MBF Awards Historic $7.6 Million in Spring Round of IOLTA Grantmaking

The Massachusetts Bar Foundation (MBF) Board of Trustees has awarded $7.6 million through its annual Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Grants Program, the largest grant distribution in the Foundation’s history. The funding will support 94 programs throughout Massachusetts that expand access to civil legal assistance and strengthen the administration of justice.

As one of three charitable organizations in Massachusetts entrusted with distributing IOLTA funds, the MBF helps direct critical resources to nonprofits serving individuals and families who face significant barriers to legal help. This year’s grantees provide assistance across a wide range of urgent civil legal needs, including housing, immigration, domestic violence, education, healthcare, and other areas where legal advocacy can have a lasting impact.

“The organizations receiving IOLTA funding are often a lifeline for people confronting some of the most difficult moments in their lives,” said MBF President Melissa Langa. “We are honored to support their work with the Foundation’s largest-ever grant distribution, and we recognize the responsibility that comes with helping ensure these resources reach communities where the need is most profound.”

For many Massachusetts residents, the cost of legal representation places justice out of reach. Civil legal aid organizations work to close that gap by helping people understand their rights, remain safely housed, escape violence, access benefits and services, and navigate systems that can be overwhelming without support.

“Access to justice should not depend on a person’s income,” Langa said. “Through the IOLTA Grants Program, the MBF invests in programs that help people protect their rights, preserve their stability, and move forward with dignity.”

The MBF’s grantmaking process is guided by a rigorous, multi-step review involving 80 volunteer lawyers and judges from the Foundation’s Society of Fellows. Their experience and insight help ensure that IOLTA funds are distributed thoughtfully, fairly, and with a focus on meeting legal needs across the Commonwealth.

A complete listing of the 2026/2027 IOLTA grant recipients is available here.