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Connecticut Bar Foundation Inc

EIN 06-6079763 · Hartford, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CONNECTICUT BAR FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1952. THE CBF'S MISSION IS TO FACILITATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT ADVANCES CIVIL JUSTICE FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF POWER OR RESOURCES, TO ACHIEVE A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. THE CBF WORKS TO DO THIS BY STEWARDING FUNDING, VOLUNTEERS, PROGRAMMING, DATA, INNOVATION, AND COLLABORATION TO LEAD AND PARTNER IN INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATION OF CIVIL JUSTICE. SPECIFICALLY, THE CBF ADMINISTERS SEVERAL GRANT PROGRAMS THAT FUND THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, INCLUDING THE INTEREST ON LAWYERS' TRUST ACCOUNTS AND THE INTEREST ON TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOLTA/IOTA) PROGRAMS, THE JUDICIAL BRANCH GRANTS-IN-AID, THE COURT FEES GRANTS-IN-AID, AND THE STATE'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROGRAM. THE FOUNDATION ALSO FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS, BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED, FOR CONNECTICUT STUDENTS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

Income
$43.3 million
Spending
$28.3 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
16
Volunteers
313
Highest pay
$184,681, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $6.9 million spent. THE REVENUE OF THE IOLTA/IOTA PROGRAM IS DERIVED FROM INTEREST EARNED ON LAWYERS' TRUST ACCOUNTS AND INTEREST ON TRUST ACCOUNTS, MADE AVAILABLE BY PARTICIPATING ATTORNEYS THROUGH ELIGIBLE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION REMITTANCES OF INTEREST EARNED ON THESE ACCOUNTS. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO MAKE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THE DELIVERY OF CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FOR LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED.
  2. $14.5 million spent. COURT FEES GRANTS-IN-AID AND JUDICIAL BRANCH GRANT FOR CIVIL LEGAL REPRESENTATION - UNDER THE COURT FEES GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAM, THE JUDICIAL BRANCE TRANSFERS THE REVENUE FROM DESIGNATED COURT FILING FEES TO THE CBF, WHICH DISTRIBUTES THE FUNDS TO CURRENT IOLTA/IOTA GRANTEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO CONNECTICUT'S LOW-INCOME POPULATION. JUDICIAL BRANCH GRANT-IN-AID IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED TO CBF TO SUPPLEMENT THE COURT FEES AND IOLTA/IOTA PROGRAMS.
  3. $6.3 million spent. RIGHT TO COUNSEL, EVICTION/TRO- THE CBF IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL (RTC) IN EVICTION DEFENSE AND TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER GRANT PROGRAMS. THE RTC EVICTION DEFENSE PROGRAM FUNDS LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO FREE LEGAL HELP FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE TENANTS FACING EVICTION OR LOSS OF THEIR HOUSING SUBSIDY. THE RTC TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER PROGRAM FUNDS LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR INCOME-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS IN THE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS OF FAIRFIELD, HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN, STAMFORD-NORWALK, AND WATERBURY.
  4. $256,126 spent. IN 1994, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE JAMES W. COOPER FELLOWS AS THE RESULT OF A GENEROUS BEQUEST. THE FELLOWS DEVELOP AND SPONSOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THE ROLE OF LAW IN SOCIETY; TO EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSION AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE; AND TO FURTHER THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. FELLOWS PROGRAMMING ADDRESSES ISSUES SPECIFIC TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO HELP CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO EQUAL JUSTICE.
  5. IN 1994, THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED THE JAMES W. COOPER FELLOWS AS THE RESULT OF A GENEROUS BEQUEST. THE FELLOWS DEVELOP AND SPONSOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THE ROLE OF LAW IN SOCIETY; TO EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSION AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE; AND TO FURTHER THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. FELLOWS PROGRAMMING ADDRESSES ISSUES SPECIFIC TO ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO HELP CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO EQUAL JUSTICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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