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What is Cy Pres (cy Pres Award)?

Class action glossary term

Short Definition

A court-approved distribution of leftover settlement money to nonprofits when funds can’t reasonably be paid to class members.

What It Means

If money remains after payments (for example, because claims are low or checks go uncashed), courts may approve a cy pres award. The recipient is usually a nonprofit whose work is related to the lawsuit’s purpose. Settlements often describe when cy pres will apply and how recipients are chosen.

Example

Example: Residual funds from a consumer protection case go to a consumer legal aid nonprofit.

Why It Matters

It’s what often happens when individual payments would be too small or class members can’t be located.

Related Terms

Net settlement fund / net settlement amount
Unclaimed settlement funds

Primary Source

U.S. Supreme Court (Frank v. Gaos)

Transparency

This class action term is explained for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Definitions and applications may vary by jurisdiction and case context.

To see how this term is applied in real cases, explore current and past class action settlements.

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