National Conference Of Bar Foundations

Member's Spotlight

Our Member's Spotlight highlights the foundations, members and programs that are making a difference in our legal community every day.

Tarrant County Bar Foundation

The Tarrant County Bar Foundation stands as a shining example of lawyer-driven philanthropy in North Texas, channeling the generosity and expertise of the local bar to make a meaningful difference in the community. Founded in 1997 under the auspices of the Tarrant County Bar Association, the Foundation has dedicated nearly three decades to advancing justice,…
Read Their Full Story
2026 NCBF Annual Meeting and Conference

SAVE THE DATE

Cornerstone of Progress: Resilience and Access to Justice
National Conference of Bar Foundations Annual Meeting
📍 Montgomery, Alabama
📅 Aug 13 – August 15, 2026

Join your fellow bar foundation leaders from across the country as we gather in Montgomery, a city deeply rooted in the nation’s struggle for justice, to explore how our organizations serve as the cornerstones of progress in challenging times.

Together, we’ll share ideas, renew inspiration, and strengthen the foundations that uphold our collective mission: advancing access to justice in every community we serve.

Mark your calendar and stay tuned for registration details!

NCBF Webinar Series - Legal and Policy Developments Affecting Nonprofits

Our latest webinar is now online! Members log in to your account to view. Non-Members, join now to access this important discussion.

Join or Renew Your NCBF Membership Today!
Watch the video below as NCBF board members and foundation leaders share the exclusive benefits of membership.

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, NCBF Past President

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

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.

Open Door Story

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.

Open Door Story

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.

News & Forums

NCBF's Latest Newsletters and Articles.

NCBF September 2025 Forum Newsletter

September 2025 The 2025 NCBF Annual Meeting & Conference Wrap Up The 2025 NCBF Annual Meeting and Conference, held at the District of Columbia Bar offices in Washington, D.C., was a successful gathering, bringing together bar foundation leaders from across the country to share ideas and advance access to justice. We extend our heartfelt thanks…
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NCBF August 2025 Foundation Forum Newsletter

August 15, 2025 Our 2025 NCBF Annual Members Meeting is Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 9 AM Eastern. 2025 NCBF Annual Members Meeting – Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 9 AM Eastern Our Annual Members Meeting is this Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 9 AM Eastern. Below is the agenda and key items our voting…
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NCBF July 2025 Foundation Forum Newsletter

July 15, 2025 Join Us at the 2025 NCBF Annual Meeting & Conference to Celebrate Your Bar Foundation Colleagues Join Us at the 2025 NCBF Annual Meeting & Conference Celebrate the remarkable achievements of your Bar Foundation colleagues at this year’s event! Connect with peers, honor our distinguished award winners, and be inspired by their…
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