CBF is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating system change that advances civil justice for all, regardless of power or resources, to achieve a more just and equitable society. CBF advances civil justice by stewarding funding, volunteers, programming, data, innovation, and collaboration to lead and partner in integrated approaches to improving the administration of civil justice.
Connecticut Bar Foundation directs most of its grantmaking toward civil legal aid providers that serve low-income Connecticut residents, with the largest recent awards going to Connecticut Legal Services, New Haven Legal Assistance, and Greater Hartford Legal Aid. The foundation’s funding is tied to access to justice work across the state, including operating support for legal service organizations, right-to-counsel efforts, and programs that help people facing housing instability, domestic violence, and other civil legal problems. Its recent awards show sustained support for core legal aid infrastructure rather than isolated projects. Connecticut Legal Services received more than $11.3 million in 2025, while New Haven Legal Assistance and Greater Hartford Legal Aid each received multi-million-dollar grants across multiple years. The foundation also supports organizations focused on children, veterans, fair housing, and legal rights advocacy, including the Center for Children's Advocacy, Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and Connecticut Legal Rights Project. The foundation’s program structure includes annual legal services grants, the Right to Counsel initiative, and state-administered programs for temporary restraining orders and eviction defense. It also supports scholarships and specialized funds connected to legal education, reentry, and post-exoneration assistance.
Civil legal aid is the clearest throughline in Connecticut Bar Foundation’s giving. In 2025, it granted $860,754 to the Center for Children's Advocacy in Hartford to provide legal services, and $823,549 to Connecticut Veterans Legal Center in West Haven for the same purpose. These awards sit alongside larger operating grants for statewide legal aid organizations that handle representation and brief legal assistance. Housing and eviction prevention are another major focus. The foundation gave $281,490 to Connecticut Fair Housing Center in Hartford in 2025 to provide legal services, and it supported Open Communities Alliance in Hartford with $125,135 for legal services. The grant list also shows continued backing for tenant-related work through programs connected to Right to Counsel. Children’s legal services and disability-related advocacy appear as well. The Children’s Law Center of Connecticut in Hartford received $295,382 in 2025, while Connecticut Legal Rights Project in Middletown received $794,441 in 2025 for legal services.
$26.3M
$54.7M
$43.3M
$28.3M
Most grants fall between $71K and $772K, with a median of $385K.
25th Percentile
$71K
Median
$385K
75th Percentile
$772K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in CT.
BRUCE HILTUNEN STARTED MAY 23
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Connecticut Bar Foundation’s typical grant sizes are broad: the 25th percentile is $70,726, the median is $385,482, and the 75th percentile is $771,714. The recent grant list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and New Haven Legal Assistance, which points to recurring operating support rather than one-time funding. The foundation’s structure is closely tied to legal aid programs and administered funds, including IICJ Legal Services Grants, Right to Counsel initiatives, the Connecticut Innocence Fund, and a law school scholarship program. It accepts unsolicited applications for some core grant programs, including IICJ Legal Services Grants and the related Right to Counsel initiative.
Grantmaking is fully concentrated in Connecticut: 100% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. The most frequent recipient cities in the recent grants list are Middletown, New Haven, Hartford, Wethersfield, and West Haven. Middletown appears in awards to Connecticut Legal Services and Connecticut Legal Rights Project, while Hartford appears repeatedly through Center for Children's Advocacy, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, and Open Communities Alliance. The distribution reflects statewide legal aid coverage rather than a single-city focus.
It funds civil legal aid and access-to-justice organizations serving low-income Connecticut residents. Recent grants went to Connecticut Legal Services, New Haven Legal Assistance, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Statewide Legal Services, and other providers working on housing, domestic violence, children’s legal services, veterans’ legal services, and fair housing.
The pattern is mostly recurring support. The same organizations appear in multiple years: Connecticut Legal Services received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Greater Hartford Legal Aid and New Haven Legal Assistance also appear across those years; Statewide Legal Services and Connecticut Veterans Legal Center recur as well.
The grant-size distribution is wide. The 25th percentile is $70,726, the median is $385,482, and the 75th percentile is $771,714. Recent awards range from small six-figure grants to multi-million-dollar operating grants.
Yes for some programs. The IICJ Legal Services Grants program accepts unsolicited applications, and the related Right to Counsel initiative also accepts unsolicited applications. Other administered funds and state-funded programs in the data are marked as not accepting unsolicited applications.
Its giving is fully local to Connecticut. The data shows 100% of grants go to recipients in CT, with recent recipient cities including Middletown, New Haven, Hartford, Wethersfield, and West Haven.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $11,341,843 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,519,838 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID | HARTFORD, CT | $5,048,769 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES | WETHERSFIELD, CT | $916,349 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY | HARTFORD, CT | $860,754 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER | WEST HAVEN, CT | $823,549 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $794,441 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD, CT | $295,382 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $281,490 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA | HARTFORD, CT | $161,704 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE | HARTFORD, CT | $125,135 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW | HARTFORD, CT | $90,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW |
| INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI | NEW HAVEN, CT | $11,024 | 2025 | — |
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $9,618,406 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID | HARTFORD, CT | $5,087,978 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $4,106,537 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY | HARTFORD, CT | $779,726 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $669,025 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER | WEST HAVEN, CT | $570,332 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES | WETHERSFIELD, CT | $522,271 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG |
| THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD, CT | $248,694 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $246,266 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE | HARTFORD, CT | $105,449 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI | NEW HAVEN, CT | $75,000 | 2024 | — |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA | HARTFORD, CT | $57,906 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION | HARTFORD, CT | $18,250 | 2024 | CIF REENTRY AWARD |
| QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | NORTH HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW | HARTFORD, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW |
| YALE LAW SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW |
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $9,419,228 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID | HARTFORD, CT | $4,935,899 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $4,088,849 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES | WETHERSFIELD, CT | $769,043 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG |
| CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER | WEST HAVEN, CT | $690,524 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY | HARTFORD, CT | $580,544 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $550,675 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT | HARTFORD, CT | $202,064 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $151,387 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE | HARTFORD, CT | $97,550 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA | HARTFORD, CT | $51,130 | 2023 | TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER |
| INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI | NEW HAVEN, CT | $37,500 | 2023 | — |
CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES
$11,341,843TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE
$5,519,838TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID
$5,048,769TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES
$916,349TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG
CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY
$860,754TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER
$823,549TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT
$794,441TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT
$295,382TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER
$281,490TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA
$161,704TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE
$125,135TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW
$90,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW
INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI
$11,024CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES
$9,618,406TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID
$5,087,978TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE
$4,106,537TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY
$779,726TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT
$669,025TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER
$570,332TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES
$522,271TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG
THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT
$248,694TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER
$246,266TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE
$105,449TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI
$75,000LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA
$57,906TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION
$18,250CIF REENTRY AWARD
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF LAW
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW
YALE LAW SCHOOL
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LAW
CONNECTICUT LEGAL SERVICES
$9,419,228TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
GREATER HARTFORD LEGAL AID
$4,935,899TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
NEW HAVEN LEGAL ASSISTANCE
$4,088,849TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES
$769,043TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEG
CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER
$690,524TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY
$580,544TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS PROJECT
$550,675TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF CONNECTICUT
$202,064TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
CONNECTICUT FAIR HOUSING CENTER
$151,387TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE
$97,550TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN AMERICA
$51,130TO PROVIDE LEGAL SER
INTEGRATED REFUGE & IMMIGRANT SERVI
$37,500