The Virginia Law Foundation is thrilled to award $716,500 in grants to 33 organizations this year. Since launching our grants program in 1984, we have allocated more than $30 million to support initiatives and nonprofits across Virginia. These grants advance our mission to uphold the Rule of Law, expand access to justice, and enhance law-related education. Learn more about our 2025 grant recipients below.
APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW — Medical Legal Partnership — $50,000
The Appalachian School of Law (ASL) continues its Medical-Legal Partnership with Ballad Health, an integrated healthcare system serving Southwest Virginia. This partnership aims to improve access to justice for medical patients and address healthcare demands attributable to or exacerbated by unmet legal needs. ASL students, under the supervision of licensed attorneys, will provide free legal services to low-income patients. This year’s efforts will be focused on those impacted by Hurricane Helene and the 2025 flood, enhancing access to justice in localized areas.
BLUE RIDGE CASA FOR CHILDREN — Advocacy for Children Experiencing Abuse and Neglect in the Shenandoah Valley — $15,000
Blue Ridge CASA for Children trains and supports volunteer advocates to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. This grant will support outreach, screening, and training efforts to expand the pool of dedicated advocates, ensuring vulnerable children in the Shenandoah Valley have a consistent voice in legal proceedings.
BLUE RIDGE LEGAL SERVICES — Free Civil Legal Assistance for Low-Income Seniors — $25,000
Blue Ridge Legal Services dedicates itself to eliminating poverty-based inequities in the civil justice system by providing high-quality legal advice and representation to low-income residents of the Shenandoah and Roanoke Valleys. This project will provide free legal assistance in the form of legal information, legal advice and brief services, and direct representation to low-income seniors in the Central Shenandoah Valley, namely, the counties of Rockingham, Augusta, Page, Highland, and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro. The project will target seniors with critical legal needs, with a special focus on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases.
CANCERLINC — Access to Justice for Latino and Spanish-Speaking Cancer Patients in Central & Southside Virginia — $15,000
CancerLINC provides access to justice for low-income cancer patients who otherwise would not have attorneys, financial professionals, and others to help them address the non-medical challenges stemming from their cancer diagnosis — medical debt, eviction, bankruptcy, employment insecurity, and similar challenges. Given that cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanics and Latinos, who face disproportionate poverty and healthcare obstacles, this group is particularly vulnerable to disparities in cancer care. This grant will support bilingual programs to better serve Latino cancer patients in Central and Southside Virginia, providing approximately 55 Latino cancer patients and family members with access to pro bono legal and financial resources.
CENTRAL VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY — Academic Medical Legal Partnership — $40,000
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society (CVLAS) provides legal representation and preventative community legal education to low-income and elderly clients in civil law cases at no charge, aiding vulnerable residents with legal issues relating to consumer, domestic violence, employment, elder care, family, health, housing, and public benefits throughout Central Virginia. This year’s grant will help sustain and expand the existing Academic Medical Legal Partnership (A-MLP) with VCU’s Health Hub. This partnership increases access to justice for low-income persons in the Church Hill community through health equity-focused legal interventions, expanded on-demand attorney access, and community education about legal issues, resources, and rights.
CHILDREN’S TRUST — CASA Support in Roanoke Valley — $5,000
Children’s Trust is dedicated to preventing and reducing the occurrence and trauma of child abuse and neglect. A recent rise in founded cases in the Roanoke Valley highlights a need for increased volunteer advocacy to support vulnerable children. Funding from this grant will strengthen recruitment efforts, enabling the organization to enlist 16 new volunteers. It will also support at least two additional training sessions focused on child welfare law and the judicial system. These expanded educational opportunities will empower volunteers with knowledge and confidence to effectively advocate for more stable outcomes for children in need.
FAIRFAX CASA — Advocacy for Abused Children in the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court — $15,000
Through the promotion and support of quality volunteer representation, Fairfax CASA advocates for the best interests of each abused and neglected child referred by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. With a shortage of GALs and a significant rise in cases, CASAs provide consistent support, case monitoring, and vital information to the court. With a persistent waitlist, Fairfax CASA will use this grant to enhance case coordination, enabling children to receive more effective legal representation and ensuring equitable access to legal advocacy.
FAIRFAX LAW FOUNDATION — Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center Neighborhood Outreach Program — $25,000
The Northern Virginia Pro Bono Law Center of the Fairfax Law Foundation provides legal assistance to poverty and low-income residents through its Neighborhood Outreach Program. As part of this program, volunteer lawyers meet virtually or travel to partnering sites throughout the community to help those most in need and provide free civil legal analysis, advice, and referral information. The Fairfax Law Foundation’s long-standing partnerships with community organizations enable pro bono attorneys to meet with potential populations seeking legal aid in their facilities, broadening their impact on those who would otherwise be denied access to legal services.
FREEKIND — Expanding Access to Justice for Victims of Trafficking — $25,000
Freekind works to prevent human trafficking and support those it impacts on their journey to freedom. To better serve incarcerated human trafficking survivors in Virginia, Freekind is using this grant to expand both its Offramps and its Prevention Project™ programs to include a Juvenile Justice Edition (JJE). The Offramps Program improves access to justice for victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation by strengthening criminal justice partnerships to more effectively identify victims who would otherwise go unidentified or misidentified, and by advocating for alternative sentencing through restorative services rather than increased incarceration. Additionally, Freekind will identify two new sites to pilot the JJE.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION — Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic— $10,000
The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) at the Antonin Scalia Law School provides free legal representation to service members, veterans, and their families. Funding from the Virginia Law Foundation will enable M-VETS to expand its pro bono legal services to assist at least 55 service members and veterans. This outreach will be supported by at least 10 Scalia Law Students who will contribute 750 pro bono client hours, providing law students the opportunity to receive supervised, practical legal experience while advocating for service members.
GREATER RICHMOND BAR FOUNDATION — Statewide Pro Bono Campaign — $50,000
Committed to expanding access to justice, the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation (GRBF) mobilizes, trains, and connects attorneys with pro bono clients. With the support of this grant, the GRBF aims to produce and sustain a professionally produced pro bono marketing campaign led by the Supreme Court of Virginia’s Access to Justice Commission. This campaign will leverage research-based triggers to increase awareness and inspire action. The GRBF will develop a network of experienced attorneys to serve as Pro Bono Amplifiers, and these individuals will help with recruiting, matching, training, and mentoring prospective volunteers. Additionally, they will design and launch a centralized website to match service opportunities with volunteers to further cultural change and supplement existing outreach efforts.
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES MADE EQUAL OF VIRGINIA, INC. — Fair Housing Litigation and Legal Access — $5,000
Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME of Virginia) is a civil rights fair housing nonprofit whose mission is to ensure equal housing for all people. This grant will support the Fair Housing Litigation and Legal Access program, which assists Virginia residents in accessing housing justice. As part of this program, HOME of Virginia will open at least 24 investigations in an effort to advise and guide clients facing housing discrimination through the process of filing fair housing complaints and litigation. Additionally, the organization will present at least three fair housing trainings to community advocates and attorneys across Virginia in housing law so they can better help residents in their communities.
JAZZ4JUSTICE — Jazz4Justice Concerts — $14,000
Through partnerships with Virginia’s legal, business, music, and academic communities, Jazz4Justice raises awareness about the justice gap and supports music education. This grant will help Jazz4Justice use music to connect communities, educate audiences, and fundraise for legal aid organizations serving those most in need. Several times a year, college and university music programs will host jazz concerts, promoted by local bar associations, with proceeds shared between legal aid and the music programs. The upcoming season is expected to reach over 2,500 students and community members.
JOHN MARSHALL CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY & CIVICS — Civics Connects in Virginia — $65,000
The John Marshall Center (JMC) preserves and honors the founding legacy of Chief Justice John Marshall by engaging and educating learners of all ages about our constitutional history, the Rule of Law, and civics. Through partnerships with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the Virginia Law Foundation, JMC will present Civics Connects, a first-of-its-kind educational resource and program that deeply covers all Virginia standards for civics and economics for the middle grades. In the 2025–26 school year, Civics Connects will be piloted in middle schools across Virginia, supported by an expanded Civics Ambassador Corps of educators representing all regions of the state. The program will also be promoted through state and national conferences, professional development seminars, and VDOE platforms, with the goal of earning the High-Quality Instructional Materials endorsement from the Virginia Department of Education.
LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER — Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association (CABA) Volunteer Lawyer Program — $25,000
By partnering with communities and clients to achieve justice, the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC) dismantles systems that create and perpetuate poverty. Their CABA Volunteer Lawyer Program is a community-responsive project that provides a structure for attorneys to deliver high-impact free legal services that transform the lives of their neighbors while deepening attorneys’ pre-existing commitment to justice-seeking work. This grant from the Virginia Law Foundation will support this program’s expansion to provide time-sensitive, critical legal support to Afghan evacuees residing in Virginia. CABA will continue to collaborate with state and national partners to ensure competent and compassionate pro bono legal service provision to fulfill the asylum, SIV, and other humanitarian petitions and needs of Afghan clients in Virginia.
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF EASTERN VIRGINIA — Student Disability Rights Project — $25,000
The Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (LASEV) promotes the equal application of justice and removes impediments to fairness for the low-income and vulnerable families of eastern Virginia. While meeting the individual legal needs of clients, LASEV aims to challenge systemic injustice and the root causes of poverty and inequality. Its Disability Rights Unit focuses on outreach to parents of children with disabilities in their service area, and this grant will provide expanded service to 50 low-income children in need of special education advocacy.
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ROANOKE VALLEY — Roanoke Valley Domestic Violence Survivor Civil Legal Services Project — $30,000
The Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley (LASRV) applies a full range of expert legal services to identify and resolve the most critical civil injustices facing low-income people. The Roanoke Valley Domestic Violence Survivor Civil Legal Services Project is a longstanding project of the LASRV, and it provides free legal advice and court representation in civil matters to domestic violence survivors, along with assistance navigating the criminal justice system and associated processes. This grant will help deliver free and direct legal services to 225 victims of domestic abuse, distribute a written resource to educate and empower survivors, and provide education and outreach to the general public.
LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA FOUNDATION — Finis: The Beginning of a New Era Project — $15,000
The Library of Virginia, founded in 1823, houses the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia government, history, and culture in the world and is the oldest cultural organization in the Commonwealth. In anticipation of the 250th anniversary of American Independence, the Library will prepare its colonial and revolutionary records for greater public engagement to highlight Virginia’s transition from a colonial government to a constitutional government. This grant will support the conservation of the last manuscript journal of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In addition, the Library will host a public display and lecture centered around this important document to address how Virginia navigated the transition from colony to revolutionary state.
MADISON HOUSE — Free Tax Preparation Services — $10,000
As the University of Virginia’s volunteer center for students, Madison House develops leaders, builds community partnerships, and organizes service programs to address the needs of the community as well as the educational and personal growth objectives of students. This grant will support Madison House’s Cville Tax Aid Coalition, which provides free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income residents of Central Virginia. Staffed by IRS-certified volunteers, including UVA students and community members, this program helps to ensure that underserved Central Virginians can access high-quality, accurate, and empathetic tax preparation services.
MONTPELIER FOUNDATION — Public Constitutional Initiatives and Education — $10,000
As the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution and architect of the Bill of Rights, Montpelier’s mission is to communicate Madison’s role in creating our modern, democratic government. To meet the need for nonpartisan Constitutional education, Montpelier seeks to provide educational programming that equips Americans with constitutional knowledge, empowering them to apply that knowledge through increased civic participation. For the first time, Montpelier will host a Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. citizens in 2026. In addition to supporting this event, the Virginia Law Foundation grant will empower ongoing programming to help citizens better understand and engage with the U.S. Constitution.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA FAMILY SERVICE — CASA Program — $15,000
Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) empowers individuals and families to improve their quality of life and promotes community cooperation and support in responding to family needs. With support from this grant, NVFS’ Child and Family Well-Being program will recruit and train 20 community volunteers through three CASA training courses, equipping them with the skills needed to advocate effectively for 175 children in the court system. With NVFS supervision, 100% of child abuse and neglect cases assigned by Alexandria and Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judges will receive CASA advocacy to ensure each child’s best interests are represented and that they receive the care and stability they need to thrive.
REGENT UNIVERSITY — The Human Trafficking Vacatur Clinic — $20,000
Launched in 2023, the Human Trafficking Vacatur Clinic at Regent University’s Center for Global Justice aims to expand access to the Virginia vacatur law for victims of human trafficking. With support from the Virginia Law Foundation, the Clinic will expand filing petitions to all Virginia jurisdictions and coordinate with attorneys and partners to serve these victims. Additionally, the Clinic will conduct training sessions to educate 150 court personnel on identifying victims who have been charged with crimes and are being screened for specialty dockets. This helps to eliminate legal barriers victims often face, and with increased access to legal representation and dismissal of arrests and convictions, survivors are provided a chance to move forward in all aspects of life as they heal from the trauma of trafficking.
SLOVER LIBRARY FOUNDATION — Symposium on the American Revolution — $15,000
The Slover Library Foundation advances the library’s mission of creating a free and inclusive place where Hampton Roads residents can join together, share ideas and learn from each other. On November 14, the Slover Library Foundation will host a major symposium to explore Hampton Roads at the start of the American Revolution. Held on the eve of the 250th anniversary of North America’s first emancipation proclamation, issued in present-day Virginia Beach, the symposium will bring together leading scholars from around the nation to illuminate southeastern Virginia’s early contributions to American independence and the Rule of Law.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY — Southwest Virginia Legal Educational Initiatives — $15,000
The Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society (SVLAS) champions equal justice for low-income Virginians by providing high-quality, courteous, and effective legal services to those facing serious threats to their personal, economic, or family stability. SVLAS will utilize this grant to develop two one-day conferences: one to serve professionals who work with victims of domestic violence and the other to address elder abuse in many forms, including current scams that are taking place in southwest Virginia. The conferences’ sessions will offer quality education to increase professional development and awareness while offering critical resources to better assist the growing elderly population.
VIRGINIA CIVICS EDUCATION, INC. — We the People: Civics that Empowers All Students Teacher Training Cohort — $10,000
Virginia Civics empowers the next generation of leaders in Virginia through constitutional literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement. Using a rigorous and proven professional development program, Virginia Civics will train 22 elementary and middle school teachers on using the We the People: Civics that Empowers All Students program curriculum and equip them with essential civic education tools. Through a 36-hour summer Institute and follow-up trainings, educators will gain deep knowledge of constitutional principles and effective pedagogy. The We the People curriculum has been fully mapped to Virginia’s Standards of Learning requirements and serves as an effective Performance-Based Assessment for teachers.
VIRGINIA JUDGES & LAWYERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VJLAP) — Outreach and Education Analysis Heat Map —$10,000
Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (VJLAP) provides confidential, non-disciplinary assistance to lawyers, judges, law students, and legal professionals who are experiencing professional impairment as a result of substance abuse or mental health problems. VJLAP’s services are designed to promote recovery, protect the client, prevent disciplinary problems for the lawyer, support their families and professional associates, and strengthen the profession. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its outreach and education, this grant will support the creation of a heat map, a data visualization tool that displays information collected and stored in VJLAP’s CommonThread database system. This heat map will enable real-time analysis of collected data to improve the organization’s mission effectiveness.
VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOLS — Public Service Internships — $60,000
Supported by the Virginia Law Foundation since 1989, public service internships for first- and second-year law students help bring to light the importance of public interest and pro bono work. Seven of Virginia’s American Bar Association-accredited law schools receive funding for public service internships during the summer. The students work under the supervision of an attorney. The work they complete varies widely, depending on the missions and caseloads of their host organizations. Some students gain experience working on individual client matters and others work on larger projects in an organization’s service area.
VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER — Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference— $42,500
The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) breaks down systemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty through advocacy, education, and litigation. Each year, the VPLC holds the Statewide Legal Aid Conference to provide CLE-certified trainings on poverty law issues, including consumer, health, family, housing, and other areas of civil poverty law, and this grant will help underwrite costs associated with the four-day event. As the premier poverty legal education conference in Virginia, the expanded hybrid model allows more people to attend either in-person or remotely to learn how to best support their low-income clients and obtain their required CLE credits at no cost to them or their legal aid organization.
VIRGINIA SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION ALLIANCE — Project for the Empowerment of Survivors — $10,000
The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance’s Project for the Empowerment of Survivors (PES) bridges the justice gap faced by underserved Virginians who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Through this program, the Action Alliance offers direct legal assistance to Virginia’s survivors of sexual and domestic violence and training to the legal community to expand capacity to meet survivors’ needs. PES offers survivors, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, an opportunity to find answers to legal questions, gain insight into additional legal issues, carefully weigh legal options via phone and chat, and be linked with legal advocacy and legal services in their communities.
VIRGINIA STATE BAR DIVERSITY SECTION — Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute — $15,000
The Virginia State Bar Diversity Section fosters and encourages diversity and inclusion in admission to the bar and advancement in the legal profession and in the judiciary. Named for legendary civil rights attorneys Oliver Hill and Samuel Tucker, the Hill Tucker Pre-Law Institute is presented annually and seeks to increase diversity in the legal profession by reaching future lawyers at an early age. For one week, diverse and academically at-risk high school students in Virginia stay on a college campus and attend mock classes and seminars on a variety of topics, including career opportunities in the law, test taking strategies, and the college admissions process. Support from this grant enables this Institute to be offered at no cost to all attendees.
VIRGINIA STATE BAR FAMILY LAW SECTION — Spare the Child Video and Video Library — $10,000
The Virginia State Bar Family Law Section works to improve the quality of family law practice in Virginia through annual programs of special interest and aims to furnish the public an understanding of their rights and obligations in such areas of law. This year’s grant will support the update of “Spare the Child,” an educational video that guides divorcing parents in visitation, custody, and child support issues, stressing the best interests of children. The updated version will feature modernized content in a more engaging format, making it more relevant and accessible to today’s audience. In addition to the video update, the Section plans to launch a comprehensive video library to provide valuable information on related topics that is accessible not only to Virginians involved in litigation, but to anyone seeking guidance on family law.
WILLIAM & MARY LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION — The Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic— $10,000
The Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic at William & Mary provides comprehensive support for veterans’ disability compensation claims by combining legal and psychological services. Each year, it manages around 100 pro bono cases valued at $500,000, and the clinic has recovered more than $10 million in back compensation for veterans and trained approximately 400 law students since 2008. Support from this year’s grant will enable the Clinic to address veterans’ needs holistically while deepening its understanding of the needs of women veterans. Additionally, the Clinic will prepare the next generation of legal advocates through hands-on training in veterans’ benefits law and client-centered advocacy.
YWCA CENTRAL VIRGINIA — Empowering Survivors Through Court Advocacy — $10,000
YWCA Central Virginia is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. This grant will help underwrite a Court Advocate who will connect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking with court services, legal protections, and essential resources. This position will expand the organization’s reach across its large and primarily rural service area, allowing existing staff to serve more survivors more effectively in underserved communities. By enhancing court advocacy and crisis response in partnership with local law enforcement, the grant will help break the cycle of abuse and improve long-term safety and outcomes for high-risk victims and their families.
