At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is straining community nonprofit groups and local and affinity bar associations, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) has committed $100,000 in grants to support those organizations providing relevant and timely law-related information to the public.

"For more than 25 years, it has been the Foundation's mission to serve the public by providing free, law-related education. The Foundation couldn't be prouder to carry out this important mission during this unprecedented time when the legal community and nonprofits are also being impacted by this pandemic," said Norberto A. Garcia, president of the NJSBF.

The Foundation's first priority is to provide one-time support grants of up to $5,000 to eligible organizations that provide free legal education to the public on areas of the law that have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grants are intended to complement the work of legal service providers and the private bar, and to expand capacity to address the acute needs of the public for accurate and timely legal information.

The Foundation's second priority will be to provide grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations that historically provide law-related education to the public and are strained by increased demand for services as a result of the pandemic.

For details about the grant process, go to njsbf.org. Send submissions and questions to Mary Jean Barnes, director of administration and grant program, at [email protected]. Requests will be processed on a rolling basis until all funds have been disbursed.