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Fund for Modern Courts Inc

EIN 13-2597816 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE OTHE FUND FOR MODERN COURTS IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT, STATEWIDE COURT REFORM ORGANIZATION WHICH HELPS ENSURE A FAIR, EFFICIENT AND ACCESSIBLE COURT SYSTEM FOR ALL NEW YORKERS BY OPERATING PROGRAMS TO INCREASE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE COURTS AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN JUDICIAL REFORM EFFORTS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ABOUT THE COURTS AND SPONSORSHIP OF PUBLIC FORUMS AND EVENTS THAT FOCUS ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

Income
$458,247
Spending
$379,959
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
2
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$158,196, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    59 of 59 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $95,389 spent. FAMILY COURT: SEE SCHEDULE ODURING 2024, MODERN COURTS' DIRECTORS AND STAFF, REVIEWED THE OPERATIONS OF THE WESTCHESTER FAMILY COURT TO DOCUMENT AND ANALYZE STEPS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEANINGFUL REFORM. IN CONDUCTING ITS REVIEW, MODERN COURTS INTERVIEWED INSTITUTIONAL PROVIDERS AND LEGAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE FAMILY COURT AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL ("18-B") PANEL, AND PRIORITIZED HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THE LITIGANTS THEMSELVES WHO HAD BEEN IMPACTED.
  2. $100,000 spent. CAMERAS: SEE SCHEDULE OMODERN COURTS CONTINUED ITS CAMERAS IN THE COURTS PROJECT IN 2024 WHICH IS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PERMITTING BOTH MEDIA COVERAGE AND LIVE STREAMING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS WHICH IS CURRENTLY PROHIBITED BY NYS LAW. THE PROJECT ENTAILS CONDUCTING A 50-STATE SURVEY OF THE USE OF CAMERAS IN THE COURTS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND A REVIEW OF THE PRIOR NYS 10-YEAR EXPERIMENT ALLOWING CAMERAS IN THE COURTS AND CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CAMERAS IN THE COURTS. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL "WHITE PAPER" THAT WOULD ANALYZE THE MERITS OF ALLOWING CAMERAS IN THE NYS COURTS AND MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW NYS SHOULD MOVE FORWARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE COURT PROCESSES MORE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE.
  3. $100,000 spent. IMMIGRATION: SEE SCHEDULE O MODERN COURTS IMPROVED AND UPDATED A SERIES OF ON-LINE TRAINING MODULES TO DEMONSTRATE THE INTERSECTION OF FAMILY LAW AND IMMIGRATION AND THE OFTEN-ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES FOR IMMIGRANTS IN FAMILY COURT IN NYS. THIS WAS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SPECILIZING IN IMMIGRATION AND PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICE TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. A SERIES OF TRAININGS ARE ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF LAWYERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND JUDGES.MODERN COURTS FURTHERED ITS WORK BY (I) EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS ADDRESSING THE NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES; (II) IMPROVING DATA COLLECTION IN TOWN AND VILLAGE COURTS AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH VIRTUAL ARRAIGNMENTS; AND (III) RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY BY PRESENTING PROGRAMS AND SPEECHES ON IMPORTANT CURRENT ISSUES IN IMPROVING THE LEGAL SYSTEM AT EVENTS ATTENDED BY HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.

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 2024.

    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 August 1956.

    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.

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.