The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado

What The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado does

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Denver. It serves as the exclusive fundraising arm for Colorado Legal Services (CLS), the state's only statewide provider of free civil legal aid operating in every Colorado county since 1925. The Foundation's mission is to close the justice gap by channeling financial resources from Colorado's legal community to CLS, which has 89 attorneys serving approximately 700,000 income-eligible Coloradans (those at or below 125% federal poverty level), with roughly 50% of applicants turned away due to funding constraints.

The Foundation's business model is entirely donation-based, with no products or services sold. It operates through three primary annual fundraising campaigns: the Associates Campaign (now in its 23rd year, targeting law firm associates), the Law Firm Campaign (targeting firm leadership gifts), and the newly launched Corporate Counsel Challenge (involving in-house legal departments). Additional revenue comes through Colorado Gives Day with matching funds, community events (Pro Bono Bash, Champions of Justice Forum), and individual donations. The Foundation's go-to-market is exclusively event-driven and community-led, leveraging friendly competition, leadership gifts, and corporate matching to mobilize donations. It does not develop or utilize proprietary technology platforms, relying instead on standard nonprofit fundraising tools and platforms like Colorado Gives.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Chalyse Robinson and led by Executive Director Jordan Bates-Rogers, with a small staff of 1-10 employees that is shared with the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF). Its customer base spans over 100 participating law firms, 12 corporate participants in the 2026 Corporate Counsel Challenge, and thousands of individual donors. The 2026 Associates Campaign raised $690,700 from 2,010 donors, representing a 97% increase from 2023, demonstrating strong fundraising momentum amid a growing need for civil legal aid services.

Name

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado

Legal name

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado

Website

https://legalaidfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado is a Denver-based nonprofit that funds free civil legal aid for low-income Coloradans by raising money exclusively for Colorado Legal Services, the state's only statewide provider of free civil legal services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Legal Aid Fundraising Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Civil legal aid
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Pro bono support
• Access to justice
• Charitable donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The Legal Aid Foundation raises money exclusively through donations from individuals, law firms, corporations, and foundations. All funds support Colorado Legal Services (CLS), the state's primary provider of free civil legal aid for low-income Coloradans.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that raises money exclusively to support Colorado Legal Services (CLS), the only statewide agency providing free civil legal services in every Colorado county to clients who cannot afford them. It organizes annual fundraising campaigns (Associates Campaign, Law Firm Campaign, Corporate Counsel Challenge), community events, donation programs, and awareness efforts that channel resources to civil legal aid covering housing, family law, consumer protection, elder law, and veteran legal matters.

Product overview

The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado is a nonprofit charitable organization that operates as a fundraising entity for Colorado Legal Services (CLS), the state's primary provider of free civil legal aid for low-income Coloradans. It does not offer technology products or services. The foundation's activities include managing fundraising campaigns (Associates Campaign, Law Firm Campaign, Corporate Counsel Challenge), organizing community events (Pro Bono Bash, Champions of Justice), processing donations, and advocating for legal aid funding. All funds raised support CLS's legal services including housing, family law, consumer protection, elder law, and veteran legal assistance cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associates Campaign Annual workplace fundraising competition among Colorado law firms running each March, where firms organize internal campaigns among associates, partners, and staff to raise money for Colorado Legal Services. The Foundation coordinates kickoff events, training webinars, leaderboards, and celebration ceremonies. The 2026 campaign raised $690,700 from 2,010 donors; the 2025 campaign raised nearly $500,000; the 2024 campaign raised $405,876.94.
• Law Firm Campaign Annual fundraising campaign targeting Colorado law firms for leadership gifts and sustained support of Colorado Legal Services, running alongside the Associates Campaign. Engages partners and firm leadership in higher-tier giving commitments.
• Corporate Counsel Challenge Inaugural 2026 fundraising challenge inviting Colorado-based in-house corporate legal departments to compete alongside law firms in supporting Colorado Legal Services. Twelve corporations participated in the inaugural year, with EchoStar Corporation and Vail Resorts named as participants. Up to $50,000 in matching funds were provided by the Colorado Foundation for a Better Earth.
• Donation Program Ongoing tax-deductible donation program for individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting Colorado Legal Services. Includes online giving via the Foundation's website, Colorado Gives Day (December statewide giving event with matching funds from Colorado Gives Foundation and FirstBank; $139,345 raised in 2025), planned giving/legacy gifts, and cy pres award opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tenants represented by attorneys are twice as likely to remain in their homes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Colorado Legal Services (CLS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLS is the primary beneficiary of all Legal Aid Foundation fundraising efforts. The Foundation raises money exclusively to support CLS, Colorado's only statewide provider of free civil legal services to income-eligible Coloradans. For every client served, at least one income-eligible person is turned away due to insufficient resources.
• Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOLTAF shares staff with the Legal Aid Foundation, including Executive Director Jordan Bates-Rogers, Associate Director Jessie Clark-Daugherty, and Executive Assistant Emily Tow. Both organizations work together to support access to justice.
• Colorado Lawyers CommitteeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Awards Luncheon co-host that recognizes leaders advancing justice and equity in Colorado. Legal Aid Foundation participates annually, with staff attending to celebrate honorees and strengthen relationships.
• Boulder County Bar AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Pro Bono Bash celebration event that raises funds for Colorado Legal Services. Partnership brings together legal community for fundraising and recognition of pro bono service.
• Faegre DrinkercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Associates Campaign & Corporate Counsel Challenge Kick Off event at Number Thirty Eight in Denver. Mary Hershewe represented the firm at the event.
• Holland & HartcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the 2026 Associates Campaign & Corporate Counsel Challenge Kick Off event at Number Thirty Eight in Denver.
• Colorado Center on Law and PolicysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the Equal Justice License Plate effort to raise awareness and funding for civil legal aid.
• Colorado Access to Justice CommissionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the Equal Justice License Plate effort. Elisa Overall serves as Executive Director.
• Colorado Bar AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the Equal Justice License Plate effort and broader access to justice initiatives.
• Colorado Hispanic Bar AssociationsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the Equal Justice License Plate effort.
• Community Economic Defense ProjectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the Equal Justice License Plate effort.
• EchoStar CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate participant in the inaugural 2026 Corporate Counsel Challenge. Marisa Carney, Associate Corporate Counsel, has been a leader in rallying corporate colleagues to support access to justice.
• Vail ResortscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate participant in the inaugural 2026 Corporate Counsel Challenge.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Texas Access to Justice Foundation: Texas-based legal aid funding foundation with a similar model of supporting statewide civil legal aid through IOLTA, grants, and donations. Operates a comparable fundraising-and-grantmaking function for the Lone Star legal aid network.
• The Florida Bar Foundation: Florida's statewide legal aid funding entity that supports civil legal aid programs through IOLTA and donor contributions. Comparable in mission, funding model, and beneficiary structure to the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado.
• Illinois Equal Justice Foundation: Statewide fundraising entity supporting civil legal aid programs serving low-income Illinois residents. Closely mirrors the Legal Aid Foundation's mission and operating model in a different geographic market.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: One of the largest nonprofit legal aid providers in the U.S., combining direct service and fundraising. Serves as both a service-delivery and funding entity, providing a scaled-up comparable model.
• Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation (COLTAF): Sister organization that shares staff and leadership with the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado. COLTAF also funds civil legal aid in Colorado through IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts) revenue, making it the most direct operational peer.

Emerging players

• Pro Bono Net: National nonprofit that builds technology and resource platforms to support civil legal aid and pro bono programs. Adjacent peer that strengthens the legal aid delivery infrastructure that the Foundation's fundraising ultimately supports.

Broad incumbents

• National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA): National membership organization supporting civil legal aid and public defense organizations. Operates one level above the Foundation as a capacity-builder and advocacy voice for the legal aid ecosystem.
• Legal Services Corporation (LSC): Federally established independent corporation that funds civil legal aid for low-income Americans nationwide. LSC is the largest federal funder of civil legal aid and indirectly supports CLS, the Foundation's primary beneficiary.

Regional players

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: Provides civil legal aid to low-income residents of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Similar service model and beneficiary profile, but focused on a specific metro area rather than an entire state.
• Colorado Center on Law and Policy: Colorado-based advocacy organization partnering with the Legal Aid Foundation on the Equal Justice License Plate effort. Engages in policy advocacy for low-income Coloradans, a thematic peer in the state's access-to-justice ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/legalaidfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/legal-aid-foundation-of-colorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado