Bob Glaves has been Executive Director of The Chicago Bar Foundation since October, 1999, prior to which he had a successful nine-year career as a civil litigator at the Chicago law firm then known as Menges, Mikus & Molzahn. As Executive Director of the CBF, Glaves is responsible for leading and overseeing all activities of the CBF, including grants, programs, fund development, finances and administration. Since Glaves became Executive Director, the CBF has increased the amount of its annual grants and fundraising tenfold and has played a lead role in launching a number of groundbreaking access to justice initiatives. Glaves is a 1991 magna cum laude graduate of The John Marshall Law School, received a B.A. degree in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin in 1987, and has been awarded a number of commendations over the course of his legal career. He currently is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Donors Forum, recently served as President of the National Conference of Bar Foundations, and serves in a leadership role in several other nonprofit and bar initiatives.
Among the commendations Glaves has received over the course of his career are the Maurice Weigle Outstanding Young Lawyer Award in 1998, the Chicago Legal Clinic’s Cardinal Bernadin Award for action on behalf of social justice in 2000, the Atticus Finch Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services in 2002, the Human Rights Practitioner of the Year Award at the Midwest Light of Human Rights Awards Luncheon in 2003, and a Distinguished Service Award from the John Marshall Law School Alumni Association in 2004. Glaves also was selected in 2002 as one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Glaves currently chairs the Board of the Donors Forum and serves on the board of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees; co-chairs the Department of Homeland Security Immigration Enforcement Working Group; and is an active member of the Chicago Bar Association; the American Bar Association; and the Illinois Task Force on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children. He is involved in a number of other bar and pro bono activities as well.
Glaves previously has chaired the CBA’s Legislative Committee and Legal Aid Committee and several other bar committees. He was the principal drafter and led the successful advocacy efforts for the Illinois Equal Justice Act and other significant Illinois legislation. He has written numerous articles for legal and nonprofit publications and is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences on issues including access to justice, pro bono, immigration, advocacy and a number of other legal and nonprofit topics.
In addition to his law related activities, Glaves served for several years on the local school council for Beaubien elementary school in Chicago, served on Mayor Daley’s 21st Century Leadership Council, and is involved in other community activities. He resides in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood with his wife Robin and their two children.
