Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Fall 2014, Vol. 40, No. 3 | Page 13

by Bob Paolini, Esq.

Strengthening the Ties
Between the VBA and the VBF
In the last issue of the VBA Journal I
had the opportunity to interview Sophie
Zdatny, then president of the Vermont Bar
Foundation. Towards the end of our conversation she spoke of the grant made to
the VBF by the Supreme Court of Vermont
to “take the next step and reach out to a
wider audience and seek financial support
from beyond the bar … ”
Of course, we all know that IOLTA revenue continues to decline. We also know
that federal and state support for programs
that guarantee access to justice for low income Vermonters is either flat or declining.
Since 2007, members of the bar have contributed over $660,000 to support the Poverty Law Fellowship as well as other grant
programs of the Foundation. Yet, the need
remains, and the Foundation struggles to
maintain its present level of funding for its
grantees.
So, the Foundation decided to try a new
approach. Earlier this year, the Foundation
contracted with me to work as its Director
of Development and Community Outreach
with the goal of expanding its funding base
to meet the needs of its grantees and to
educate the public about the Vermont Access to Justice Coalition’s efforts. This is in
addition to, and does not replace any of,
what I do as your executive director here
at the VBA. Both the Boards of the VBA
and the Foundation thought that there was
enough overlap in missions of the two organizations that a common goal could be
achieved by seizing opportunities to address the justice concerns, regardless of
what hat I may be wearing at any particular moment.
The scope of what I have been asked to
do is this:
Education and Coordination
Paolini will work with the Foundation’s
Board and Executive Director to identify priorities within the access to justice
community (including the Foundation’s
grantees, access to justice programs,
and the judiciary), to serve as a coordinator between the Foundation and the
access to justice community, and to provide education on the needs of the access to justice community to private organizations, governmental agencies, and
the general public. In this role, Paolini
will have regular meetings with legislators concerning budgeting priorities, arrange testimony for legislative commitwww.vtbar.org

tees, meet with members of the executive branch, and provide or arrange media interviews.
Fund-raising
Paolini will serve as the Grant Manager
for the Foundation’s Grant Agreement
with the Vermont Supreme Court (Grant
No. 02120-FY14) and will coordinate
the Foundation’s fundraising activities,
including fundraising events, law firm
sponsorships, direct appeals, lawyer solicitations, annual campaigns, major gifts,
corporate fundraising programs, memorial giving and planned giving. These activities will be coordinated with other organizations active in the Vermont access
to justice community. Paolini will also
work with the Chairs for the Access to
Justice Campaign to provide support for
the Campaign’s Poverty Law Fellowship.
He will also work with the Foundaiton’s
Revenue Enhancement Committee to
develop and implement additional fundraising strategies.
Alternate Revenue Sources
Paolini will actively seek to identify alternate sources of revenue for the Foundation and to pursue those sources, such as
cy pres awards and abandoned property, which have already been identified as
potential funding sources.
So, where are we now?
I have begun outreach to Rotary clubs
around the state. By the time you read
this I should have met with at least six
clubs. Remembering that I am speaking
to, for the most part, non-lawyers with
little experience in the justice system,
my goal is to get them to appreciate and
understand what access to justice means.
What I have found most surprising so far is
that the public doesn’t know the difference
between criminal and civil or family law
matters. They don’t get that the court can’t

THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2014

just appoint lawyers to help litigants facing
foreclosure, collection, or those trying to
enforce child support, etc. The principle
that we understand about being entitled
to counsel in criminal matters but not in
civil cases is not understood by others. We,
as lawyers, can easily fall into our “inside
baseball” ways of thinking and not stop to
ask what the public knows. It’s been quite
the education for me!
People are genuinely interested and
understand that being the victim of
domestic violence, facing foreclosure or
homelessness all have an effect on stability
and on the workforce. Their own interests,
for example as an employer, may well be
served by increasing access to legal help
for everyone.
I am also working with the campaign
committee this year to support its
fundraising efforts. Let me stop here to do
two things: first, I want to thank everyone
who donated to this effort; and, second, as
we start a new campaign, please donate
again this year! I’m exploring funding
outside of members of the bar. I’ve reached
out to corporations, foundations, and other
businesses that have social responsibility as
part of their mission to support the work
of the Foundation. You’ll be hearing more
about this as time permits.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, if
you know of a potential source of support
that I should approach, please let me or
Deb Bailey, the Foundation’s executive
director, know. I’m happy to follow any
lead as we try to secure funding for the
work