CHARITABLE GIVING
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Our mission is t o achieve equal access to justice for all Montanans. We do that primarily by providing effective funding and leadership for legal aid in Montana.
Although IOLTA funds are a significant source of support for the Foundation's mission, we can and need to do more. Working together, we can continue our charitable activities and enhance our mission.
Through the Montana Justice Foundation, Montana lawyers and the broader public are making a positive difference in the lives of low-income Montanans. We invite you to support the work of the Foundation - and make your investment in justice. Your tax-deductible gifts to the Foundation can help provide hope for the most vulnerable members of society. To make a secure donation online, please click the "Donate" button to the left. You may also want to read the Donor Bill of Rights.
LEGACY FOR JUSTICE
For a small group of dedicated supporters, the mission of the Montana Justice Foundation is of such great personal importance that they have chosen to make a special commitment of their resources to ensure that the MJF’s work can be sustained well into the future. The Legacy for Justice recognizes those who have included the Foundation in their estate planning. We offer the members of this prestigious group our sincerest gratitude for their deep and enduring commitment to the MJF.
To find out more about how you can become part of the Legacy for Justice, please contact Amy Sings In The Timber at: 406-523-3920 or mjf@mtjustice.org.
CY PRES AWARDS
The term cy pres comes from the French, "cy pres comme possible," meaning "as near as possible,” and the doctrine is often applied in class action cases in which full restitution to all injured parties is either impossible or infeasible, such as when the amount of damage per person is insignificant even though the aggregate damages are large. It can also be employed in probate matters when gifts fail, or in the area of charitable trusts.
Under cy pres, the courts can approve a charitable donation out of unclaimed class action funds, or a direct grant in lieu of damages to an organization that could vindicate class member rights in the future. In practice, cy pres prevents a windfall to the defendant while serving to deter future violations.
In many such consumer class action cases, the class of consumers is typical of the underprivileged Montanans who receive Montana Justice Foundation-funded legal assistance, making the MJF an appropriate choice as the beneficiary of the cy pres award.
While it is ultimately up to the courts to determine whether the cy pres award is fair and reasonable and if the recipient is appropriate for the award, plaintiff and defense attorneys can each play an important role in directing cy pres awards to the MJF.
For more information about cy pres awards, contact Amy Sings In The Timber, Executive Director of the Montana Justice Foundation, at 406-523-3920 or mjf@mtjustice.org.
