Q: Is my organization eligible to apply for IOLTA grant funds?

A: The Board of Trustees will NOT make grants for:

• Political campaigns
• Organizations designed primarily for lobbying
• Activities that the local, state, or federal government has an obligation to fund
• The IOLTA program does not fund charitable activities that promote a religion or require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receipt of services. However, grants may be awarded to faith-based organizations for non-religious purposes.

To be eligible for an IOLTA grant, an organization must:

(a) be exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended, OR
(b) agree to use the IOLTA grant only for purposes that are charitable or educational within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended; AND
(c) be an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, marital status, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

If awarded a grant, successful applicants are required to:
(a) execute and comply with the terms of the Grant Agreement, including performance of the project as described in the applicants IOLTA grant application;
(b) agree that the completed application will be available for public inspection;
(c) submit timely reports to the Foundation detailing the project's progress and the expenditure of IOLTA funds; AND
(d) cooperate with data collection and evaluation requests of the Foundation or its representatives.

 

Q: Are there categories or funding criteria for the IOLTA - CITE Grant?

A: There are three funding categories:

1. Capital Improvements: One-time funding for physical improvements to the applicant's owned space, such as renovations or equipment purchases, that enhance client confidentiality, improve the program functionality or safety of the space, and enable more effective and efficient program operations to provide legal services to the poor.

2. Enhance efficiency and improve client service with technology: This category supports technology solutions that enhance communication, streamline processes, and improve the quality of legal services provided by grantees, leading to more effective client representation and improved access to justice. For example, funding may be requested for:

• Technology assessments and strategic planning
• Server decommissioning and migration projects
• Information security systems and data protection
• Program automation tools

3. Drive innovation through technology: This category supports the design, implementation, and rigorous testing of emerging technologies that enhance legal service delivery and improve access to justice. This category includes:

• Developing and/or piloting innovative technology solutions in partnership with civil justice system stakeholders.
• Collecting and analyzing data to measure the impact of these technologies on legal services and client outcomes.
• Collecting project findings and best practices that may promote broader adoption of successful approaches

Applications in this category are encouraged, although not required, to partner with other collaborators in the civil legal justice landscape, including pro bono programs, social services, courts, and other providers of civil legal services.

Q: How are IOLTA grant awards funded?
A: The Tennessee Supreme Court established the IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program in 1984, enabling the interest earned on trust accounts to make grants to law-related Tennessee organizations that provide legal services to the poor, improve the administration of justice, and support scholarships at state-supported law schools. This critical program is a key component of access to justice.

Q: What is included in the appliction?
A: The application is fully online. The application includes the following components: 

• Organization Profile: Legal name, address, contact information, EIN, and tax-exempt status.
• Completed Application: The application will include questions related to the proposed project. Questions include detailed description of the proposed project, including its objectives, activities, timeline, and expected outcomes. Clearly indicate which funding category your project aligns with.
• Budget: A detailed budget outlining all project expenses and funding sources.
• Supporting Documents: Upload all required supporting documents, including:
  • IRS Determination Letter (or equivalent documentation of tax-exempt status)
  • Financial statements (most recent audit or Form 990)
  • If applicant is applying for the Driving Innovation category, the applicant should also provide letters of support from their collaborating entities (where applicable)

Please fully answer all questions including narrative questions. Answer each question as if the reader is unfamiliar with your organization and avoid referring to answers from other questions. If a question doesn't apply, write "N/A."

Q: How should I submit my application?
A: All grants will be submitted on the Foundation’s grants management portal hosted by WizeHive. The Foundation will host an interactive introductory webinar of the grant portal on Thursday, March 20, at 2 pm CST. Please click here to sign-up for the webinar.

Q: Do I need an account to submit an application?
A: Yes, you’ll need to create an account in the system before it will let you draft, review, and submit an application. This is the organization profile described above. Please create only ONE account per organization.

Q: Will my application progress be saved if I leave the page before submitting?
A: Yes, the system will save your progress. When you log back in, you can resume your application where you left off. However, to avoid any potential issues with technical glitches, we recommend drafting your responses in a separate document and then copying and pasting them into the application fields. This will ensure your work is not lost if any unexpected errors occur.

Q: Are there any character limits for the narrative answers?
A: Yes, some questions in the electronic application have a character limit, which is specified in each field in the grant management portal.

Q: How will my application be evaluated? Are there specific factors the Grant Review Committee will consider when evaluating my application?

A: The Tennessee Supreme court approved the use of IOLTA funds for three purposes: (1) the delivery of legal services to the poor, (2) student loans to deserving law students, and (3) to improve the administration of justice. When the applications are evaluated, the Grant Review Committee will ensure that the requested funds meet the purpose of improving the delivery of legal services to the poor and improving the administration of justice. Additionally, the committee will assess several factors, including:

• • Alignment of goals and clarity of narrative responses. Is the project sufficiently law-related? Does the project improve the administration of justice or increase access to legal representation for the poor? How well does the project align with the CITE Grant's objectives and priorities?
  • Project Feasibility. Is the project plan clear, realistic, and achievable, taking into consideration the organization's track record of success in the relevant field.
  • Capacity, Impact, and Sustainability. What is the potential impact of the project on the organization's ability to provide legal services and improve access to justice? Are there plans for sustaining the project beyond the grant period?
  • Adherence to Grant Process. Adherence to the application format, submission guidelines, and responsiveness to follow-up questions from the Grant Review Committee.

With a competitive application process, the Grant Review Committee will evaluate competitive applications and make funding recommendations.

Q: What is the exected amount of available funding?

A: The available funding for this grant program is scaled differently and is notably lower than the annual IOLTA grant program. Applications will be reviewed in the context of available funding and the overall amount of applications, with a focus on projects that demonstrate a high impact within the program's budgetary demands.

Q: Is there a deadline for submitting the grant application?

A: Yes, the deadline for submitting an application through the grant management portal is 11:59 PM CST on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. If you experience unexpected technical difficulties with uploading or submitting the application, the Foundation will evaluate and consider requests to submit an application after the deadline on an individual basis. Please make every effort to address your questions ahead of the deadline. We anticipate an announcement of successful grant awards in May.

Q: What if I have any issues or questions regarding the grant management portal?
A: Please send an email to info@tnbarfoundation.org for any issues related to accessing and navigating the grant management portal. Foundation staff or the Foundation’s representative will get in touch with you as quickly as possible.