Each year since 1968, the Indianapolis Bar Foundation funds a variety of programs furthering its mission to advance the administration of justice and an understanding of the law through philanthropy, education and service. Grant monies are focused upon programs and initiatives serving residents of the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Grant Programs/Initiatives

• Ask a Lawyer, fully funded this program of the Indianapolis Bar Association involving hundreds of lawyers providing free legal advice at community centers throughout Indianapolis - $105,000 total (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 & 2000)
• Child Advocates, Inc., provided a general grant to this legal assistance program for children - $12,500 total (2005, 2004, 2001)
• Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project, Inc., provided grant to assist in securing law clerks support - $5,000 total (2001)
• Constitution Booklets, provide funding for the printing of booklets containing the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions and the Declaration of Independence for distribution to new citizens of the United States of American upon their naturalization, and to local school children - $9,000 to date (ongoing)
• Family Services, provided the funding to start A Child’s Haven daycare facility for people with appointments in the City County Building. Also provided a follow-up grant for continued operation - $36,500 (2005, 1995)
• Freetown Village received funding for Indianapolis-based production of "A Matter of Justice" (2004)
• HealthNet Inc.’s Homeless Initiative Program, received a grant to be used to provide paralegal services on-site at the HIP Office for the purpose of rendering free legal assistance to homeless persons - $2,000 (2000)
• Indianapolis Bar Association, provide funding for initiatives in pro bono, justice center, leadership development, education and professionalism- $275,000 (2006, 2005, 2004)
• Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, Inc., granted monies to assist in legal research and to purchase office equipment - $20,000 total (2005, 2001 & 2000)
• Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis, supported pro bono programming provided through the efforts of law students - $5,000 (2001)
• Marion County Sheriff’s Department, helped to fund the Department’s summer program for at-risk youth - $1,000 total (2001 & 2000)
• Marion County Protective Order Project, gave funding to help establish this fledgling organization which provides legal assistance to domestic violence victims in cases where protective orders have been violated - $11,000 (2004, 2001)
• Marion Superior Court, funded a pilot program for enhanced entrance security for the Indianapolis City-County Building in August, 2001 - $50,000 (2001)
• Marion Superior Court, granted monies to conduct a Juror Appreciation Week, to educate the public about the importance of jury duty and to encourage members of the Indianapolis community to participate and also the Teach the Teachers program educating teachers about our court system - $11,000 (2005, 2000)
• Public Awareness Campaign, developed a plan to increase awareness of the legal profession and the law among citizens of Central Indiana - $60,000 (2003, 2002)
• Scholarships for students of Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis and Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington, distributed financial assistance through an application process administered by the law schools - $160,000 total (annually)