Grant Application Packet

INTEREST ON LAWYERS' TRUST ACCOUNTS PROGRAM
Grant Application Packet - 2009
The IOLTA Grant deadline is Dec. 31, 2008.

IOLTA HISTORY
The Kansas Bar Foundation (Foundation) is a charitable,
non-profit corporation affiliated with the Kansas Bar Association
(KBA). The Foundation's Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account
(IOLTA) Program was established as a funding source for
law-related charitable public service projects and was approved
by the Kansas Supreme Court in April of 1984. In its petition
to the Supreme Court, the Foundation emphasized funding
programs which improved the provision of civil legal services
to the low-income, provided law-related education, improved
the administration of justice, and other programs as approved
by the Court. The primary funding was envisioned as providing
additional services to low-income Kansans.

The IOLTA program collects the interest from lawyers' commingled
client trust accounts which, prior to the creation of the
IOLTA program, were held in non-interest-bearing accounts.
The client funds deposited in these accounts are either
so small or will be held for such a short amount of time
that any interest generated would be less than the expenses
to set up a separate account or to separate out, keep appropriate
tax records, and dispense interest to each client. However,
when a number of these small or short term funds are pooled
together, they can produce significant amounts of revenue
for law-related charitable public service projects. Participation
in the Foundation's IOLTA program is voluntary on the part
of both Kansas lawyers and financial institutions.

All grant applications are reviewed by the Foundation's
IOLTA Committee, which is made up of appointees from the
Foundation, the Kansas Bar Association, the Kansas Supreme
Court, the Kansas Association for Justice, the Kansas
Association of Defense Counsel, and the Governor's Office.
The IOLTA Committee forwards its recommendations to the
Foundation's Board of Trustees for final approval.

Historically, the Foundation has allocated approximately
80% or more of IOLTA funds to the provision of civil legal
services to low-income citizens.

GRANT PHILOSOPHY
Civil Legal Services to the Low-Income: The Foundation has
committed itself to assisting with improving the access
to the legal system for all Kansans. One of the key methods
of accomplishing this objective is by providing grants to
civil legal service programs that provide services to the
low-income. In the past, these grants have concentrated
on such high impact clients as the low- income victims of
domestic violence, the elderly, and children. Funds have
also been made available to assist with administering local
and state bar pro bono and reduced fee programs and to provide
technical support for legal service staff.

Law-Related Education (LRE): The second largest category
receiving IOLTA funds has been law-related education projects
for the public. A variety of public education seminars on
the Constitution have received funding. These seminars have
been one-day to day-and-a-half programs developed for secondary
school social studies teachers. Funds were also granted to
assist with the Close-Up project, Citizen Bee programs,
the LRE Clearinghouse, the Law Wise newsletter, the statewide
Mock Trial competition, and legal rights and responsibilities
booklets.

Administration of Justice: The Foundation will consider
grants to improve the administration of justice in Kansas.
Generally, this area has covered such concerns as alternative
procedures for the resolution of disputes, promotion and
support for programs facilitating access to the legal system,
and improvements in the court system. Programs that have
previously received funds have been:

Project Early Dispute Settlement (Olathe) and the neighborhood
Justice Center (Wichita Bar Association) which use volunteer
mediators to resolve minor disputes between people with
ongoing relationships;

The Topeka, Johnson County, and Hays CASA (Court Appointed
Special Advocates) programs and the Kansas Association of
CASA Programs have received funds to support their programs
of using volunteers in the juvenile justice system. The
Foundation has encouraged one combined grant from all the
CASA programs.

There have been other grants approved for innovative one-time
projects aimed at reducing juvenile crime or experimenting
with diversion efforts. Other grants have been used to establish
peer mediation or teen courts in Kansas schools and courts.

ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
The Kansas Bar Foundation has set certain criteria for those
organizations wishing to apply for IOLTA funds.

• The applicant must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
  Some consideration will be given to local bar associations
  which are 501(c)(6) organizations if the project is charitable
  in nature.



• The applicant must agree to an audit or a review of their
  expenses if requested by the Foundation.



• The applicant must provide quarterly and year-end reports
  detailing how the funds were used and who benefited from
  them.



• Applicants will be required to demonstrate fiscal responsibility,
  program stability, and an ability to ensure the effective
  and efficient delivery of quality services.

• Applicants must state the methods they use to meet their goal and
  the timetable in which they expect to achieve results.



• Applicants should indicate their prior track record in operating
  similar projects and the sources of other income to support
  this grant request.



• Applicants should describe how to evaluate the purposes for which
  the funds will be used.



• Programs using local bar volunteer lawyers will be encouraged.



• Priority will be given to applications requesting funds for direct
  services to the public. The provision of those services
  shall be broken down into estimated cost per direct service,
  if possible.



• The Foundation will make every effort to distribute IOLTA
  funds evenly throughout the state according to population.



• Any "experimental" project shall have statewide transferability
  and be innovative in nature. Applicants funded through
  this program will be required to provide information to
  other organizations interested in duplicating their program
  in other areas.



• Additional consideration will be given to projects that work cooperatively
  with other grantees within the state.

• Consideration will be given to applicants who do not duplicate existing
  services or funds.



• Applicants shall indicate the source of all of their program's funding.
  The Foundation encourages applicants to search for additional
  sources of project income. Added consideration will be given to such programs.



• If the applicant is reapplying for funding, they will need
  to indicate how much they received in the last year they
  received funds. This information will be used for purposes
  of comparison with their current request.

IOLTA BUDGET FORM
Please print and return the completed form to:

Kansas Bar Foundation
Attn: Meg Wickham
1200 S.W. Harrison St.
Topeka, KS 66612-1806