Grants

The Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF) is the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in Wisconsin. Established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1986, WisTAF helps ensure that low-income people with non-criminal legal problems have access to the legal advice and representation they need.

Grant funds come from three main sources: the Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program, the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF) program, and the State of Wisconsin low-income civil legal services appropriation. The IOLTA and PILSF programs were established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to make Wisconsin’s justice system accessible to all, regardless of income. The IOLTA program is supported by participating financial institutions across the state, while all practicing Wisconsin attorneys and judicial members support the PILSF program.

For the first time in history, the Wisconsin legislature included $1,958,600 for low-income civil legal services, to be administered by WisTAF, in its 2007-2009 budget. This amount was increased to $2,546,100 million annually in its 2009-2011 budget in an attempt to help fill the void in state funding for civil legal services.

In 2009, WisTAF granted more than $3 million to 15 legal services agencies. 2009 grants included $250,000 from WisTAF’s IOLTA program, $891,000 from the Public Interest Legal Services Fund, and $1,958,000 in state appropriation funding. WisTAF also was honored to disburse $123,000 from the Wisconsin Equal Justice Foundation.

Over the past 23 years, WisTAF has granted more than $37 million to agencies working for increased access to civil justice.

If you are a civil legal service provider interested in applying for a grant, visit our Applications page. If you currently receive WisTAF funding, and are looking for administrative forms or information, please see the Administrative forms page.

For more information about grants or the grantsmaking process, contact Rebecca Murray, Program Manager.