LTF Grants & Grant Guidelines

The Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (LTF) makes grants to non-profit organizations that provide free civil legal aid to low-income Illinois residents.

LTF grantees provide a “legal safety net” for people who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, but face serious problems related to issues such as domestic violence, child custody, eviction, foreclosure, elder abuse, access to medical care, and other critical needs.

LTF is the largest single source of funding for the legal aid system in Illinois, providing approximately one out of every six dollars spent for that purpose in the state. LTF grants help support the work of hundreds of staff attorneys and thousands of pro bono lawyers, who serve tens of thousands of clients each year.

Guidelines

To be eligible for a grant from LTF, an organization must:

  • Be an Illinois-based non-profit organization with tax-exempt status under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Serve Illinois residents who do not have resources to obtain private counsel, which is generally defined as having incomes below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines
  • Provide legal services without charge to the client (applies to services supported by the Lawyers Trust Fund)
  • Employ at least one paid, full-time equivalent staff attorney who has been licensed to practice law for at least three years at the time the application is due. (This requirement may be waived under certain circumstances; please read the full grant guidelines for more details.)

For more information about LTF’s grant priorities, eligibility, and factors in awarding grants, please read the latest Grant Guidelines.

Applying for a grant

LTF awards grants on a calendar year basis. Grants have been awarded for 2024. Grant applications for 2025 will become available in July 2024. For information about applying for a grant, visit the How to Apply page. You may also contact LTF Executive Director Mark Marquardt at 312-938-2133 or via email, or Deputy Director David Holtermann at 312-938-3076 or via email.

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