The Colorado Bar Foundation
| Publication year | 1995 |
| Pages | 2313 |
1995, October, Pg. 2313. The Colorado Bar Foundation
The Colorado Bar Foundation, established in 1953 by members of the Colorado Bar Association ("CBA"), functions exclusively for educational and charitable purposes and is an organization qualifying under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Foundation promotes the advancement of jurisprudence and the administration of justice in Colorado through grants to help educate the general public and provide assistance to legal institutions and legal services in Colorado.
All CBA members are also members of the Foundation. The Foundation is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees elected by the Board of Governors of the CBA.
The initial board in 1953 was composed of Thomas M. Burgess, Colorado Springs; James K. Groves, Grand Junction; Milton J. Keegan, Denver; William R. Kelly, Greeley; and William Hedges Robinson, Denver.
The current members of the Board of Trustees are: Ann T. Raisch, Chair, Boulder; Wesley C. Kettlekamp, Jr., Vice-Chair, Pueblo; James Wade, Treasurer, Denver; Carol M. Welch, President of the Bar Fellows, Denver; Carolyn E. Daniels, Denver; John W. Dunn, Vail; Russell L. George, Rifle; H. Barton Mendenhall, Rocky Ford; Robert A. Schuetze, Boulder; and ex officio members Charles C. Turner, CBA Executive Director, and Dana J. Vocate, staff director, Colorado Bar Foundation.
Financial support for the Foundation comes from several sources. Voluntary contributions are solicited from CBA members along with the annual dues. These voluntary contributions constitute approximately 10 percent annual income into the corpus of the Foundation. Memorial contributions for deceased lawyers, friends and family are welcome. Bequests are made to the Foundation in wills and as special gifts. The primary source of endowment funding, however, is derived from the Colorado Bar Fellows.
The Colorado Bar Fellows came into existence in 1977 through the efforts of Maurice Reuler. With a program patterned after the American Bar Fellows, new members are selected each year and honored at the annual dinner. Bar Fellows are members in good standing in the CBA who have been recommended by their colleagues. These lawyers have been selected because of their outstanding contributions to their communities.
New members pledge $1,500 toward the Bar Foundation's endowment, to be paid in ten equal annual installments. All contributions are tax deductible. On completion of the ten-year commitment, a member becomes an Honorary Life Member. Although these members are exempt from making a mandatory annual contribution, most continue to contribute to the activities of the Foundation.
The Foundation has supported a variety of worthwhile projects, institutions and endeavors. However, given the limited funding available for grants and the growing availability of other funding sources for the direct delivery of legal services, the Foundation has chosen to reemphasize the education and research aspects of its charter.
Ultimately, the Foundation maintains flexibility to support activities within the stated purposes of its charter. Thus, all applicants falling within the broad definitions of the charter are free to apply.
The following organizations are recipients of the Foundation funds: Byron Rogers Memorial Scholarship Trust, CASA Inc. of Colorado Springs, Center for Policy Research, Centers on Deafness in Colorado, Children's Legal Clinic, Colorado Judicial Institute, Colorado Mock Trial Competition, Commission on Judicial Performance, Denver Bar Association Teen Court, El Paso County Teen Court, Governor's Commission on Life and Law, Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, League of Women Voters, Minority Women Lawyers, National Judicial College, National Mock Trial Competition, Project Safeguard, Recording for the Blind, Safe-house, Seniors!, Inc., Social Science Education Consortium, University of Colorado School of Law, University of Denver College of Law and Voices for Children.
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