Fueling Kentucky’s Access to Justice

The Kentucky Bar Foundation serves as the charitable heart of Kentucky’s legal community, funding civil legal aid, expanding legal knowledge, and strengthening justice across the Commonwealth.

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Why Access to Justice Matters

Access to justice is not guaranteed. For many Kentuckians, legal help is out of reach—especially in matters involving housing, family stability, safety, and basic rights. The Kentucky Bar Foundation exists to close that gap.

As the only statewide grantmaking foundation dedicated exclusively to law-related causes and access to justice, we channel the collective generosity of Kentucky’s legal community into meaningful, measurable impact.

$5.5+ million grants given statewide

200+ Nonprofits Supported

All 120 Counties Served

Since 1958

How We Help Fuel Access to Justice

Grantmaking

We invest in nonprofit organizations that deliver civil legal aid, expand law-related education, and serve Kentuckians most in need.

We steward resources responsibly, invest strategically, and hold ourselves accountable for outcomes. Our grants are carefully vetted, transparently awarded, and designed to create long-term impact across the Commonwealth.

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IOLTA

The Kentucky Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), is a unique and innovative way to increase access to justice for individuals and families living in poverty and to improve our justice system.

Without taxing the public, and at no cost to lawyers or their clients, interest from lawyer trust accounts is pooled to provide civil legal aid to the poor and support improvements to the justice system.

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Legal Community Engagement

We unite Kentucky’s legal profession to fuel access to justice. We empower attorneys to make an impact through financial contributions to the KBF, pro bono service, and leadership roles, strengthening our commitment to justice across the Commonwealth.

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Justice in Action

Through KBF support, organizations across Kentucky are delivering life-changing legal help to protect families, restore dignity, and strengthen communities.

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What Our Grantees Say

"This KBF grant can impact every child in the Appalachian region who has experienced abuse or neglect and give them an opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home. Through this grant CASA of the Appalachian Mountains continue to use Evinto Solutions Optima. This powerful software solution allows for better tracking of case progress, facilitates communication among stakeholders, and supports data-driven decision-making, ultimately helping CASA of the Appalachian Mountains to advocate more effectively for the children they serve."

— CASA of the Appalachian Mountains
KBF GRANTEE
"Our Supervised Visitation program is a lifeline for families facing complex legal and emotional challenges. With the Kentucky Bar Foundation’s support, we continue to offer a safe, nurturing space where children can maintain connections with their parents while ensuring their emotional well-being and protection remain our highest priority."

— James Sherry, CEO
Holly Hill Child & Family Solutions
KBF GRANTEE
"With the funding from the KBF, AppalReD Legal Aid’s Pro Bono Program will continue and expand its pro se legal clinics to serve vulnerable people who would otherwise lack access to an attorney. These clinics are a great way to expand access to justice in our community. About 260,000 individuals live below the poverty line in our region. Because of limited resources, we cannot serve everyone who qualifies for assistance. We must think creatively about how to expand access to justice."

— Angeleigh Dorsey, Executive Director
AppalReD Legal Aid
KBF GRANTEE
"This grant is life changing for victims of domestic violence in eastern Kentucky. We are tremendously grateful for the opportunity to provide professional legal representation for our most at risk victims in KY."

— Ann Perkins, Executive Director
Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky
KBF GRANTEE
"Our Center will use the funds provided by the Kentucky Bar Foundation to support Guardify. which supplies a secure and convenient chain of evidence in cases against child sexual abusers. Guardify allows us to collect, view and share forensic interviews. This process protects the child’s confidentiality while allowing investigators quicker access to forensic interviews. Guardify is a key tool in seeking justice and allowing children’s voices to be heard."

— Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center
KBF GRANTEE
"The KBF grant supports Kentucky Innocence Project's (KIP) work with the three Kentucky Law School Externships, helps KIP retain expert witnesses for wrongful conviction cases, and provides funds for training KIP staff."

— Kentucky Innocence Project
KBF GRANTEE
"The Kentucky Bar Foundation grant allows us to safely and securely utilize and store interview evidence in child sexual abuse cases, child physical abuse cases and child trafficking cases. This grant enhances the justice process for over 400 children and families each year as well as streamlining access to valuable evidence for dozens of investigators and prosecutors during each case."

— Hope’s Place Child Advocacy Center
KBF GRANTEE
"Our court advocate program provides support for completing EPO and DPO forms and accompanying clients to legal proceedings. This KBF grant will have such an impact. We hear from so many survivors that they wouldn't have followed through on going to court without the support they received from our advocates."

— The ION Center
KBF GRANTEE

Join our mission and make your impact today.

When you give through the Kentucky Bar Foundation, you strengthen justice across the Commonwealth. Your gift helps ensure that all Kentuckians, regardless of income, can access the legal support they need.

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