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Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund Inc

EIN 13-6003018 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CITY BAR FUND, THE 501(C)(3) AFFILIATE OF THE NEW YORK CITY BAR ASSOCIATION, UNDERTAKES PUBLIC SERVICE, EDUCATION, POLICY ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE CITY BAR JUSTICE CENTER, CYRUS R. VANCE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) THE LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING.

Income
$9.7 million
Spending
$10.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
89
Volunteers
3,930
Highest pay
$346,786, vice president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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 April 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 (4)
  1. $4.4 million spent. THE CITY BAR JUSTICE CENTER (JUSTICE CENTER) FURTHERS ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY ADDRESSING THE UNMET CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF NEW YORKERS STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AND OTHER SYSTEMIC SOCIOECONOMIC BARRIERS. THE JUSTICE CENTER MOBILIZES LAW FIRMS, CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER LEGAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES; EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ON PERTINENT LEGAL ISSUES; FOSTERS STRATEGIC COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS; AND IMPACTS PUBLIC POLICY. THE JUSTICE CENTER'S DOZEN CIVIL JUSTICE PROJECTS, INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL LEGAL HOTLINE THAT HANDLES UPWARDS OF 1,000 INQUIRIES EACH MONTH, ARE LED BY A STAFF OF DEDICATED ATTORNEYS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO BENEFIT NEARLY 27,000 NEW YORKERS IN NEED EACH YEAR BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH BRIEF ADVICE AND INFORMATION,(CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) REFERRALS, AND BOTH LIMITED SCOPE AND EXTENDED REPRESENTATION. IN 2024-25, THE JUSTICE CENTER ALSO ASSISTED 20,800 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH; REACHED 113,600 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH ONLINE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION; LEVERAGED OVER $30 MILLION IN PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES BY 3,768 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDED 43,200 HOURS OF PRO BONO SERVICE; HELPED CLIENTS DIRECTLY OBTAIN OVER $11.9 MILLION IN BENEFITS AND MONETARY AWARDS; AND HELPED CLIENTS SAVE $4 MILLION VIA DEBT PREVENTION AND RESOURCE PRESERVATION.
  2. $3.3 million spent. THE VANCE CENTER ADVANCES GLOBAL JUSTICE BY ENGAGING LAWYERS ACROSS BORDERS TO SUPPORT CIVIL SOCIETY AND AN ETHICALLY ACTIVE LEGAL PROFESSION. THE VANCE CENTER IS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS CATALYZING PUBLIC INTEREST INNOVATION. WE BRING TOGETHER LEADING LAW FIRMS AND OTHER PARTNERS WORLDWIDE TO PIONEER INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES AND PROVIDE PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE NGOS WITHIN THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE PROGRAM, THE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM, THE INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM, AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING PROGRAM. THE VANCE CENTER'S PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN THE LEGAL PROFESSION ENGAGE LAW FIRMS, BAR ASSOCIATIONS, LAW SCHOOLS, AND PRO BONO CLEARINGHOUSES WITH INNOVATIVE DIVERSITY, RULE-OF-LAW, AND PUBLIC INTEREST INITIATIVES, (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2) INCLUDING WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION, AFRICAN LEGAL FELLOWS, THE LAWYERS COUNCIL FOR CIVIL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS IN THE AMERICAS, THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE PRACTICUM, AND THE PRO BONO PROMOTION PROGRAM, INCLUDING CO-MANAGING THE PRO BONO NETWORK OF THE AMERICAS, AS WELL AS THROUGH THE KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER INITIATIVE, PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL SUPPORT IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SEPARATED BY U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICIES. THE PUBLIC INTEREST REPORTING PROGRAM INCLUDES THE LAWYERS FOR REPORTERS PROGRAM, PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOCAL AND MISSION-DRIVEN JOURNALISM ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND SERVES AS LEGAL COUNSEL TO REPORTERS SHIELD, A NONPROFIT SUPPORTING MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE WITH LEGAL DEFENSE AND OTHER BENEFITS TO CONFRONT VEXATIOUS DEFAMATION CLAIMS. THE VANCE CENTER ESTIMATES THAT THE VALUE OF THE PRO BONO WORK OF LAWFIRMS ON BEHALF OF VANCE CENTER CLIENTS EXCEEDS $15 MILLION.
  3. $579,499 spent. THE OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING (ODEIB) WORKS TO DRIVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION. ODEIB'S WORK STARTS WITH THE PIPELINE TO THE PROFESSION, ASSISTING HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND LAW STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN LAW. ODEIB BELIEVES THAT THE PIPELINE CONTINUES INTO AN ASSOCIATE'S EARLY CAREER AND THUS DEVISES WORKSHOPS AND INSTITUTES TO SUPPORT PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF THE INDUSTRY. WE CREATE COMMUNITY AND IN-ROADS THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE WORK, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS.
  4. $453,774 spent. THE CITY BAR FUND'S LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATED MONTHLY IN THE BRIDGE THE GAP PROGRAM FOR NEWLY ADMITTED ATTORNEYS; PROVIDED CLE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT NYC LAW SCHOOLS, LARGE LAW FIRMS, AND THE CITY BAR, FOCUSING ON ETHICS, STIGMA, AND WELLBEING STRATEGIES; COLLABORATED WITH THE LAP COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND SUBSTANCE USE EDUCATION AND TO ARRANGE THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF SERVICE DINNER; PROVIDED WEEKLY SUPERVISION TO LAP COUNSELOR, FRANCESCA ACOCELLA; COLLABORATED WITH PATRICK KRILL TO INVOLVE THE NYC BAR ASSOCIATION IN A BROADBASED, UPDATED STUDY ON THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION; COLLABORATED WITH THE FIRST AND SECOND DEPARTMENT CHARACTER AND FITNESS COMMITTEES TO EVALUATE CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION AND WITH THE ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES TO MONITOR ATTORNEYS WHO ARE FACING SANCTIONS; AND RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ALL NEW CLIENTS, INCLUDING LAW STUDENTS, LAWYERS, STAFF, AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, 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 April 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 April 1948.

    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.