The ACTEC Foundation Approves Three New Grants Supporting Education and Access to Estate Planning

The ACTEC Foundation continues its mission to promote scholarship and education in trust, estate, tax and related areas of the law by awarding three new grants following its 2025 Summer Meeting. These initiatives reflect The Foundation’s commitment to expanding access to estate planning services, developing future leaders in the field, and sharing reliable information with both professionals and the public.

Expanding Access: Estate Planning Services for Vulnerable Populations in Los Angeles

The Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to Bet Tzedek, a nonprofit organization providing free legal services to low-income and vulnerable communities in Los Angeles. Bet Tzedek specializes in elder law, homeowner protection, and foreclosure prevention—critical areas for many low-income homeowners.

For these clients—often older adults and people of color—the family home is typically their most significant asset. Without estate planning, their homes may be lost to probate costs. This loss perpetuates intergenerational poverty and declining homeownership rates in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The ACTEC Foundation’s grant will add to other funding streams to support Bet Tzedek’s Postgraduate Fellow for Equity in Trust & Estate Law, who provides free estate planning services to qualifying homeowners.

Investing in Future Leaders: Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program

Since 2015, the Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program has played a key role in cultivating new voices in trust and estate law. The program extends leadership development opportunities for graduates of the Real Property, Trust and Estate (RPTE) Fellows Program, fostering deeper engagement in the field.

The ACTEC Foundation approved a grant of up to $27,500 to support five Trust and Estate Fellows as they transition out of the RPTE program. Each fellow will receive up to $2,750 per year for two years to support continued participation in leadership activities, ensuring the next generation is equipped to advance the profession. Sixteen graduates of the Young Leader Program have gone on to become ACTEC Fellows. Learn more in this Voices of The ACTEC Foundation video.

Promoting Life Long Learning by Sharing Trusted T&E Information

The Foundation also approved a $38,370.90 grant to the ACTEC Communications Committee to support 10 months of continued production for its educational video and podcast series.

Since 2019, ACTEC Fellows have shared their expertise through award-winning digital content:

• ACTEC Trust and Estate Talk: With 342 podcast episodes and over 948,000 downloads, this podcast serves wealth management and legal professionals with timely, detailed insights.
• ACTEC Estate Planning Essentials: These short, accessible videos have been viewed over 100,000 times, offering a library of trusted guidance on topics like wills, capacity issues, and avoiding scams.

These resources extend ACTEC’s reach beyond the legal community, helping families and individuals make informed estate planning decisions.

Support the Mission

Your donations help make grants like these possible—expanding access, supporting leadership, and educating the public. Make a gift today and join The ACTEC Foundation in shaping a more informed and equitable future in estate planning.