FY 12 Foundation Grantees

$1.72 Million in Grant Funds Awarded July 2011 to June 2012

Seventeen organizations have received grants for the period July 2011 to June 2012.

Civil Legal Aid

Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation: $40,000

The Center delivers comprehensive legal services to low-income persons in need of assistance with heirs’ property issues and also enhances the capacity of attorneys, legal professionals and students to handle property matters. Additionally, CHPP works to increase awareness and resolution of heirs’ property issues in the Lowcountry.

Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services: $10,000

The Program works to increase the quantity of pro bono service provided by volunteer attorneys to low income clients in Charleston county.

Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse (CODA): $35,000

CODA aids victims of domestic abuse in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties. The Foundation supports an attorney and a court advocate who not only assist victims free of charge, but also work to educate court personnel and law enforcement on the dynamics and effects of domestic violence.

Crisis Ministries ~ Homeless Justice Network: $46,000

Crisis Ministries is a homeless shelter in Charleston. With IOLTA funds, the shelter is able to have an on-site legal clinic that supports the legal needs of hundreds of homeless men and women. The clinic is a national example for other shelters looking to incorporate legal assistance. 

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers: $60,000

LLV is a freestanding legal clinic with a niche of providing legal services utilizing the retired attorneys who can practice under Rule 415.

SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center: $10,000

With IOLTA funding, Appleseed staff provides substantive training for pro bono, legal services and private attorneys. Appleseed's goal is to increase the number of lawyers who are able to handle cases affecting the low income community and gives them the tools to do so. 

SC Legal Services: $1,025,000

South Carolina Legal Services is the sole statewide provider of civil legal services to low-income South Carolinians. SCLS has nine field offices and several satellite offices throughout the state. SCLS continues to develop more aggressive advocacy, strengthen capacity of Lead Attorneys and substantive work units as well as increase training opportunities for legal staff.  

Sistercare: $25,000

Sistercare offers legal representation at no cost to Midlands’ battered indigent women and their children. Foundation funding covers a portion of the personnel costs for the advocacy team.

Law Related Education

SC Bar Law Related Education Division: $210,000

LRE promotes the goals of civic education and, at the same time, enhances relationships between the state’s attorneys and students. Programming includes Mock Trial, We the People, LawForKids.org and Youth Court. In any of the offerings, LRE student participants not only learn the value of becoming a positive contributor to society, but also gain knowledge from the attorneys and judges who participate.  

USC Pro Bono Program ~ Public Interest Fellows: $15,000

With IOLTA funds, USC Law is able to place student fellows in legal services organizations. Not only do the students gain practical experience, the legal services organizations benefit from the services of the student. 

YMCA Youth in Government: $ 10,000

Youth in Government is a civic engagement program and leadership development program for middle and high school students. IOLTA funding is used to provide support for Title One Schools not currently participating and to create Youth in Government programs at youth and community organizations in low income neighborhoods.

Administration of Justice:

The National Judicial College: $15,880

The National Judicial College uses Foundation funds to train judges so that they may increase skills to better serve their communities. Participating judges are selected by SC Court Administration.

Richland County CASA: $7,490

The mission of CASA is “to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in Richland County Family Court by providing quality volunteer and legal representation to ensure every child a safe permanent and nurturing home.” IOLTA funds support a child welfare collaboration workshop, volunteer recruitment events and training resources.

SC Access to Justice Commission: $80,000

Created to expand access to civil legal representation for low income South Carolinians, the Commission has three work groups to support its activities – a Pro Bono committee, a Self-Represented Litigation Committee and a Staffed Programs Committee.

SC Bar Ask-A-Lawyer & Clinics Program: $40,000

Ask-A-Lawyer offers general education legal clinics throughout the state, supports the Law School for Non-Lawyers courses and conducts periodic statewide phone/Web blitzes. The Program plans to revise the public services portion of the Web site to make it easier to use for the public. 

SC Center for Fathers & Families Alternatives to Incarceration: $64,020

ATI places non-violent, non-custodial fathers in livable wage jobs so that they can make child support payments and reengage in the lives of their children. Job placement services are provided in tandem with legal assistance, money management training and fatherhood skill development.

Upstate Mediation Center: $25,000

UMC has been meeting mandatory mediation needs in Greenville county family and circuit courts since 1999. As the need for the Center’s services has increased 80 percent, Foundation funds allow the Center to continue existing services.

We need your help to sustain the work done on behalf of the legal profession by IOLTA grantees.

Please visit here to download Interim Report forms for the 2012 Grant cycle.