The Bronx Defenders
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
See Schedule O
- Income
- $69.8 million
- Spending
- $68.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 488
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $294,007, chief operating officer
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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 79% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 30% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (3)
- $60.0 million spent. HOLISTIC DEFENSE: EVERY PERSON WHO COMES TO THE BRONX DEFENDERS FOR ASSISTANCE IS CONNECTED TO A TEAM OF ADVOCATES, INCLUDING CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, FAMILY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, CIVIL ATTORNEYS, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS, SOCIAL WORKERS, CIVIL LEGAL ADVOCATES, PARENT ADVOCATES, IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES, AND BENEFITS SPECIALISTS. EACH TEAM FOSTERS INTERDISCIPLINARY SKILLS, ENSURES COMPASSIONATE AND COMPREHENSIVE REPRESENTATION, AND SUPPORTS A CULTURE OF INNOVATIVE, ZEALOUS, AND HOLISTIC ADVOCACY. WE ALSO LEVERAGE OUR TEAM'S EXPERIENCE IN AN EARLY ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAT ACTS AS AN OFFRAMP FOR THOSE AT RISK OF FUTURE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT.
- SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY: OUR PROXIMITY TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE EXPERIENCES OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT PLACES US ON THE FRONT LINE IN THE FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, AND EQUITY. AS A RESULT, WE PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE WE SERVE TO IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS AND LEVERAGE OUR EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY REFORM ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, WE PUSH FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVEL.
- TRAINING AND EDUCATION: WE HELP PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND OTHER ADVOCATES INCORPORATE THE PRINCIPLES OF HOLISTIC DEFENSE INTO THEIR PRACTICES, AT THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL. WE ALSO PROVIDE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH MENTORSHIP. SPECIFIC ONGOING AND ANNUAL INITIATIVES INCLUDE THE CENTER FOR HOLISTIC DEFENSE, THE DEFENDERS' ACADEMY (TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING), THE ROBERT P. PATERSON, JR. MENTORING PROGRAM, AND CLINICS AT COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL AND CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW. OUR OFFICE PROVIDED TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY TO HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS FROM DEFENDER OFFICES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
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 November 6, 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 May 1997.
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 November 4, 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.