Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Vermont Bar Journal, Fall 2017, Vol. 48, No. 3 | Page 33

by John Marchica, Esq.
VBF Spotlight on the Grants Process
During a recent Vermont Bar Foundation
(VBF) meeting, the Board decided to pub-
lish an article on the process of applying for
and receiving a grant from the Vermont Bar
Foundation. Since I have no experience
applying for grants, I thought writing the
article would be informative and fun. Dur-
ing my research, I discovered an amazingly
efficient, hard-working group of individuals
behind the grants scene: the Grants Com-
mittee members of the VBF. This Commit-
tee has the task of recommending alloca-
tion of grant money to non-profit charita-
ble organizations looking to better the lives
of the disadvantaged. The leader of this
esteemed group is Amy Berger, and her
sidekicks are Matthew Anderson, Amber L.
Barber, Jesse Bugbee, Lon T. McClintock,
Charles Merriman and Kane Smart.
In 1982, the Vermont Bar Association
created the VBF, a non-profit fund-raising
organization to help fulfill the promise of
fair access to affordable justice. This orga-
nization was funded through the collec-
tion of short term interest from attorneys’
IOLTA accounts and other fund-raising ef-
forts. Since 1982, the VBF has raised and
distributed more than $15,000,000 to or-
ganizations providing services that support
access to justice in Vermont, specifically to
non-profit programs that provide legal ser-
vices to disadvantaged Vermonters or that
educate the public about the courts and le-
gal matters. On average Vermont’s IOLTA
accounts now generate $850,000.00 each
year. How the money is generated could
fill an article of its own –but the funds are
essentially the interest earned on attor-
neys’ client trust accounts.
Grant applicants must determine the
type of grant they are applying for and
confirm that their organization provides
the type of services the VBF funds. The
VBF website, www.vtbarfoundation.org,
describes the two different grant-types
awarded, and that most applicants ap-
ply for grants through the Competitive
Grants Program. The Competitive Grants
Program is comprised of grantees chosen
through an annual application process.
The VBF also has a Non-Competitive Grant
program, where a bulk of the IOLTA money
goes, to fund program such as Vermont Le-
gal Aid, Have Justice Will Travel and other
providers of direct legal services to disad-
vantaged Vermonters.
Who receives funds? The Vermont Su-
preme Court has set guidelines on who
may receive the IOLTA funds and how the
all IOLTA funds are to be used. The pre-
ponderance of the funds (90%) must be
www.vtbar.org
used to support programs or organizations
that provide legal services to disadvan-
taged Vermonters. The organization pro-
viding legal services must do so under the
supervision of an attorney or by a licensed
attorney. Any remaining funds (10%) may
be used for public education related to the
courts and legal matters.
The VBF IOLTA Grant Application Guide-
lines require all applicants to file a Letter
of Intent by January of each year. Once
the applicant submits its Letter of Intent,
all new applicants are required to attend
an Applicant Conference Call which will be
scheduled by the Grants Committee. The
conference call is optional for repeat ap-
plicants. According to Grant Committee
member Lon McClintock:
The purpose of this call is to orient
each applicant to the grant process,
including the strict deadlines the VBF
adheres to.  It advises the applicants
to expect a designated VBF person to
contact the applicant with questions
members of the Grant Committee
have about their application.  It also
gives the applicants an opportunity to
ask questions about the process and
about the information needed to sup-
port their application.
Meeting the Application requirements, the
filing deadline is set for a date in March. All
the guideline information can be found at
www.vtbarfoundation.org. The Grant Ap-
plication Guidelines first asks applicants
to provide a Cover Sheet with their appli-
cation and the website provides detailed
list of what must be included in the Cov-
er Sheet. Along with the Cover Sheet you
must include a Grant Narrative. The Grant
Narrative contains the requesting organiza-
tion’s program history, financial need, pres-
ent resources, and tax status. This is where
the grant applicant can explain how the or-
ganization will serve low-income Vermont-
ers, address underserved populations.
The applicant will be required to pro-
vide a copy of their upcoming budget. The
Committee is looking to establish how the
grant money is being used. They are look-
ing for detailed information on sources of
income and all costs associated with run-
ning your organization.
The Application Evaluation is where the
rubber meets the road. Thinking it would
be nice to have an insider’s view of how
the Committee Members reach their deci-
sions, I asked Grants Committee Member
Jesse Bugbee what he looks for in a can-
THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2017
didate. Said Bugbee: “[I] look for the can-
didates that will benefit the largest num-
ber of people. In other words, a grantee
whose scope and reach will give us the big-
gest bang for our buck.” I asked attorney
Amber Barber what the Committee is look-
ing for, and she said:
The Grants Committee evaluates the ex-
tent to which PROGRAMS:
a. provide direct legal services to low-
income Vermonters;
b. address underserved needs or pop-
ulations;
c. avoid duplication of services in the
service area;
d achieve broad geographic or demo-
graphic benefits, or, if local, have the
potential for state-wide applicabil-
ity;
e. demonstrate innovative approaches
or new ideas;
f. have potential for independent con-
tinuity, or use challenge grants or
other fund-matching arrangements
to augment Foundation funds;
g. demonstrate community support
The Grants Committee evaluates the
extent to which APPLICANTS:
a. have a history of service reflecting
clear ability to deliver quality servic-
es;
b. demonstrate cooperative efforts
between service providers in their
area;
c. request funds for program rather
than capital expenses;
d. have sources of income in addition
to Foundation funds.
Attorney Barber explained that each ap-
plicant’s need and wants are all different
and that it takes a combination of differ-
ent factors to decide which organization re-
ceives a grant. Attor ney Barber further ex-
plained, “The Grants Committee uses the
criteria as consideration in deciding among
the various applicants….  Among many
other areas, I look for a grantee who can
deliver direct legal services for the disad-
vantaged, who can do so in a creative and
productive way, and I also try to ascertain
where the services will be provided in the
State of Vermont, with an eye toward en-
suring grant funds assist areas of our State
where people have the most need.
I also asked her what were the most com-
mon mistakes made by applicants. Amber
stated:
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