To apply for an IOLTA grant, your organization must be a New Mexico nonprofit that provides  civil legal services for the poor, law-related education for the public or improvements in the administration of justice.

iolta grant criteria...

CCV desires to obtain maximum effect from each grant made with IOLTA funds. The Grant Committee and the Board of Directors will use the following guidelines, with exception where necessary, to assist in the decision-making process.

1. Grants that may jeopardize CCV's Section 501(c)(3) tax status will not be made.

2. For civil legal services providers, applications that address specific legal issues impacting low-income persons as identified by the New Mexico Supreme Court's Access to Justice Commission State Plan will be favored. These issues include disability benefits and rights, welfare benefits, unemployment benefits, welfare-to-work programs, health benefits, landlord-tenant relations, housing quality, affordable housing, housing discrimination, foreclosure and condemnation, domestic violence, child custody, child support, divorce and consumer rights, water rights, migrant worker and Native American issues and other issues as established by the State Plan.

3. Grants will not be given to individuals; religious activities; political campaigns; organizations designed primarily for lobbying; lobbying activities; lawyers in the private practice of law; entities providing unauthorized delivery of legal services; and, governmental programs.

4. Applicants must have sources of income in addition to the IOLTA funds requested.

5. Greater weight will be given to applicants that:

• serve areas of greatest need, in terms of substantive law, population groups and lack of other available resources;

• have a proven history of delivering quality services; and,

• help to develop cooperative efforts among other providers/grantees.

• Other factors that will be considered are:

• broad geographic and demographic distribution of IOLTA funds throughout the state;

• level of participation in IOLTA by the applicant's board and geographic community;

• participation in IOLTA by the applicant (if applicant maintains an attorney trust account); and,

• ability of applicant to provide adequate publicity of IOLTA funds received.

6. Grants to fund experimental or pilot projects that are designed to improve the administration of justice will be considered and may be funded for limited periods. However, grant funds may not be used to meet a governmental entity's legally-required duties.