PILI is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Rossotti Family Foundation — marking the first time PILI has received funding from the Foundation.
The Rossotti Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that supports nonprofit organizations focused on: (1) access to justice in Chicago and Washington, DC; (2) positive youth development and academic programs for students in underserved areas of Chicago and Washington, DC; and (3) vocal music performance and education across the United States.
This grant will directly support PILI’s work to expand access to justice for low-income individuals and families in Chicago and across Illinois through targeted investments in both legal services and the public interest law pipeline.
Of the total award, $6,500 will fully fund the summer stipend for one PILI Law Student Intern placed at a public interest law organization serving clients in Chicago. By removing financial barriers to participation, this support enables law students to gain hands-on legal experience while helping legal aid organizations expand their capacity to serve individuals facing critical civil legal issues.
The remaining $3,500 will support Illinois Free Legal Answers workshops in Chicago. These workshops provide training and engagement opportunities for volunteer attorneys, some of whom are introduced to pro bono service through this model, while delivering real-time legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford an attorney.
Together, these investments strengthen both immediate service delivery and the long-term infrastructure of access to justice. PILI’s programs address a wide range of civil legal needs—including housing stability, family law, public benefits, and immigration—while mobilizing law students, attorneys, and legal professionals across Illinois to meet those needs where they are greatest.
“We are honored to receive this support from the Rossotti Family Foundation,” said Executive Director, Michael G. Bergmann. “This investment allows us to both meet the current demand for critical legal services today and build a stronger, more sustainable pipeline of public interest attorneys and pro bono volunteers for the future.”