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Garden State Bar Association

EIN 22-3091280 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE GSBA PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS TO COLLECTIVELY TACKLE CHALLENGES THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MINORITIES. SINCE 1975, THE GSBA HAS CONTINUOUSLY ASSISTED AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES IN BECOMING AN EFFECTIVE PART OF THE JUDICIARY AND LEGAL SYSTEMS. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SEEKS TO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF JURISPRUDENCE, IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, SUPPORT INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS, AND ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AND INEQUALITY BASED ON RACIAL, ETHNIC OR SEXUAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Income
$151,094
Spending
$185,232
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
17

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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)
  1. $125,674 spent. TO PROVIDE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO NOT ONLY ITS MEMBERS BUT NEW JERSEY ATTORNEYS AT LARGE.
  2. $21,050 spent. TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN THE JUDICIARY AND LEGAL SYSTEMS. IN THE 2024 - 2025 YEAR, GSBA AWARDED $21,050 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on January 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on January 15, 2011.

    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 August 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 2014.

    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.