The Judicate West Foundation (JWF) provides funding to nonprofits to support designated projects that enhance understanding of and access to justice, provide education in conflict resolution and peer mediation, and in general improve the administration of justice.

Since 2011, the JWF is proud to have funded many dozens of programs which have made a positive impact in schools, courts and in our communities.

Board Members

Melissa Blair Aliotti, Esq.
President
Rosemarie Chiusano Drohan
Board Member and Executive Director
Darrell Forgey, Esq.
Board Member
Var Fox
Board Member
Rebecca Grey, Esq.
Board Member
Jay Cordell Horton, Esq.
Board Member
Richard A. Huver, Esq.
Board Member
Kristin Rizzo, Esq.
Board Member
Thomas Sharkey, Esq.
Board Member
Rachelle Snow
Executive Secretary
Robert Tessier, Esq.
Board Member, Treasurer and Secretary

Available Grants

Grant Application Requirements

The mission of the JW Foundation is to support organizations and projects that increase access to the Courts and/or which improve the image and public understanding of the Courts. It is a charitable organization, recognized as such by both the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board.

Grant seekers are requested to submit a written grant application that meets our requirements.

For a printable copy of our grant application requirements click here

The Judicate West Foundation (JWF) is comprised of pledges donated from Judicate West and its neutrals. Since 2011, the JWF has been funding numerous grants, supporting many statewide and local nonprofit organizations that align with our mission statement.
2025 Grants
Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution
LCCR's Virtual Options Counseling Workshops promote access to the courts, to legal service agencies and to LCCR's services by creating a mechanism to reach disenfranchised and marginalized communities that have yet to be served.
CRF - OC's High School Mock Trial Scholarship & Summer Camp Program
OC's High School Mock Trial Scholarship & Summer Camp Program: CRF-OC's Mock Trial program educates students on legal and social issues, enhances their understanding of the judicial system, and builds analytical, communication, and collaboration skills while fostering civic responsibility.
2024 Grants
Volunteers of America (VOA) Northern California & Northern Nevada
VOA's Legal Expertise and Advocacy Program (LEAP) provides legal clinics to VOA's shelters and program clients who have limited access to such essential legal services.
Legal Services for Children
Legal Services for Children (LSC), a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that provides free legal advocacy and social work support to low-income children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1975, LSC aims to stabilize young lives and help them realize their full potential through a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.
Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals
Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals (CCLP) is a voluntary, unincorporated association comprising attorneys, paralegals, law students, and other individuals committed to addressing the lack of meaningful legal recourse for low-income workers and others facing economic hardships. By uniting their time, resources, and skills, CCLP members aim to enhance access to legal advice, education, and counsel for underserved communities.
Western Justice Center
WJC's Peer Mediation Invitational (PMI) 2025, an annual youth peacebuilding summit organized by the WJC. The event aims to empower young people by equipping them with conflict management and mediation skills.
Tariq Khamisa Foundation - Safe School Model
Tariq Khamisa Foundation - Safe School Model, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safer schools and communities by educating and inspiring children in restorative principles such as accountability, compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking.
Veterans Legal Institute, Lawyers for Warriors
Lawyers for Warriors annual fundraiser, which will be used to support homeless and low-income veterans residing within VLI's service area of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties by enabling VLI to provide free legal aid to them.
Inner City Law Center
Inner City Law Center, Bringing Families Home program, provides comprehensive legal services to parents and guardians who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The program aims to create and maintain stable housing situations for families, thereby preventing foster care placements, promoting family reunification, and reducing homelessness within the child welfare system.
CRF - OC - High School Mock Trial Program
CRF-OC is a local non-profit, non-partisan education organization inspiring Orange County Students through Civics and Educational Experiences. The funds awarded will go towards CRF-OC's one week Mock Trial Summer Camp. Mock Trial has a record of inspiring students to make a positive difference in the community and to pursue higher education and professional careers, particularly in the field of law.
San Diego Justice Foundation
San Diego County HS Mock Trial Competition is an educational program that immerses high school students in the American legal system through simulated criminal trials. Participants assume various courtroom roles, including attorneys, witnesses, clerks, and bailiffs, to gain practical insights into legal proceedings.
2023 Grants
Equal Rights Advocates - Barbara A. Babcock NextGen Initiative
ERA's NextGen Initiative fosters the next generation of legal advocates by providing training to our law students and young lawyers in order to enhance community understanding of and access to justice. Through innovative student internships, clerkships, alumni networking, and multigenerational partnerships, ERA seeks to create a pipeline for student training, advance access to equality through the law, and build multigenerational support for gender, racial, and economic justice. ERA trains students and new lawyers in a supervised setting to provide communities in need with free legal services, thus expanding access to justice within the legal system.
Inner City Law Center (ICLC) - Homeless Veterans Project
ICLC has provided free legal services to the poorest and most vulnerable residents of Los Angeles. Their mission is to ensure access to decent, safe, and fully habitable housing for the enormous number of homeless and working poor families and individuals residing in Los Angeles County. They serve disabled homeless veterans who need assistance with discharge upgrades and accessing VA benefits and have a particular expertise in assisting homeless women veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma.
California Children' Law Center (CLC) - Northern California
CLC provides legal representation for children and youth impacted by abuse and neglect. They advocate for their clients by supporting families; fighting for reunification, permanence, educational opportunity, health, and mental health wellness; and empowering and strengthening children, families, and their communities. Their informed approach to advocacy makes them a powerful voice in local, statewide, and national child welfare system reform.
Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County (CRF - OC)
CRF-OC is a local non-profit, non-partisan education organization inspiring Orange County Students through Civics and Educational Experiences. The funds awarded will go towards CRF-OC's one week Mock Trial Summer Camp. Mock Trial has a record of inspiring students to make a positive difference in the community and to pursue higher education and professional careers, particularly in the field of law.