• Home
  • About DCBA
    • Board of Directors
    • Bylaws
    • Administrative Offices
    • Past Presidents
    • Advertising Opportunities
    • DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund
    • Upcoming Events
    • CLE List
  • Committees / Sections
    • Case Mediation
    • Courthouse
    • Delivery of Legal Services
    • Finance
    • History and Memorials
    • Law for the Public
    • Long Range Planning
    • Special Events
    • Program
    • Communications
    • New Lawyers
    • Senior Lawyers
    • Criminal Law
    • In-House Counsel & Government Lawyers
    • Joseph A. Melli Mentorship Program
  • Membership
    • Join DCBA / Renew Your Membership
    • Log In
    • About Membership
    • Our Members
    • Online Profiles
    • Student Membership
  • Resources
    • Find a Lawyer
    • Case Mediation Program
    • Family Law Assistance Center (FLAC)
    • Veterans Law Clinic
    • Small Claims Assistance Program
    • Legal Services in Dane County
    • The Courts
    • Pro Bono Services
    • Dane County Basic Estate Planning Clinic
  • DCBA News
  • Contact
  • Search

Pro Bono Trust Fund

Support Legal Services in Dane County

About

The Pro Bono Trust Fund, a project of the Dane County Bar Association, provides essential support to non-profit organizations that provide civil legal services for persons who fall below 300% of the federal poverty rate. Its grants go directly to pay the cost of legal services as well as the cost of equipment and materials needed by non-profit organizations to operate effectively and leverage other volunteer or low-cost resources.

The Fund makes grants to non-profit organizations that provide legal services to persons most in need in Dane County. These grants are made possible entirely by contributions from the community.

The DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund was established by the Dane County Bar Association in 1992 to fund civil legal services for low-income persons in our community. The Pro Bono Trust Fund is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. We appreciate your support for this important work.

QR code to make a donation to the Pro Bono Trust Fund
  • Donate Now

Some Dane County organizations the Fund has supported

QR code to make a donation to the Pro Bono Trust Fund
  • Support These Organizations

Testimonials

"The services [CJI] devoted to our case provided us with the family unity we have been seeking through adoption. We felt like we were treated as a family. Another lawyer would have been beyond our …budget" and "Thank you for all your help during a very difficult time in my life. You made the process easier even though divorce is hard regardless of the situation."

- Quotes from clients of Community Justice, Inc

"After losing work and seeking unemployment benefits, individuals look to the Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic in Madison for help in getting a fair hearing and presenting their case. Law students and volunteer attorneys meet with these folks and provide guidance and representation regarding the issues at stake in their cases. If not for the generous financial support of the DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund, this volunteer work would simply not be possible."

- Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic, Inc.

The generous support from the Pro_Bono Trust Fund funded legal internships at ABC for Health that not only helped us to serve our clients but also helped sensitize future lawyers to the legal needs of low income people in Dane County. This quote from a client's letter expresses how we help: "We are so thankful we able find Bobby Peterson and his group of interns at ABC for Health in Madison. ABC was able to in a very efficient way, recoup [from the insurance company] a good portion of out of pocket dollars."

- Public Interest Attorney ABDC for Health Inc

Information About Applying for a Grant

See the documents below for more information about applying for a grant from the DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund.

Grant Application Letter

Grant Application Form

Grant Guidelines and Conditions

Supporting Basic Legal Services to People in Need

To make a financial contribution to help provide legal services to low-income residents of Dane County, please make your check payable to the DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund and mail to:

  • DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund
  • Madison, WI 53701
  • Post Office Box 348

You can also donate online by scanning the QR code below or clicking the "Donate Now" button:

QR code to make a donation to the Pro Bono Trust Fund
  • Donate Now

The DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund was established by the Dane County Bar Association in 1992 to fund civil legal services for low-income persons in our community. The Pro Bono Trust Fund is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. We appreciate your support for this important work.

DCBA Trustees

Eileen Dorfman, Vice Chair

CapSpecialty

Scott Thompson

Law Forward

Andrew Lawton, Chair

Coyne, Schultz, Becker & Bauer, S.C.

Michael Rosenberg, Secretary

Community Justice Inc.

Julie Short, Treasurer

Haskins Short & Brindley LLC

Norma Kropp

Madison College

About DCBA

  • Main "About" page
  • Board of Directors
  • Administrative Offices
  • Bylaws
  • Past Presidents
  • Advertising Opportunities
  • DCBA Pro Bono Trust Fund
  • Upcoming Events
  • CLE List

Dane County Bar Association

Serving Our Members, Serving Our Community

  • Learn More
  • Address

    Dane County Bar Association
    Post Office Box 44008
    Madison, WI 53744-4008

  • Phone

    (608) 848-1950

  • Email

    law@dcba.net

About DCBA | About Membership | Resources | DCBA News | Contact

© Dane County Bar Association 2025. All rights reserved.