Donate

Thousands of needy Texans are turned away from legal aid help due to a lack of resources.  A tax-deductible donation supporting legal aid may help an elderly person keep their home, a disabled student fain access to the classroom, or an abused child find safety.

• The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) was created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984. TAJF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, whose mission is to ensure that low-income Texans have access to civil legal services. In addition, through the Texas Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program, attorneys voluntarily pool the interest earned on trust accounts to provide civil legal services to the poor. TAJF is the largest Texas-based funding source for legal aid in the state. TAJF grantees assist Texas' most vulnerable residents with their basic, critical legal needs in matters such as safety from domestic violence, housing and disability benefits.
• The State Bar of Texas created the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF) in 1965 to "enhance the rule of law and the system of justice" by supporting legal services for the poor, educating the public about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and strengthening the profession and the administration of justice. Funded exclusively by voluntary charitable gifts, in 2009 the TBF awarded 60 grants totaling $770,700 and over $11 million in total since its creation.
• If you are involved in a class action case and are unable to distribute all the funds, consider the Texas Access to Justice Foundation as a cy pres recipient. Cy pres awards are funds in class action cases that, for a variety of reasons, cannot be distributed to class members or beneficiaries who were the intended recipients. Under the cy pres doctrine, courts can distribute these residual funds to appropriate charitable causes.When a cy pres award is channeled to the Foundation, you can rest assured the funds will be used in a manner consistent with the intent of the award. And you can make a significant difference in the lives of Texans who desperately need free civil legal assistance for safety, shelter and peace of mind.

Download the form to make a donation or if you would like more information on how you can get involved in access to justice issues in Texas, email atjmail@texasbar.com.