The City University of New York School of Law Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE LAW SCHOOL IN ITS MISSION TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LEGAL EDUCATION TO THOSE FROM GROUPS UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE PROFESSION AND TO PREPARE ITS GRADUATES FOR PUBLIC INTEREST AND PUBLIC SERVICE PRACTICE.
- Income
- $11.8 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 81% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 333% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (2)
- $401,896 spent. THE COST OF A LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION IS A MATTER OF GREAT CONCERN FOR THOSE ATTENDING CUNY LAW. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ADMITTED ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT WITH A STUDENT BODY THAT IS LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION, NON-TRADITIONAL, AND SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE IDENTIFYING AS PEOPLE OF COLOR. WHILE TUITION AND FEES POSITION CUNY LAW AS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE NATION, IT HAS HAD LIMITED FUNDS AND NEEDS TO INCREASE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS, PUBLIC INTEREST SUMMER GRANTS, AND GRANTS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHEN THEY ARE STUDYING FOR THE BAR EXAM.
- $1.8 million spent. WITH A FACULTY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS AND A TOP FOUR NATIONALLY CLINICAL PROGRAM IN THE NATION (US NEWS & WORLD REPORT), GRANTS ARE INVESTED TO ADVANCE: COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER JUSTICE, AND IMMIGRATION AND NON-CITIZEN RIGHTS. SINCE 2009, CREATING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & RESPONSIBILITY (CLEAR) HAS OFFERED FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND CONSULTATION, KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS WORKSHOPS, AND SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOCUSED ON MUSLIM, ARAB, SOUTH ASIAN, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Research Foundation of the City University of New York (New York, NY), EIN 13-1988190. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.