Member Spotlight
Colorado Bar Foundation
Advancing Justice Across the Rockies Since 1953
The Colorado Bar Foundation (CBF), the philanthropic arm of the Colorado Bar Association, has spent more than seven decades turning lawyer generosity into statewide access to justice. Established in 1953 to promote the advancement of jurisprudence and the administration of justice throughout Colorado, the Foundation is a 509(a)(3) Type 1 supporting organization to the CBA. Its mission is clear and consistent: The Colorado Bar Foundation advances justice by supporting legal services and law-related education.
About the Foundation
Each year the Foundation funds programs that:
- Improve the delivery of legal services to the disadvantaged (court representation, advice to pro se litigants, and information on domestic relations, probate, estate planning, immigration, evictions, and bankruptcy)
- Promote law-related education for the public and schoolchildren of all ages
- Strengthen the administration of justice (support for courts and judicial officers, accessible court information, childcare for litigants and jurors, and assistance to law enforcement and the judiciary)
A transformative estate gift from Bennett S. “Ben” Aisenberg in 2022, together with steady Fellows support and endowment growth, has significantly expanded grantmaking capacity. The Foundation’s endowment and investment portfolio now stand at approximately $12 million.
Bar Fellows and the Aisenberg Society
The Bar Fellows Program is the cornerstone of CBF’s philanthropy. Distinguished CBA members are invited to pledge $2,500, $5,000, or $7,500 over ten years. Upon completing their pledge they become Fellows Emeritus and are encouraged to continue giving. Fellows are honored each year at the annual Bar Fellows Dinner. This year our Bar Fellows Reception will be held in conjunction with the CBA’s Annual Meeting on December 3, 2026.
The Aisenberg Society recognizes donors who contribute $10,000 or more. Named for former CBA President Ben Aisenberg, the Society and related pledge program have become a vital source of leadership-level support.
Signature gatherings include the “Blues on the Bayou” fundraiser and the Bar Fellows Dinner.
Colorado Bar Foundation Blues on the Bayou
Grantmaking and Impact
The Foundation has provided grants to Colorado nonprofits for over 70 years. In 2025 it awarded a record $461,622 to 81 grantees, with an average grant of $5,699. Trustees reviewed 119 applications and funded 68% of them. Awards reached organizations serving 58-plus counties plus 22 statewide programs.
In 2026, an upward trend continues with the CBF funding more organizations, with 92 nonprofits receiving a total of $516,650.
Recent priorities include a multi-year grant pilot ($99,000 to high-performing, long-supported organizations) to give nonprofits greater stability, and an annual $40,000 block grant to the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF) that streamlines pro bono funding. Grantees include legal aid and immigrant advocacy programs, domestic-violence and child-advocacy organizations, court-care programs, mock-trial and civic-education initiatives, and Metro Volunteer Lawyers.
The Foundation prefers specific program expenses over general operating support, with exceptions for organizations whose missions align closely with its three funding areas. Small and rural organizations are explicitly encouraged to apply.
Dedicated Leadership
The Foundation is guided by a volunteer Board of Trustees of lawyers and judges from across Colorado. Current officers include:
- Hon. Ted C. Tow, Chairperson
- Claire Hunter, Vice Chairperson
- Jennie Wray, Bar Fellows President
- John M. Lebsack, Treasurer
- Connie Talmage, Trustee Emeritus
Foundation Manager Elizabeth Akalin oversees grants, development, events, and day-to-day operations.
Looking Ahead
With a growing endowment, a loyal Fellows community, and a record year of grantmaking behind it, the Colorado Bar Foundation continues to widen the circle of Coloradans who understand, value, and can fairly access the justice system.
The National Conference of Bar Foundations is proud to feature the Colorado Bar Foundation in this Member Spotlight. Learn more, view the latest Annual Report, or explore the Fellows and grants programs at coloradobarfoundation.org.
Thank you, Colorado Bar Foundation, for more than 70 years of lawyer-driven philanthropy and for your lasting contributions to the national bar foundation community.