Foundation Grants

All NAELA Foundation grant requests are first reviewed by NAELA’s Federal, State Advocacy or Litigation Steering Committees to ensure that the request is consistent with NAELA’s priorities. 

The relevant committee will make a recommendation to the Foundation Board of Trustees to fully fund, partially fund, or decline a request and submit a Grant Review Worksheet as part of their recommendation. 

When reviewing requests for Foundation grants for litigation or regulatory advocacy, the Board of Trustees will consider resources available and the following criteria: 

• The matter has been identified as an area of focus by the NAELA Board for the current fiscal year.
• The matter concerns issues of national significance or has potential precedential effect in many states, as opposed to matters turning on particular fact patterns or which only affect one state.
• The matter is likely to favorably reform the law or regulation in an area affecting older adults and people with disabilities and to impact their legal rights in a significant way.
• The matter is likely to prevent detrimental reform in the law or regulation in an area affecting older adults and people with disabilities and to impact their legal rights in a significant way.
• If outside an identified area of focus, the matter affects the Elder Law Bar, as well as elder law and clients with disabilities
• Whether the Foundation has provided a grant previously for the same or similar matter.
• The financial viability of the project outside of NAELA grants, including the amount of funding being underwritten by the applicant, or sought or received from other organizations, state chapters or pro bono services.
• The estimated overall budget.
• The amount of time the attorneys are providing pro bono services to the matter.
• The extent to which a NAELA Chapter or allied organization will be involved or has provided funding in the matter.
• The individuals or entities seeking the grant have the necessary qualifications to pursue the matter to a successful conclusion.
• The impact funding will have on the Foundation’s standing before NAELA membership, stakeholders in the aging/disability community, policymakers, and the general public.

• Grant size: A grant cannot exceed more than 50% of the current 
• Amicus:  Each year, a reserve will be set aside for amicus briefs which is not to exceed 20% of available grant funds with no individual request exceeding $5,000.  
• Lobbying:  Grant requests that include a legislative advocacy component must clearly define and detail the expenses for that activity in the grant request, as funding lobbying requires special approval by Foundation Trustees and counsel to ensure funding such request is consistent with the Foundation’s tax exempt status and NAELA Foundation’s mission.