The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation, the largest funder of civil legal services in Ohio, has announced funding awards to nonprofit civil legal service providers across the state totaling more than $7.2 million.
“It is an honor to invest in the vital work of Ohio’s civil legal service providers, who help low-income Ohioans and strengthen the communities they call home,” said Foundation Executive Director Angie Lloyd.
Addressing Civil Legal Needs
The Foundation will award $1.42 million to civil legal service nonprofits for initiatives to support Ohio’s workforce and to stabilize families.
Unmet Civil Legal Need
The Foundation will award $1.28 million in a grant program that funds innovative projects and new service delivery models to address the unmet civil legal needs of low-income Ohioans. This year’s awards include technology, systemic change, and community economic development initiatives.
Legal Services for Veterans
The Foundation will award grants totaling $575,000 to continue to support the expanded capacity of its grantees to serve the veteran community. In 2024, the Foundation launched a grant program with support from the Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Legislature to provide more robust civil legal services to veterans. Over the course of the grant program, civil legal service providers have made steady progress in serving more veterans through new partnerships. The Foundation anticipates the number of veterans served will continue to grow.
Legal Services to Address Substance Abuse
Thanks to support from the Ohio Legislature, the Foundation will award $560,000 to nonprofit civil legal service providers to address legal needs for individuals impacted by substance use disorders.
Neighborhood Stabilization: Housing
The Foundation will award $980,000 for Phase Two of its award-winning Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Funded through Attorney Unclaimed Funds, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds legal work across the state to address housing needs, including the development of affordable housing, support for healthy housing, and promotion of homeownership.
Justice for All Fellowships
The Foundation will award $225,000 to nonprofit civil legal service providers to host Justice for All Fellows starting in the fall of 2026. Through the Justice for All Fellows Program, law school graduates with a passion for public service address urgent legal problems facing Ohioans. The selected fellows will address the legal needs of rural Ohioans, veterans, and issues related to housing affordability.
Justice for All Summer Clerks
The Foundation will award $68,500 to nonprofit civil legal service providers to host Justice for All Summer Clerks in 2026. The Justice for All Summer Clerkship Program funds law clerks to work at nonprofits that provide direct civil legal services to low-income Ohioans.
General Operating for Specialty Providers
The Foundation will award $1.29 million in general operating support to nonprofit civil legal service providers serving Ohioans who are low-income or who lack access.
Other Grants to Civil Legal Service Nonprofits
The Foundation will award $825,000 to civil legal service providers in response to requests to address their individual programmatic needs. Grant awards encompass a range of topics, including legal services projects, assessments and studies, and operations.