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Pennsylvania Bar Foundation

EIN 23-2303925 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMSTHAT INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND PROMOTE EQUALACCESS TO JUSTICE. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION BY MAKING GRANTS; ADMINISTERING A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS WHO HELP THE POOR FOR FREE; SEEKING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY; AND ENCOURAGING BAR MEMBERS TO DONATE THEIR TIME, TALENT AND EXPERTISE IN SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

Income
$759,445
Spending
$596,264
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
23.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
0
Volunteers
44
Highest pay
$248,416, executive director

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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. $426,897 spent. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - IN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA IOLTA BOARD, LAUNCHED A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ATTORNEYS EMPLOYED BY IOLTA-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL AID TO INDIGENT PENNSYLVANIANS. THE PROGRAM HAS TWO GOALS: 1) TO ASSIST LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS IN BETTER MANAGING THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEBT SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO CHOOSE AND REMAIN IN PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS; AND 2) TO HELP CIVIL LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED AND TALENTED LAWYERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
  2. $9,690 spent. CIVICS AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAM - LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS SEEK TO HELP INTEGRATE CIVICS INTO THE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM OF ALL GRADE LEVELS AND SUBJECT AREAS. TWO OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DO THIS ARE THE CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION PROGRAM AND THE LAW DAY PROGRAM.THE CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE U. S. CONSTITUTION. THE AWARD-WINNING CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION BRINGS TOGETHER K-12 STUDENTS, LAWYERS AND JUDGES FOR MOCK CONSTITUTION SIGNING PROGRAMS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. THE ANNUAL PROGRAM KICKS-OFF IN SEPTEMBER DURING THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION WEEK CELEBRATION AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE FALL. ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS RECEIVE CONSTITUTION-RELATED MATERIALS FOR THE SIGNING PROGRAMS. THE LAW DAY PROGRAM ALLOWS PENNSYLVANIA LAWYERS AND JUDGES TO VISIT K-12 CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE LAW. SUPPORTING MATERIALS, SUCH AS LAW-RELATED LESSON PLANS AND SOUVENIRS WITH LOTS OF KID APPEAL, ARE DISTRIBUTED TO LAWYERS, JUDGES AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH MAKING THE DAY NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIVE BUT ALSO MEMORABLE AND FUN. FOUNDATION FUNDING SUPPORTS THE PURCHASE OF POCKET U.S. CONSTITUTION BOOKLETS EACH YEAR.
  3. $9,096 spent. PBA WILLS FOR HEROES - THE WILLS FOR HEROES PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF THE PENNYSLVANIA BAR ASSOCIATION IN THE STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES WILLS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AT VARIOUS CLINICS AROUND THE VARIOUS COUNTIES OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
  4. $67,030 spent. PRO BONO - $7,804ELDER LAW SECTION - $5,000STOUDT SCHOLARSHIPS - $9,000NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS - $9,000HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL - $5,000MINORITY BAR LAW DAY - $2,228UNIT COUNTY GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM - $5,500GOFFMAN AWARD - $1,124BIRDSALL IMPACT GRANT- $2,000UNIT COUNTY CONFERENCE OF COUNTY BAR LEADERS GRANT - $1,535ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY LAW SECTION - $4,021BEDNARIK SCHOLARSHIP FUND - $5,400BOB & BETSY FIEBACH SCHOLARSHIP - $500SELL MEMORIAL - $1,752VOICES FOR JUSTICE - $5,000WAYNE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION - $2,166

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 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 November 1985.

    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 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.