The Boulder County Bar Foundation is a Colorado-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded and funded by the Boulder County Bar Association. The Boulder County Bar Foundation is committed to core values of community, stewardship, generosity and adaptability. 

Our Mission 

Our mission is to advance justice in Boulder County, increase understanding of the law and the judicial system, provide access to legal services for the poor, homeless, and immigrant populations, support training for the next generation of attorneys, and assist those turning to the legal system for help.

Our Leadership

The Boulder County Bar Foundation is lead by a dedicated Board of Trustees comprised of members of the BCBA. The Board of Trustees serve a three-year term, exercising fiduciary responsibility for gifts, governing the Foundation, and awarding grants to deserving nonprofit partners and causes.. Also serving is our Executive Director, who is elected by the Board of Trustees. Laura Ruth is the current Executive Director of the Foundation. 

Carolyn Steffl - President has been representing Colorado special districts and municipalities since 2003, primarily as general counsel and also as water counsel. She serves as general counsel to a number of water and sanitation and metropolitan districts with elected citizen Boards, ranging from very small districts to one of the largest water and sanitation districts in the state. Her wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to her clients allows her to provide excellent and efficient legal services.

Lizbeth Parker is the coordinator of Boulder County’s federal abuse in later life grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. She coordinates training and community outreach efforts among law enforcement, judiciary, agencies serving older adults, and throughout the community. Prior to this position, Liz worked as a Specialist in the Community Protection Division of the Boulder County District Attorney’s office, and practiced law for over 20 years, working primarily on complex commercial litigation, federal securities fraud, and employment matters.

Kurt Hofgard and Hofgard & Associates, P.C. in Boulder have focused exclusively on estate & trust planning and probate administration in the same location for the past 27 years at 28th and Arapahoe. Kurt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Western American History with Honors from Stanford University, and he graduated from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with honors. Kurt is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Boulder County Bar Association (Business and Estate & Tax Sections), and the Boulder County Estate Planning Council. 

Debbie Taussig was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She attended Boulder High School, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, and her juris doctorate from the University of Denver. Debbie has over 20 years of experience as a personal injury attorney and owns her own Boulder-based law firm--Debbie Taussig Law.  

  Laura Ruth is the Executive Director of the Boulder County Bar Foundation.

Our Cause

Our Board and donors are passionate about giving back to Boulder County - the place we call home. Through the Foundation, BCBA members harness their collective resources to make a positive impact not only on the legal community, but also on individual lives and Boulder County as a whole. We believe in access to legal services for all, and we are committed to supporting causes that benefit those struggling in our community.

The Foundation raises funds, manages an endowment, and distributes grants for legally-related organizations and projects in Boulder County. Our grant awardees are proven local partners that champion social justice, help train new attorneys, and support expanded legal access and understanding.

Grant Recipients