Member Spotlight

The National Conference of Bar Foundations is delighted to spotlight the Mobile Bar Foundation, a longstanding and impactful member whose work exemplifies the power of bar foundations to strengthen the legal system, advance access to justice, and enrich local communities.

Established in 1994 as the charitable arm of the Mobile Bar Association, the Mobile Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs and services that promote the legal system, improve the administration of justice, and foster the betterment of the local community and the legal profession. The Mobile Bar Association itself, founded in 1869, is one of the oldest bar associations in the United States and the oldest in the State of Alabama—providing deep historical roots for the Foundation’s philanthropic efforts.

The Foundation’s primary funding comes from annual membership donations by Mobile Bar Association members, supplemented by individual and organizational contributions and occasional fundraisers. Each year, the Foundation’s Board of Directors allocates a portion of these funds as grants to qualified area nonprofits whose programs directly align with its mission. Grants support critical initiatives that enhance legal services, aid vulnerable populations, and promote justice in the Greater Mobile area.

Recent examples highlight the Foundation’s tangible impact. In December 2024, during the Mobile Bar Association’s Annual Holiday Luncheon, the Foundation awarded a total of $30,000 in grants to five outstanding organizations: the Assistance League of Mobile, Legal Services Alabama, South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program, Veterans Court of Mobile County, and Via Center (for management of the Volunteer Guardian Program). These grants directly bolster pro bono legal aid, veterans’ justice initiatives, guardianship support, and community legal resources—core pillars of access-to-justice work that resonate deeply with NCBF’s national priorities.

The Foundation is currently led by a dedicated Board of Directors chaired by President Sarah Dorger, with Vice President Benjamin Y. Ford, Treasurer John J. Crowley, Jr., Secretary Judge Brandy O. Hambright, and additional members including Bryan Comer, Gaby Reeves, Judge Shelbonnie Coleman-Hall, along with ex-officio representatives from the Mobile Bar Association (MBA President Judge Judson W. Wells, Sr., President-Elect Mary Margaret K. Bailey, and Young Lawyers Section President Robert C. Alexander). Generous donors at all levels make this work possible, with many contributions made in honor or memory of distinguished members of the Mobile legal community.

As we look ahead to the NCBF Annual Meeting and Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, August 13-15 2026, the Mobile Bar Foundation’s story takes on special resonance. Located just a few hours’ drive from Montgomery—the state capital and historic heart of Alabama—the Foundation represents the vibrant contributions of Alabama’s legal philanthropy community on the national stage. Attendees will have a wonderful opportunity to connect with Mobile Bar Foundation leaders, exchange ideas on effective grant-making and community partnerships, and celebrate the shared mission that unites bar foundations across the country. The conference in Alabama offers a perfect backdrop to highlight how local foundations like Mobile’s are driving real-world improvements in justice and community well-being right here in our host state.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Mobile Bar Foundation for its decades of service, its generous spirit, and its continued partnership with NCBF. Your work strengthens not only the Mobile community but the entire bar foundation network. We look forward to seeing you—and learning from you—in Montgomery this August!

To learn more about the Mobile Bar Foundation and the Mobile Bar Association, click here.