MBF Fellows: Registration for Grant Advisory Committees is Now Open

Mar 21

The Massachusetts Bar Foundation (MBF) is one of three recipients of Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) funds. These funds are reserved for programs which provide civil legal services to low-income clients and/or improve the administration of justice. This year, the MBF expects to award approximately $6 million through its IOLTA Grants Program. All members of the MBF’s Society of Fellows are invited to participate in this vital grantmaking process by joining a Grant Advisory Committee.

Grant Advisory Committees play a crucial role in the MBF’s funding decisions by reviewing grant applications and making funding recommendations. Each application undergoes two rounds of review: once by region and once by subject matter. Volunteers choose whether they would like to serve on a regional or subject committee. Regional committee members meet with applicants for a more in-depth review while subject committee members perform a paper review only.

This year, grant review volunteers should be aware of the following key dates.

April 17: Optional Zoom Orientation at 1PM
April 22 — May 9: Independent Grant Application Review
May 12 — May 22: Two-Hour Committee Meeting to Report Findings and Finalize Funding Recommendations

Each year, over 80 MBF Fellows volunteer to participate in the grant review process. Many find this work highly rewarding as it allows them to engage closely with the MBF’s mission of advancing justice for all. The MBF is deeply grateful for the legal expertise and dedication that Fellows contribute to this process.

Longtime Grant Reviewer, Ilene Belinsky, reflected on her time volunteering with the MBF: “The program was one of the most enjoyable activities I have engaged in through the Mass Bar. The staff at MBF is among the most professional, engaging, caring, supportive and knowledgeable I have encountered. Thank you for allowing me to participate all those years.”

Fellows, your involvement is crucial in ensuring the MBF’s impact reaches those who need it most. Register to be a grant review volunteer today.