment.
Kansas Legal Services (KLS) — $200,000
KLS plans to serve approximately 75 families in a Foreclosure Prevention Project, to save homeowners from losing their homes, plan for an orderly exit from foreclosed property, or to help homeowners who need legal advocates to work with their lenders. In addition, KLS will continue to educate consumers through information provided on their website.
Kansas Legal Services — $75,000 (for three $25,000 grants)
Seward County/Liberal — To provide direct legal assistance to 50 people in southwest Kansas facing serious and persistent legal barriers to employment and housing.
Ford County/Dodge City — To screen up to 50 people for legal barriers to employment and provide legal assistance to resolve barriers to employment and housing.
Statewide Virtual — To provide legal assistance to 50 people to resolve barriers to employment and housing. There will be a statewide virtual legal clinic in October 2025 to register participants.
