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The Austin Bar Foundation has awarded $32,000 in its 2025 grant cycle.
The recipients and their projects are:
University of Texas, Austin Law
Texas Law Student Resilience Fund Proposal
Awarded: $7,000
The University of Texas School of Law is requesting $5,000 to support its Texas Law Student Resilience Fund, part of a $15,000 project aimed at providing emergency mental health assistance to law students facing financial hardship. Originally created to help with essentials like groceries and books, the fund now focuses on covering high mental health care costs—such as copays, therapy, and assessments—particularly for students in crisis or with limited means. Over 65 percent of Texas Law students use the on-site Counselor in Academic Residence (CARE) program, yet many still require supplemental services. The fund aims to support around 80 students in the Austin area annually and is distributed based on need and urgency. All funds directly benefit students, and the program is sustained through ongoing alumni and private donor contributions. Impact will be measured through student feedback and usage data, helping to guide future support and fundraising efforts.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. (TRLA)
Texas Foster Youth Justice Project (TFYJP)
Awarded: $5,000
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) requests $5,000 to support a one-year project under the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project (TFYJP), which provides free, specialized legal services to current and former foster youth, homeless, and unaccompanied youth in Travis County. As the state’s largest provider of civil legal aid, TRLA aims to address urgent legal issues—such as access to IDs, record sealing, benefits, and emancipation—that impact housing, mental health, education, and employment. The grant will fund direct legal representation, hotline support, outreach, and the creation of mental health-focused legal guides. Led by attorney and social worker Sarah Worthington, the project promotes stability, improves mental health outcomes, reduces suicide risk, and advocates for systemic reform. Evaluation will include both quantitative metrics and client feedback, with findings reported to the Austin Bar Foundation.
Seedling Foundation
Parental Incarceration Mentorship Program
Awarded: $5,000
Seedling Foundation is requesting $5,000 to support its school-based mentoring program for children impacted by parental incarceration, as part of a $1.2 million project budget. Serving over 3,200 students across 130+ Central Texas schools, Seedling aims to match 550 youth with trained mentors during the 2025–26 school year. The program fosters resilience, academic engagement, and post-secondary success, with 96 percent of mentees advancing grades or graduating and 70 percent achieving 90 percent attendance. The grant will help recruit, screen, train, and support volunteer mentors. With strong school district partnerships and proven positive outcomes, Seedling continues to address the educational and emotional challenges faced by the 10,000 children in the Austin area with an incarcerated parent.
Texas State Bar Association, Austin Bar Association, Austin Bar Foundation
Crisis Assistance Program
Awarded: $15,000
The Texas State Bar, in partnership with the Austin Bar Association, is requesting $15,000 to support its Crisis Assistance Program, which helps attorneys who need to temporarily step away from their practice for medical or mental health reasons. The funds will be used to cover filing fees and compensate substitute attorneys handling cases during the impacted lawyer’s absence. This initiative aims to ensure continuity of legal services while supporting attorney well-being and will serve as a model for law firms statewide.