Funding the Education of the Next Generation of African American Leaders in Dallas
Supporting Pro Bono Legal Service Organizations Working in Our Community

J.  L.   Turner   Legal   Association
F O U N D A T I O N

Resources

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What is educational?

The legal resources that the Foundation has consulted typically have involved an inquiry into the actual subject being taught or how the funds being requested are going to advance the learning of substantive information. See the Resources Section on this page.

In addition to scholarships for traditional educational programs leading to a degree, the Foundation has supported a variety of supplemental programs that are connected with educational institutions and advance the education received in those institutions. We have funded after-school enrichment programs civics, government and law to juveniles since they teach substantive information on those topics as well as serve a separate generally accepted 501(c)(3) purpose of combating juvenile delinquency. We note that lectures and seminars that do not offer educational credits but do include educators, authors, journalists, researchers or subject matter experts may also serve an educational purpose.

There are a few points to consider regarding cultural activities that are a subset of the educational purpose. The IRS guidance on the cultural exemption in the Resources Section provides useful examples related to the production of literary and artistic endeavors rather than their consumption as a spectator. Note that non-501(c) organizations such as fraternity and sororities are classified as social clubs by the IRS even though they engage in social or cultural oriented activities that involve adult students and are not considered public charities. Applications involving adult students may not serve a separate generally accepted 501(c)(3) purpose of combating juvenile delinquency and should attempt to show how they advance education or are charitable.  Requests to sponsor meals or entertainment for non-fundraising events or similar types of receptions should attempt to meet the burden of showing how the use of funds for such expenses advances education, is charitable or is incidental to the pursuit of the exempt purpose and incidental portion of the use of funds requested for the activity.

Grant Procedures

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Grants to charitable and educational endeavors

The Foundation has elected to administer educational and scholarship programs and focuses to a great degree on those programs aimed at ensuring a continued pipeline of law students and lawyers of color in Dallas County and surrounding communities in North Texas.

The Foundation also supports initiatives, activities or efforts involving issues impacting the African-American community in Dallas County and surrounding communities in North Texas which require the use of pro bono legal services. The Foundation has worked with several other 501(c)(3) charities and other types of not-for profits (including our sister organization, the J. L. Turner Legal Association), when those organizations are able to offer their own resources in support of projects they propose and the Foundation determines that those projects are aligned with the Foundation’s goals, which are themselves ultimately set by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Our members created the Foundation to address specific social concerns. If you believe your non-profit organization may fit within Foundation's goals and grant parameters, we would be pleased to consider your request.  Your grant request will be reviewed by our Grant Committee, a sub-committee of our Board of Directors, which will make a recommendation to the full Board.  Note that projects which are not pipeline oriented or do not involve pro bono legal services and are thus not core to what we do may receive a recommendation of less than a $1,000 maximum regardless of the size of the amount requested. Please note that the Foundation reserves the right to approve or deny in whole or in part any request and that completion of this application does not entitle the applicant to a grant.