The CBF has a long history of working with and funding legal aid and pro bono organizations in Chicago and extensive knowledge of the pro bono and legal aid delivery system.  As a result, the CBF has developed a comprehensive grant screening and evaluation process that carefully vets pro bono and legal aid organizations before they receive grant funding.  The CBF’s grants are awarded through the CBF’s comprehensive grant screening and evaluation process, which is carried out by a highly-regarded board of lawyers and judges who are broadly representative of Chicago’s legal community with the assistance of CBF staff with significant expertise on these issues. The CBF grants process ensures accountability and strategically allocates funds to maximize impact; leverages additional support from government and other sources; and promotes best practices on common issues and collective challenges facing legal aid organizations, such as management, governance, pro bono and coordination with other organizations.

The CBF is committed to striving for excellence and transparency in all of our work, managing our resources effectively, and adhering to the highest ethical standards in our governance and management. We expect the same of the organizations that we fund and hold ourselves to the same standards as the organizations that we support.