COLTAF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects interest earned on Colorado lawyer trust (COLTAF) accounts and makes grants to Colorado legal aid and pro bono programs to help Coloradans who cannot afford an attorney protect their rights.
Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation directs almost all of its regular funding to one core legal-aid provider: Colorado Legal Services, which received the foundation’s largest recent awards, including $7,961,125 in 2025 and $7,765,871 in 2024. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio of Colorado organizations working on civil legal aid, pro bono delivery, and access to justice for people who cannot afford an attorney. The foundation’s recent grants show a mix of program support, legal service support, and funding tied to pro bono work, with awards going to legal aid groups, volunteer-lawyer programs, and statewide access-to-justice entities. It also supports organizations serving specific populations, including low-income Coloradans, seniors, and immigrants. In the recent-grants list, Colorado Access to Justice Commission received $450,000 in 2024 and $350,000 in 2025, while Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network received $330,208 in 2025. The foundation’s annual grantmaking is built around Colorado’s civil legal system, with recurring support for organizations that deliver direct representation, expand volunteer legal services, and strengthen legal aid capacity.
Civil legal aid is the foundation’s central focus. Colorado Legal Services received $5,468,100 in 2024 for pro-bono legal services and another $2,045,100 in 2023 for the same purpose, showing sustained support for direct legal assistance. The foundation also funds statewide access-to-justice infrastructure: Colorado Access to Justice Commission received $450,000 in 2024 and $350,000 in 2025 for legal service and program support. Pro bono delivery is another clear thread. Metro Volunteer Lawyers received $174,700 in 2024 for legal service support and $110,000 in 2025 for program support, while Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center received $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025. Colorado Center on Law and Policy also appears repeatedly in the record, with awards of $300,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2025.
Typical awards cluster around a median of $50,000, with the middle half of grants spanning from $20,000 to $105,000. Larger competitive grants can go well above that range, while the general grants program is capped at $50,000. The grant record shows recurring support across multiple years for the same organizations, especially Colorado Legal Services and other Colorado legal-aid providers, rather than one-off gifts. COLTAF operates a competitive discretionary program, a separate pro bono grant track, a general grants program, and emergency funding for current grantees. The foundation also states that general support or project-specific funding may be requested, and applications are submitted through its grant portal after first contact for the discretionary program.
$27.7M
$32.2M
$20.9M
$10.1M
Most grants fall between $20K and $105K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$105K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in CO.
Jordan Bates-Rogers
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Grantmaking is entirely in Colorado: 100% of grants in the recent sample went to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is also Colorado. Denver appears frequently, including awards to Colorado Access to Justice Commission, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Spero Justice Center, and Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center. Colorado Springs is another major center, with grants to Colorado Legal Services, Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center, and TESSA of Colorado Springs. Westminster and Glenwood Springs also appear in the recent-grants list, including Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network and Alpine Legal Services.
It funds Colorado legal aid and pro bono programs, with a focus on civil legal aid, access to justice, legal services for seniors, and services for low-income individuals. The recent-grants list also shows support for organizations working on statewide legal services, volunteer-lawyer programs, and community legal education.
The foundation’s discretionary grants are competitive and use a grant portal after first contact. It also runs separate competitive pro bono grants, and both the general grants program and discretionary grants accept unsolicited applications.
The record shows recurring support. Colorado Legal Services received major awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and other organizations such as Colorado Access to Justice Commission, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, and Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center also appear in multiple years.
The typical grant size is $50,000 at the median, with the middle half of grants ranging from $20,000 to $105,000. The foundation’s general grants program is smaller, with grants from $1,000 to $50,000, while discretionary and pro bono grant tracks can go higher.
Its giving is local and entirely in Colorado. In the recent-grants data, 100% of grants went to recipients in Colorado, with frequent awards in Denver and Colorado Springs and additional grants in Westminster and Glenwood Springs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Legal Services | Colorado Springs, CO | $7,961,125 | 2025 | Program support |
| Colorado Access to Justice Commission | Denver, CO | $350,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network | Westminster, CO | $330,208 | 2025 | Program support |
| Colorado Center on Law and Policy | Denver, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Spero Justice Center | Denver, CO | $140,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center | Denver, CO | $120,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Colorado Poverty Law Project | Denver, CO | $110,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Metro Volunteer Lawyers | Denver, CO | $110,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Alpine Legal Services | Glenwood Springs, CO | $90,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| TESSA of Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | $76,167 | 2025 | Program support |
| Transformative Justice Project of Colorado | Denver, CO | $55,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Uncompahgre Volunteer Legal Aid | Montrose, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Pro Bono Project of Mesa County | Grand Junction, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Weld County Legal Services | Greeley, CO | $21,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Larimer County Bar Association | Fort Collins, CO | $18,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| San Luis Valley Bar Association Pro Bono | Alamosa, CO | $9,500 | 2025 | Program support |
| Colorado Legal Services | Colorado Springs, CO | $7,765,871 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| COLORADO LEGAL SERVICES | DENVER, CO | $5,468,100 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Colorado Access to Justice Commission | Denver, CO | $450,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Colorado Center on Law and Policy | Denver, CO | $300,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Metro Volunteer Lawyers | Denver, CO | $174,700 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| RMIAN | Westminster, CO | $173,860 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Spero Justice Center | Denver, CO | $140,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center | Denver, CO | $120,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Colorado Poverty Law Project | Denver, CO | $110,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center | Colorado Springs, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| COLORADO CTR ON LAW & POLICY | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Alpine Legal Services | Glenwood Springs, CO | $90,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| TESSA of Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | $76,167 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| DEN BAR FDMETRO VOL LAWYERS | DENVER, CO | $75,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| COLO ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMIS | DENVER, CO | $65,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| Transformative Justice Project of Colorado | Denver, CO | $55,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| PIKES PEAK PRO BONO PROJECT I | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Uncompahgre Volunteer Legal Aid | Montrose, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| UNCOMPAHGRE VOL LEGAL AID INC | MONTROSE, CO | $45,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Pro Bono Project of Mesa County | Grand Junction, CO | $30,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| WELD COUNTY LEGAL SERVICES | GREELEY, CO | $21,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Weld County Legal Services | Greeley, CO | $21,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| PRO BONO PROJECT OF MESA COUNTY | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $20,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| ALPINE LEGAL SERVICES GARFIELD CNTY | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $20,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| LARIMER COUNTY BAR ASSOC | FORT COLLINS, CO | $18,000 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| Larimer County Bar Association | Fort Collins, CO | $18,000 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| San Luis Valley Bar Association | Alamosa, CO | $10,350 | 2024 | Legal service support |
| SAN LUIS BAR ASSOCIATION | ALAMOSA, CO | $9,500 | 2024 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| COLORADO LEGAL SERVICES | DENVER, CO | $2,045,100 | 2023 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| COLORADO BAR FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2023 | STAFFING FOR CO ACCESS JUSTICE COMM |
| COLORADO CTR ON LAW & POLICY | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2023 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| DEN BAR FDMETRO VOL LAWYERS | DENVER, CO | $40,000 | 2023 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
| UNCOMPAHGRE VOL LEGAL AID INC | MONTROSE, CO | $30,000 | 2023 | PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES |
Colorado Legal Services
$7,961,125Program support
Colorado Access to Justice Commission
$350,000Program support
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
$330,208Program support
Colorado Center on Law and Policy
$150,000Program support
Spero Justice Center
$140,000Program support
Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center
$120,000Program support
Colorado Poverty Law Project
$110,000Program support
Metro Volunteer Lawyers
$110,000Program support
Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center
$100,000Program support
Alpine Legal Services
$90,000Program support
TESSA of Colorado Springs
$76,167Program support
Transformative Justice Project of Colorado
$55,000Program support
Uncompahgre Volunteer Legal Aid
$50,000Program support
Pro Bono Project of Mesa County
$30,000Program support
Weld County Legal Services
$21,000Program support
Larimer County Bar Association
$18,000Program support
San Luis Valley Bar Association Pro Bono
$9,500Program support
Colorado Legal Services
$7,765,871Legal service support
COLORADO LEGAL SERVICES
$5,468,100PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Colorado Access to Justice Commission
$450,000Legal service support
Colorado Center on Law and Policy
$300,000Legal service support
Metro Volunteer Lawyers
$174,700Legal service support
RMIAN
$173,860Legal service support
Spero Justice Center
$140,000Legal service support
Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center
$120,000Legal service support
Colorado Poverty Law Project
$110,000Legal service support
Pikes Peak Justice and Pro Bono Center
$100,000Legal service support
COLORADO CTR ON LAW & POLICY
$100,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Alpine Legal Services
$90,000Legal service support
TESSA of Colorado Springs
$76,167Legal service support
DEN BAR FDMETRO VOL LAWYERS
$75,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
COLO ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMIS
$65,000GENERAL OPERATING
Transformative Justice Project of Colorado
$55,000Legal service support
PIKES PEAK PRO BONO PROJECT I
$50,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Uncompahgre Volunteer Legal Aid
$50,000Legal service support
UNCOMPAHGRE VOL LEGAL AID INC
$45,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Pro Bono Project of Mesa County
$30,000Legal service support
WELD COUNTY LEGAL SERVICES
$21,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Weld County Legal Services
$21,000Legal service support
PRO BONO PROJECT OF MESA COUNTY
$20,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
ALPINE LEGAL SERVICES GARFIELD CNTY
$20,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
LARIMER COUNTY BAR ASSOC
$18,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Larimer County Bar Association
$18,000Legal service support
San Luis Valley Bar Association
$10,350Legal service support
SAN LUIS BAR ASSOCIATION
$9,500PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
COLORADO LEGAL SERVICES
$2,045,100PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
COLORADO BAR FOUNDATION
$100,000STAFFING FOR CO ACCESS JUSTICE COMM
COLORADO CTR ON LAW & POLICY
$100,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
DEN BAR FDMETRO VOL LAWYERS
$40,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
UNCOMPAHGRE VOL LEGAL AID INC
$30,000PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES
Current and upcoming funding from Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Only current COLTAF grantees are eligible to apply for Emergency Grants. Applicants should contact COLTAF Associate Director to request emergency funding.
Deadline: Rolling basis for current grantees (no fixed deadline).
Who can apply: Prospective grantees may request general support or funding for a specific project. Organizations must contact COLTAF staff first. Applications are submitted through COLTAF's online grant portal.
Deadline: Grant applications are due April 1 each year. The 2026 grant cycle is open through April 1, 2026; the next grant cycle opens in spring 2027.
Who can apply: Programs must align with COLTAF's funding priorities and support Colorado legal aid and pro bono work. Prospective grantees are instructed to contact COLTAF staff before applying. Organizations applying for both discretionary and pro bono funding must submit separate applications for each grant type.
Deadline: Applications are due April 1 each year. The 2026 grant cycle is open through April 1, 2026, and the next grant application period will open in spring 2027.
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