National Conference Of Bar Foundations
Mary Groth - NCBF Lifetime Achievement Award
This special award recognizes individuals who have made a profound, enduring impact on bar foundations and their communities.
Mary Groth
Inaugural NCBF Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Past President, National Conference of Bar Foundations
Recently Retired Director of Member and Donor Engagement, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation
Now is the Perfect Time to Join or Renew Your 2025–2026 Membership!
Connect with Community Leaders Across the Nation
Your membership level is determined by the total of your annual operating expenses plus grants awarded (excluding IOLTA funds).
Have an Online Membership Account You Need to Renew for 2025–2026?
Log in to renew or reactivate your membership: Log In to Renew
New to NCBF?
Join as a new member by registering for a 2025–2026 membership: Join Now
Membership Has Its Benefits
Membership in NCBF opens the door to a variety of resources that will help strengthen your foundation and enhance your performance as a foundation leader.
NCBF membership will put you in touch with:
- A network of experts: All members have access to Member Connect, an online resource that puts the collective experience of bar foundation executives and volunteer leaders at your fingertips.
- Essential information, including access to a "Members Only" area with a Forms Bank, Jobs Posting section, handout materials from NCBF meetings, and NCBF member surveys on the cumulative impact of bar foundations.
- Top-notch programming: Members have a low-cost registration fee or no registration fee to conferences and webinars each year with programming that speaks directly to bar foundation issues and qualifies for CFRE and CLE accreditation.
- Leadership opportunities: Members can grow in their careers by becoming involved with an NCBF committee or program.
- Recognition: Members are eligible to receive the NCBF Excellence Award and/or the NCBF Partnerships for Success Award, which honors the excellent work that your foundation is conducting within your community.
- Digital Newsletter: Quick tips and information to enhance your organization's operations, in a format that is easy to share with board members and volunteers.
- NCBF membership as a bar foundation allows three people from each foundation to have login privileges to access all the membership resources.
For Foundations and Associations, Your Membership Level Is The Total of Annual Operating Expenses Plus Grants Awarded (Exclude IOLTA Funds)
$10,000 to $499,000
$199 / 2025-26
- September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- Network of Experts
- Members Only Section
- Conference Discounts
- Award Recognition
- Digital Newsletter
$500,000 to $1.99 M
$300 / 2025-26
- September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- Network of Experts
- Members Only Section
- Conference Discounts
- Award Recognition
- Digital Newsletter
$2 M to $2.99 M
$360 / 2025-26
- September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- Network of Experts
- Members Only Section
- Conference Discounts
- Award Recognition
- Digital Newsletter
$3 M and more
$420 / 2025-26
- September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- Network of Experts
- Members Only Section
- Conference Discounts
- Award Recognition
- Digital Newsletter
Individual
$100 / 2025-26
- September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026
- Network of Experts
- Members Only Section
- Conference Discounts
- Award Recognition
- Digital Newsletter
Member's Spotlight
Our Member's Spotlight highlights the foundations, members and programs that are making a difference in our legal community every day.
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation and Mary Groth: Inaugural NCBF Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Caryn Coppedge McNeill and Mark Holt: 2025 NCBF Excellence Awardees
Caryn McNeill
As a Smith Anderson partner and trailblazing NCBA president, Caryn McNeill expanded pro bono programs and co-chaired the $1M Open Door Fund drive, uplifting six fellows from underserved backgrounds—read her full story of visionary leadership.
Mark Holt
With 35+ years as a trial lawyer and past NCBA president, Mark Holt's innovative fundraising propelled the Open Door Fund past $1M, empowering underrepresented law students—explore his pro bono legacy and diversity impact.
Some Photos From The 2025 NCBF Annual Meeting and Conference
NCBF VALUES STATEMENT
The National Conference of Bar Foundations strives to engage the bar foundation community to provide knowledge, inspiration, and opportunities through partnerships, collaborations, connections and networking. With a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we promote access to and the administration of equal justice through the organized bar and larger legal community while educating our nation’s citizens regarding their rights and responsibilities under the law.
Leadership
Running a bar foundation is no easy task. Yet it can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the legal profession. Lawyers give back to their communities with pride knowing that their efforts are making a real difference.
The National Conference of Bar Foundations is where we can all come together to share information, tips and guidance to help us make the most of the talent we find throughout the legal community. To be effective, it takes the right kind of leadership.