Promoting Justice by Funding Legal Access and Education

Our vision is for every person in South Carolina to recognize and secure legal rights.

Our Impact in Action

The SC Bar Foundation is proud to support organizations advancing access to justice and strengthening communities across the state. Through initiatives like the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence (NCCAI), which investigates and litigates credible claims of wrongful conviction, and South Carolina’s Upstate Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP), which brings legal services directly into healthcare settings to help families secure housing, access benefits, and resolve legal barriers, the Foundation’s support expands legal resources, restores hope, and creates lasting change for individuals and communities alike.

Meet More Grantees

Who We Are

We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors, working to promote justice by funding legal access and education across South Carolina.

What We Do

We provide grants to nonprofit organizations that offer legal services or legal education in South Carolina.

How We Do It

We manage the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program in South Carolina, which helps fund our grants.

Understanding the Difference

Many consider the Foundation to be the charitable arm of the South Carolina Bar. While we work closely with the South Carolina Bar, we are a separate nonprofit organization with our own mission, staff, and board. We do not receive funding from the Bar, but instead provide funding to the Bar for a number of their programs that fit within our mission.

How to Find Legal Help

The SC Bar Foundation does not offer direct legal services, but you can find trusted support through South Carolina Access to Justice. Visit their website to explore a complete list of legal resources, or try the interactive Legal Resource Finder to find legal aid organizations and access self-help tools.

SCAccessJustice.org

Educate

Spread the word about the Foundation and the organizations we fund, as well as the Statewide Civil Legal Needs Assessment.

Participate

Learn more about our Cocktails in the Courtyard events and help spread the word about our mission.

Donate

We have several ways to donate online, as well as mail in options. We are grateful for any amount of giving!

A Legacy of Impact Since 1971

Our vision is for every person in South Carolina to recognize and secure legal rights. Since 1971, the South Carolina Bar Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to various law-related organizations throughout South Carolina. Today, the Bar Foundation is the only statewide funding source for the provision of civil legal aid and law-related projects.