Welcome to the Michigan State Bar Foundation

The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution. The Michigan State Bar Foundation was established in 1947 by lawyers and judges to help the legal profession meet its responsibilities to the public. Since then, the Foundation has made more than 1,200 grants totaling nearly $100 million to educate the public about the importance of the rule of law, train young people in peaceful conflict resolution and assist those in need with critical civil legal services.

The Foundation receives funds for its grant programs from a variety of public and private sources. Legal aid grants are funded primarily by the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts) program and certain state court filing fees allocated for civil legal aid to the poor. The Foundation also receives generous private donations to support its program of public service, including contributions to the Access to Justice Fund, and support from the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.