September 03, 2002
Contact: Lindsay Hansen
Print Press Release

PHOENIX, Ariz. (September 3, 2002) - Cindy Zwick, executive director of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education announced that the Foundation is now soliciting grant applications from organizations that provide free legal assistance for low-income Arizonans in civil legal cases. The deadline for applications is September 27, 2002.

“The Foundation’s primary mission is to ensure that all Arizonans have access to legal representation and we are honored to have the opportunity to fund organizations that provide these services,” said Zwick. “Our board has made it possible for any nonprofit organization to apply for assistance and we want to encourage all eligible nonprofits to apply for funding. The Foundation’s goal is to reach more Arizonans each year and continue to make an impact in the lives of those less fortunate.”

The grant making priorities for the Foundation will include funding for assistance throughout Arizona and funding for special needs of specific population groups, including Native Americans, immigrants and farmworkers. The majority of the funds used for the grants will come from special accounts called IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) funds. IOLTA was established in Arizona by the Supreme Court of Arizona to support legal services for those in need.

The Foundation will award grants for both general operating and program support and special projects. Priorities for special projects for 2003 include 1) development of statewide website for support of legal assistance for low-income Arizonans; 2) technology development; and 3) statewide support for legal services organizations. Applicants may apply for both general operating support grants and special project grants.

Organizations may be eligible if they are one of the following: 1) non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to low-income Arizonans as its primary mission; 2) non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to low-income Arizonans as part of its mission; 3) non-profit organization that provides litigation support, training, technical assistance or other support services to organizations; and 4) law school clinics and organizations that provide legal assistance to the indigent.

The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education was created over twenty years ago to support legal aid for the indigent throughout the state and to support democracy education in primary and secondary schools. In 2002, the Foundation will disburse over $2 million in funding to support 25 legal aid agencies throughout the state. In addition, the Foundation funds comprehensive K-12 education programs, teaches youth about conflict resolution, peace making, public policy making, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In 2002, the Arizona Bar Foundation will reach 40,000 Arizona school children with this curriculum. In addition, the Bar Foundation administers an annual $300,000 Congressional grant that supports a democracy education program in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the Foundation's grant guidelines, contact Jeffrey Schrade at 602-340-7268 or via email at [email protected]. Interested parties can also obtain a copy of the grant guidelines by visiting www.azflse.org.