The Ohio State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization promoting philanthropy and encouraging service to create a more just and equitable legal system for all Ohioans.
The Ohio State Bar Foundation’s grantmaking repeatedly centers on civics education and access to justice, with project support reaching legal aid groups, courts, universities, and community organizations across Ohio. A 2025 award of $160,000 to Law and Leadership Institute for a Diversity in Leadership Fellowship shows how the foundation connects legal access with pathways into the profession. Another large 2025 grant, $128,500 to the Ohio Center for Law Related Education, supported civic education, teacher training, and outreach. The pattern is broader than one program area: in recent years, the foundation has also funded victim services, prisoner reentry, legal protection from abuse, youth law experiences, and public education about the justice system. Its awards are project-based rather than operational in the racial justice initiative, and the foundation also runs competitive grant cycles for Ohio nonprofit organizations. The recent grants list shows repeated support for some organizations across multiple years, including Law and Leadership Institute, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Summer Work Experience in Law Inc, and Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio. Across these awards, the foundation uses grantmaking to support legal services, civic learning, and public understanding of the courts.
Civic education is a major theme. The Ohio Center for Law Related Education received $128,500 in 2025 for civic education, teacher training, and outreach, and a separate 2023 grant of $116,000 for civic education and access to justice. The foundation also backed Ohio YMCA Youth and Government with $50,000 in 2025. Access to justice appears through project support for Ohio Legal Help, which received $50,000 in 2023, and Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, which received $60,145 in 2025 for expanding attorney volunteer engagement. Legal services for survivors and victims show up as well: Legal Aid of Western Ohio Inc. received $50,000 in 2024 for Getting Legal Protection From Abuse, and Ohio Victim Witness Association received $66,111 in 2025 for enhancing access to justice for Ohio’s homicide co-victims. The foundation also funds workforce and legal-pathway programs, including $100,000 to Summer Work Experience in Law Inc. for Summer Work Experience in Law in 2025.
$985K
$61.5M
$3.9M
$2.5M
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$50K
BELINDA BARNES
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Typical awards cluster in the project-grant range, with p25 at $15,000, a median of $27,500, and p75 at $50,000. Recent grants also reach well above that band, including awards of $95,468 and $160,000. The foundation’s recent list shows recurring support for several organizations across multiple years, suggesting repeat relationships rather than one-off grants: Law and Leadership Institute, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Summer Work Experience in Law Inc., Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, and Ohio Alliance of Ymcas Foundation each appear more than once. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its competitive cycles accept unsolicited applications in several programs, including spring and fall grant cycles and the racial justice initiative.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Ohio-focused: 97% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Columbus appears often in the recent grants list, including Law and Leadership Institute, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Ohio Victim Witness Association, Ohio Legal Help, and Equality Ohio Education Fund. Other frequently appearing cities include Cincinnati, with Summer Work Experience in Law Inc. and Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio, and Cleveland, with Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, and Slavic Village Development. Toledo and Kent also appear among recent recipients.
It funds Ohio nonprofit organizations and public-serving entities through project grants. Recent recipients include courts, universities, legal aid groups, civic education organizations, and community nonprofits such as Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court, Ohio Center for Law Related Education, Ohio Legal Help, and Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio.
Typical awards are in the project-grant range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $27,500, and a p75 of $50,000. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $95,468 and $160,000.
Yes. The Fall Grant Cycle, Spring Grant Cycle, OSBF Grant Cycles, and the Racial Justice Initiative all note that they accept unsolicited applications. The Strategic Grants program is different and is listed as not accepting unsolicited proposals.
The foundation funds access to justice, civics education, racial justice, legal services and clinics, victim services, legal education for youth, and workforce and worker-rights legal clinics. Recent purposes also include teacher training, attorney volunteer engagement, legal protection from abuse, and homicide co-victim support.
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, 97% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based. Ohio cities appearing in recent awards include Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Kent, and Washington.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Ohio State Bar Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Ohio nonprofit organizations with project-based proposals; OSBF grants are not operational.
Deadline: 2025 Fall Grants Cycle deadline listed as August 15, 2025 on the OSBF site; current future deadline not provided in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Ohio-based nonprofit organizations or projects serving Ohio communities. Grants are project-based (not for general operating/internal DEI assessments). Applicants must submit required online application by the posted cycle deadline.
Deadline: [backfill scrub 2026-06-02: speculative closing_date nulled] OSBF runs seasonal grant cycles (Spring and Fall). Example deadlines referenced on site: Fall cycle deadline August 15 (previously listed). Specific cycle deadlines are posted on the Grantee Hub each year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW AND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | COLUMBUS, OH | $160,000 | 2025 | DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP |
| OHIO CENTER FOR LAW RELATED EDUCATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $128,500 | 2025 | CIVIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS, TEACHER TRAINING & OUTREACH |
| SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW (SWEL) |
| OHIO VICTIM WITNESS ASSOCIATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $66,111 | 2025 | ENHANCING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR OHIO'S HOMICIDE CO-VICTIMS |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $63,832 | 2025 | COLLABORATING ON EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES TO ENHANCING BROAD REPRESENTATION IN THE OHIO LEGAL PROFESSION, OTHER PROFESSIONS, AND LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS RULINGS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION |
| PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP OF OHIO | CINCINNATI, OH | $60,145 | 2025 | EXPANDING ATTORNEY VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT |
| OHIO ALLIANCE OF YMCAS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | OHIO YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT |
| FREDERICK DOUGLASS PROJECT FOR JUSTIC | WASHINGTON, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | OHIO PRISON VISITATION PROGRAM |
| HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE OF OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | EXPLORING THE MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING OF SYSTEM-INVOLVED CHILDREN & YOUTH |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CORPORATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | CLEVELAND ASYLUM CLINIC |
| MID-OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INC | LANCASTER, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | MOPS ETHICS, LEGAL, & DIVERSITY TRAINING EXPANSION |
| DICK & JANE PROJECT | COLUMBUS, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | LIFE STORIES II: THE CONVERSATION |
| OHIO LEGAL HELP | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | LEGAL INFORMATION AND ACTION PLANS FOR MENTAL HEALTH |
| EQUALITY OHIO EDUCATION FUND | COLUMBUS, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | UPDATING AND DISSEMINATING THE OHIO TRANS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS GUIDE |
| PORTAGE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT | RAVENNA, OH | $24,000 | 2025 | PRE-ADJUDICATORY CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION |
| YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $20,625 | 2025 | RACIAL EQUITY 101 TRAIN-THE-FACILITATOR PILOT |
| CENTRAL OHIO WORKER CENTER | COLUMBUS, OH | $19,550 | 2025 | SUMMITS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE |
| ADOPT A CLASS | CINCINNATI, OH | $18,000 | 2025 | PATHWAYS TO LAW AND LEGAL SERVICES CAREERS THROUGH MENTORSHIP |
| NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $16,500 | 2025 | NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER - WORKER JUSTICE PROJECT |
| CRIME VICTIM SERVICES | LIMA, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | VICTIM OFFENDER DIALOGUE PROGRAM |
| LEGAL AID OF SOUTHEAST & CENTRAL OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $7,500 | 2025 | COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE |
| OHIO CENTER FOR LAW RELATED EDUCATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $128,500 | 2024 | CIVIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS, TEACHER TRAINING & OUTREACH |
| LAW AND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | COLUMBUS, OH | $117,500 | 2024 | DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP |
| KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | KENT, OH | $54,195 | 2024 | EXAMINING ORGANIZATIONS' PLEDGES TO JUSTICE-INVOLVED EMPLOYEES |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO FOUNDATION | TOLEDO, OH | $52,770 | 2024 | LAUNCH INTO LAW |
| SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW (SWEL) |
| OHIO ALLIANCE OF YMCAS FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | OHIO YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT |
| LEGAL AID OF WESTERN OHIO INC | TOLEDO, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GETTING LEGAL PROTECTION FROM ABUSE |
| DISABILITY RIGHTS OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $42,500 | 2024 | EXPANDING RESOURCE ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS TO MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS |
| MAKE A DAY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $42,000 | 2024 | RENT ASSISTANCE CLINICS |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $41,170 | 2024 | COLLABORATING ON EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES TO ENHANCING BROAD REPRESENTATION IN THE OHIO LEGAL PROFESSION, OTHER PROFESSIONS, AND LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS RULINGS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION |
| OHIO LEGAL HELP | COLUMBUS, OH | $35,000 | 2024 | LEGAL INFORMATION AND ACTION PLANS FOR MENTAL HEALTH |
| LORAIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION | ELYRIA, OH | $30,000 | 2024 | ATTORNEY INCUBATION PROGRAM |
| YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $30,000 | 2024 | RACIAL EQUITY 101 TRAIN-THE-FACILITATOR PILOT |
| MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION ADVOCACY COALITION | CLEVELAND, OH | $30,000 | 2024 | BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN OHIO: IMPROVING DATA, MOVING TOWARD RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITY RESEARCH AND REPORT |
| CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR FOUNDATION | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | CLEVELAND LEGAL COLLABORATIVE |
| OHIO FEDERATION FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE EXPANSION OF THE GRANDPARENT POWER OF ATTORNEY (POA) AND CARETAKER AFFIDAVIT (CA) |
| OHIO HUMANITIES | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | BROWN @ 70 |
| LEGALWORKS INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINICS |
| OHIO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | SEEKING FREEDOM & SAFETY: LEGAL INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED AND INCARCERATED SURVIVORS |
| DO IT FOR JAMES FOUNDATION | STREETSBORO, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | ENLIGHTENING MINDS PART 1 |
| JUSTICEMOBILE INC | DUBLIN, OH | $21,500 | 2024 | JUSTICEMOBILE PROGRAM EXPANSION- RURAL AREAS |
| CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER | COVINGTON, KY | $20,000 | 2024 | VITAL LEGAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FOR OHIOS YOUTH |
| MID-OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INC | LANCASTER, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | MOPS ETHICS, LEGAL, & DIVERSITY TRAINING EXPANSION |
| OHIO ALLIANCE TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE | INDEPENDENCE, OH | $18,000 | 2024 | CONTEXTUALIZING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN OHIOS LEGAL SYSTEM |
| THE INTERNATIONAL WELCOME CENTER | NEW FRANKLIN, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS - EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ON NAVIGATING THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP |
| NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER - WORKER JUSTICE PROJECT |
| KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | KENT, OH | $15,000 | 2024 | YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE |
| GUARDIAN SUPPORT SERVICES INC | CANTON, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | DIGITAL MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT PLAN |
| WOMEN HELPING WOMEN | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | INCREASING AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS |
OHIO CENTER FOR LAW RELATED EDUCATION
$128,500CIVIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS, TEACHER TRAINING & OUTREACH
SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW INC
$100,000SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW (SWEL)
OHIO VICTIM WITNESS ASSOCIATION
$66,111ENHANCING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR OHIO'S HOMICIDE CO-VICTIMS
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$63,832COLLABORATING ON EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES TO ENHANCING BROAD REPRESENTATION IN THE OHIO LEGAL PROFESSION, OTHER PROFESSIONS, AND LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS RULINGS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
EXPANDING ATTORNEY VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT
OHIO ALLIANCE OF YMCAS FOUNDATION
$50,000OHIO YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT
EXPLORING THE MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING OF SYSTEM-INVOLVED CHILDREN & YOUTH
MID-OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INC
$35,000MOPS ETHICS, LEGAL, & DIVERSITY TRAINING EXPANSION
DICK & JANE PROJECT
$30,000LIFE STORIES II: THE CONVERSATION
OHIO LEGAL HELP
$25,000LEGAL INFORMATION AND ACTION PLANS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
UPDATING AND DISSEMINATING THE OHIO TRANS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS GUIDE
PORTAGE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT
$24,000PRE-ADJUDICATORY CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION
RACIAL EQUITY 101 TRAIN-THE-FACILITATOR PILOT
CENTRAL OHIO WORKER CENTER
$19,550SUMMITS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER - WORKER JUSTICE PROJECT
CRIME VICTIM SERVICES
$15,000VICTIM OFFENDER DIALOGUE PROGRAM
COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE
OHIO CENTER FOR LAW RELATED EDUCATION
$128,500CIVIC EDUCATION: PROGRAMS, TEACHER TRAINING & OUTREACH
EXAMINING ORGANIZATIONS' PLEDGES TO JUSTICE-INVOLVED EMPLOYEES
SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW INC
$50,000SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE IN LAW (SWEL)
OHIO ALLIANCE OF YMCAS FOUNDATION
$50,000OHIO YMCA YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT
DISABILITY RIGHTS OHIO
$42,500EXPANDING RESOURCE ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS TO MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS
MAKE A DAY FOUNDATION
$42,000RENT ASSISTANCE CLINICS
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$41,170COLLABORATING ON EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES TO ENHANCING BROAD REPRESENTATION IN THE OHIO LEGAL PROFESSION, OTHER PROFESSIONS, AND LEADERSHIP FOLLOWING THE SCOTUS RULINGS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
OHIO LEGAL HELP
$35,000LEGAL INFORMATION AND ACTION PLANS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
LORAIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
$30,000ATTORNEY INCUBATION PROGRAM
RACIAL EQUITY 101 TRAIN-THE-FACILITATOR PILOT
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN OHIO: IMPROVING DATA, MOVING TOWARD RACIAL AND ETHNIC EQUITY RESEARCH AND REPORT
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR FOUNDATION
$25,000CLEVELAND LEGAL COLLABORATIVE
OHIO FEDERATION FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
$25,000EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE EXPANSION OF THE GRANDPARENT POWER OF ATTORNEY (POA) AND CARETAKER AFFIDAVIT (CA)
OHIO HUMANITIES
$25,000BROWN @ 70
SEEKING FREEDOM & SAFETY: LEGAL INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY BASED AND INCARCERATED SURVIVORS
DO IT FOR JAMES FOUNDATION
$25,000ENLIGHTENING MINDS PART 1
JUSTICEMOBILE INC
$21,500JUSTICEMOBILE PROGRAM EXPANSION- RURAL AREAS
MID-OHIO PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES INC
$20,000MOPS ETHICS, LEGAL, & DIVERSITY TRAINING EXPANSION
OHIO ALLIANCE TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE
$18,000CONTEXTUALIZING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN OHIOS LEGAL SYSTEM
THE INTERNATIONAL WELCOME CENTER
$15,000PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS - EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ON NAVIGATING THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP
NORTHEAST OHIO WORKER CENTER - WORKER JUSTICE PROJECT
GUARDIAN SUPPORT SERVICES INC
$10,000DIGITAL MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT PLAN
INCREASING AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS