The Skadden Foundation
The Skadden Fellowship Foundation (Skadden Foundation) is a private foundation established in 1988 that funds two-year Skadden Fellowships for recent law graduates to pursue public interest legal work serving people living in poverty. The site provides information about the fellowship program, current fellows, applicant and host guidance, and contact details.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A U.S.-based legal services or civil-rights nonprofit that can host and supervise a two-year Skadden Fellow to provide direct legal services to low-income or marginalized clients.
Good Fit
- • Capacity and commitment to host a two-year public interest fellow and provide supervision.
- • Direct legal services or impact litigation focused on poverty, civil rights, asylum, housing, youth, or related areas.
- • Nonprofit or legal-aid institutional structure able to receive fellowship payments.
- • Willingness to follow the foundation's published application and host requirements.
Geography
Observed grants reached organizations in 24 states in the latest year, with the portfolio spread nationally even though New York received a plurality (38%) of dollars.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows about 105 distinct recipients and roughly 106 grants, with many different legal-aid and civil-rights organizations funded rather than a tiny closed circle.
New Applicants
The foundation publishes application guidance on its website and listed contacts, and the latest year included a large number of new recipients (about 58 new organizations), indicating that unfamiliar applicants can and do enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
