Behind the Grants: MBF Fellows Power a Historic Year for Legal Aid
This June, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation (MBF) was honored to award $6.7 million to programs advancing justice across the Commonwealth. For the Foundation, this year’s funding is especially significant as it represents the highest amount ever awarded in its history. The MBF has proudly served as a steward of Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) funding since 1987. These funds, which are specifically designated for civil legal aid programs, play a critical role in sustaining life-changing initiatives for those who cannot afford legal assistance.
Since the inception of the MBF’s IOLTA Grants Program, members of the Foundation’s Society of Fellows have been at the heart of the grantmaking process. Allocating millions of dollars in grant awards is no simple task. Yet, the more than 80 Fellows who generously lend their time and expertise each year make this undertaking not only possible but highly successful.
These volunteers review applications, conduct site visits, and make funding recommendations, thoughtfully and responsibly shaping the MBF’s robust grantmaking process. The Foundation could not be more grateful for their efforts to ensure that IOLTA funds reach the destinations where they will have the greatest impact.
Many of these volunteers have participated in the grant review process for years, some even decades. So, why do Fellows stay involved? Participants often say that volunteering allows them to give back to the legal profession in a meaningful way. For MBF Fellow Brian Glennon, Esq., “learning about and appreciating the tremendous efforts and impressive results of those on the front lines 365 days a year” is most rewarding.
And for many like MBF Trustee Patrick Francomano, Esq., the most meaningful elements of the opportunity consist of three main things: “making a difference in the lives of those served by grantees, learning about issues & how they are being addressed, and working with colleagues and staff.” Grant advisory committees provide a collegial environment for contributing to the work of vital community programs. As Albert Maggio, Esq. noted, volunteering with the MBF means “working on a common mission with like-minded, responsible, and engaged colleagues.”
The commitment of MBF Fellows who participate in the grantmaking process enhances the Foundation’s mission of advancing justice for all. “As a committee chair, I was floored by the expertise and enthusiasm of the committee members/grant reviewers,” said MBF Vice President Melissa Langa, Esq. “There are lots of great Fellows out there.”
By serving as grant reviewers, Fellows demonstrate their dedication to access to justice, and in the process, they gain new knowledge. After being exposed to the legal aid landscape and the urgent needs of Massachusetts residents, many Fellows become more aware of the challenges underserved communities face.
“I definitely have a deeper understanding of the scope and need for legal services for people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer,” said a grant review volunteer of over 25 years. “My site visit many years ago to the new asylum program at the then International Institute of Boston led directly to my current work as an Access to Justice Fellow representing asylum applicants.”
Even for newer grant reviewers like Monica Halas, Esq., who spent her career as an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), the experience proves to be enriching. “Although my decades with GBLS taught me about the importance and value of legal aid, this experience has deepened my knowledge of other efforts throughout the state,” said Halas.
“Volunteering as a grant reviewer with the MBF has been a very worthwhile use of time and inspirational,” she continued. “The commitment of advocates provides hope.”
This year, $6.7 million dollars will be distributed to organizations protecting the dignity, health, and safety of thousands of underserved individuals and families. Thank you to the volunteers who contributed to these historic funding decisions, directing critical resources to programs promoting access to justice statewide.
Interested in taking part in this work but not yet a Fellow? Click here to learn more or contact MBF Development Director Allie Ford.
