Open Door Fund - North Carolina Bar Foundation

The NCBA+NCBF are committed to recognizing, respecting, promoting and encouraging diversity in the legal community.

The NCBF Open Door Fund and Fellowship demonstrate our ongoing commitment to address inequities in access to legal services and participation in the legal profession experienced by historically excluded or disadvantaged individuals and communities in North Carolina. The Open Door Fellowship, launched in 2023, signals a collective commitment and desire to welcome all who want to serve the people of North Carolina through the legal profession.

Make a Gift Make A Pledge

We have exceeded our $1 million goal! Thank you to all our generous donors for making this happen.

The goal of $1 million was reached and has secured the Open Door Fund to provide for the Open Door Fellowship for many years to come. Your gift or pledge helped us reach this amazing goal. The Open Door Fund of the NCBF Endowment is made possible through the generous support of law firms, legal organizations, corporations and individuals across North Carolina and we thank you for your generosity!

Thank you to our Open Door Fund Ambassadors:

Catharine B. Arrowood, Alison Y. Ashe-Card, Charles Becton, Shelby Duffy Benton, Ansley Cella, Alex Dale, Samantha Gordon, Rob Harrington, Mark Holt, Diana Santos Johnson, Erin Locklear, Julian Mann, Day Matthews, Larry McDevitt, Beth McKee, Caryn Coppedge McNeill, Jennifer Mencarini, Clayton Doron Morgan, Tammy Nicholson, Jane Paksoy, Patti Ramseur, Tammy Stringer, Alice Carson Stubbs, Gerald Walden, R. Michael Wells Sr., Geneva Yourse

Lend your support as a Champion for Change, Advocate or Benefactor –
contact us at [email protected].

$100,000 | Open Door Champions for Change

Recognition as an NCBF Open Door Fellowship presenting sponsor for 5 years; Recognition through NCBF Impact Report, website and social media; Opportunity to name two NCBF Endowment Justice Funds; and Special invitations to participate in NCBF diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

$50,000 | Open Door Advocates

Recognition through NCBF Impact Report, website and social media; Opportunity to name an NCBF Endowment Justice Fund; and Special invitations to participate in NCBF diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

$25,000 | Open Door Benefactors

Recognition through NCBF Impact Report, website and social media; Opportunity to name an NCBF Lawyer Impact Fund; and Special invitations to participate in NCBF diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Support a Justice Fund

At the Open Door Advocates level ($50,000) and above, a Justice Fund may be named to recognize a legal professional of your choice, bolstering the Open Door Fund while celebrating an individual who exemplifies the value of diversity, equity and inclusion. Donate to an existing Justice Fund that supports the Open Door Fund, the Charles Becton Justice Fund and the Rosemary Kenyon Justice Fund.

Learn More

Three New NCBF Justice Funds

Three new North Carolina Bar Foundation Endowment Justice Funds were dedicated on Thursday, May 16, during a Named Endowment Funds Dedication Ceremony at the N.C. Bar Center. The Justice Funds were established in honor of Charles L. Becton and Rosemary Gill Kenyon and in memory of Judge J. Herbert W. Small, who died in 2022 at the age of 96.

Open Door Fund Presidents’ Challenge

In June 2024, a group of NCBA+NCBF Presidents supported the launch of the Open Door Fund with a $100,000 collective gift challenge. The collective gift will be realized upon reaching a $100,000 matching gift goal through the generosity of NCBA members.