About Us
THE ORGANIZATION
The Arkansas Bar Foundation was established in 1958 to support efforts at improving the administration of justice. The Arkansas Bar Foundation, which is classified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is a charitable organization with a mission to promote educational, literary, scientific and charitable purposes.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Each year, the Foundation awards approximately 50 endowed law school scholarships to students at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville and the UALR Bowen School of Law in Little Rock. An Arkansas Bar Foundation Professor of Law has also been established at each Arkansas law school.
Over the years, the Foundation has funded special law-related projects to organizations whose projects fall within the guidelines in the Foundation’s goals and objectives. The Foundation has been a major supporter of the statewide Mock Trial Competition; efforts to educate the public about their right to make justice more accessible to more Arkansans through a grant to Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation Free Legal Answers; support for the Rural Incubator Program at UALR Bowen School of Law; funding for the University of Arkansas School of Law Delta Initiative - Constiution Days; funding to assist the National Mock Trial Competition to be held in Little Rock in May of 2023, and support for a featured speaker at the Arkansas Bar Association's Annual Meeting.
FELLOWSHIP IN THE FOUNDATION
Attorneys in good standing are invited to become Fellows of the Foundation. The current financial requirement to become a Fellow for a lifetime is a payment of $2,000.00, which may be paid in ten (10) semi-annual installments of $200.00 each over a five year period. Contributions are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. Upon the receipt of the pledge and initial payment, the attorney is considered a Fellow with rights of membership to attend meetings and dinners of the Foundation. After the contribution has been paid in full, the Fellow's picture will be displayed permanently as part of the Hall of Fellows in the lobby at the Arkansas Bar Center. Fellows and Sustaining Fellows are recognized annually in a published report.
FOUNDATION SUSTAINING FELLOWS
The cost of operation of the Foundation is paid by the rent received from the Arkansas Bar Association as a tenant in the Arkansas Bar Center and from Sustaining Fellow contributions. Fellows who wish to become Sustaining Fellows are invited to do so by making an annual, voluntary contribution of $100.00.
Lawyers who wish to become Fellows and Fellows who wish to become Sustaining Fellows should contact Ann Dixon Pyle, Executive Director of the Arkansas Bar Foundation at 501.801.5670 or by writing to the address listed above.