York County Bar Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE YORK COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION, THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE YORK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AND ABUSE, IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF AND RESPECT FOR THE LAW, SUPPORT CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION THAT REFLECTS THE MAKEUP OF OUR COMMUNITY, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YORK COUNTAINS THROUGH SUPPORT FOR LAW-RELATED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
- Income
- $600,253
- Spending
- $697,923
- Spent on programs
- 53%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $217,650, ceo
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1553% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 2514 of 14 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 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)
- $187,736 spent. IMPACT GRANTS:THE YORK COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION, THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE YORK COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, IS YORK'S PRIMARY PRIVATE FUNDER OF PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THEIR TIME OF GREATEST NEED. WE CONSIDER THIS OUR UNIQUE ETHICAL OBLIGATION AND CAREFULLY STEWARD THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WE DONATE EACH YEAR IN FUNDING AND PRO BONO SERVICE. IN 2025, OUR ORGANIZATION PROVIDED NEARLY $317,000 IN FUNDING FOR JUSTICE INITIATIVES AND BAR ATTORNEYS VOLUNTEERED OVER $111,800 IN FREE LEGAL SERVICES.IMPACT GRANTS, LEGAL AID, AND SCHOLARSHIPS 2025:THE BAR FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LAW-RELATED INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY RESULTED IN NEARY $317,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:IMPACT GRANTS ($25,767): LIFEPATH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES RECEIVED $7,500 TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH CRITICAL LEGAL SERVICES. THE RESOURCE FOR GREAT PROGRAMS RECEIVED $13,267 FOR THE FINAL UPDATE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY REGARDING THE INVESTMENT IN CIVIL LEGAL AID IN YORK COUNTY. THE CHILDREN AID SOCIETY RECEIVED $5,000 TO REVITATLIZE THE DELIVERY OF THE YORK COURT ALLIANCE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS. HENRY LENZ MEMORIAL FUND IS A CHARITABLE FUND WHOSE PRINCIPAL AND INCOME ARE TO BE USED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES INVOLVING DEPENDENT AND DELINQUENT JUVENILES. THE COUNTY OF YORK RECEIVED $15,000 FROM THE HENRY LENZ MEMORIAL FUND FOR THE PROVISION OF ENRICHMENT SUPPORT FOR JUVENILES IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
- $117,060 spent. PRO BONO:LEGAL AID AND ONGOING INTERESTS ($244,056.38): MIDPENN LEGAL SERVICES RECEIVED THE LION'S SHARE OF THE AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE, WITH GRANTS AND ALTERNATIVE PRO BONO SERVICE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,975; TO SUPPORT PRO BONO SERVICES AND TO PRESERVE THEIR CRITICALLY NEEDED FAMILY-LAW ATTORNEY POSITION IN THE YORK OFFICE.PIRC ALSO RECEIVED $50,000 TO SUPPORT A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM HOTLINE ESTABLISHED FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AND TO RETAIN STAFF AND SUPPORT ITS OPERATIONS IN PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT, VULNERABLE IMMIGRANTS IN THE YORK COMMUNITY. PIRC'S WORK INCLUDES DIRECT REPRESENTATION IN YORK COUNTY OF IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FOR PARTIAL SUPPORT FOR ITS OFFICE MANAGER POSITION TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THE GROWING EDUCATION AND DIRECT SERVICES NEEDS OF IMMIGRANTS/IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, AND LEVERAGE PIRC'S LEGAL STAFF, PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND EXPERIENCE TO GROW AND REACH ADDITIONAL IMMIGRANTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNSERVED.THE CHILDREN AID SOCIETY RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERY OF THE YORK COURT ALLIANCE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTICIPATING HIGH SCHOOLS. $90,081.38 SUPPORTED YCBF'S EFFORTS RELATED TO THE DELIVERY OF PRO BONO AND LEGAL SERVICES TO THE YORK COUNTY COMMUNITY. WITH THIS FUNDING, THE YCBF PROVIDED EXPUNGEMENT/PARDON CLINICSB ALONG WITH FREE CLE TRAININGS, PFA "SERVICE DAYS, AND PARTICIPATION IN OTHER FREE TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY INFORMATION EVENTS SUCH AS WILLS FOR HEROES.
- $15,705 spent. PUBLIC SERVICE:THE CLARENCE "CHUCK" N. PATTERSON DIVERSITY INTERNSHIP FOR THE SUMMER OF 2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 WAS AWARDED TO LOC BRANDON H. LE FOR A POSITION AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BRANDON IS A 2L STUDENT AT THE PENN STATE DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW. THE SECOND INTERNSHIP FOR A POSITION AT THE YORK COUNTY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER WAS AWARDED TO ANGEL COX, A 1L STUDENT AT WIDENER UNIVERSITY COMMONWEALTH LAW SCHOOL, WHO WILL COMPLETE HER INTERNSHIP IN THE SUMMER OF 2026.THE RICHARD NOLL SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE AWARDED TWO $1,200 SCHOLARSHIPS TO "DESERVING, NEEDY LAW STUDENT(S) FROM THE GREATER YORK AREA." THE RECIPIENTS WERE SAMUEL ALBRIGHT AND RYAN SNELL WHO ARE STUDENTS AT THE PENN STATE DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW. THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION RECEIVED $12,350 FOR WILLS FOR HEROES SOFTWARE AND GIFTS IN MEMORY OF BARRY SIMPSON, ESQ., AND IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF DAVID KELLER TREVASKIS, ESQ. AND PAST YCBA PRESIDENT BERNARD ILKHANOFF, ESQ., FOR HIS ROLE AS CCBL PRESIDENT. LEADERSHIP YORK RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP OF $625 FOR ROBERT GAVIN, ESQ. $500 WAS DONATED TO THE CATHOLIC HARVEST FOOD PANTRY IN HONOR OF LAW DAY SPEAKER THE HONORABLE TODD R. PLATTS.TWO ROADS STRATEGY WAS AWARDED $2,125, TOWARD THE CREATION OF MATERIALS THAT WILL ASSIST IN THE GROWTH OF THE YCBF'S OPERATING ENDOWMENT.
- $48,000 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:LEAVE A LEGACY YORK COUNTY (LAL) IS A PARTNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 100 LIKE-MINDED VOLUNTEERS, PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING CHARITABLE GIVING. LEAVE A LEGACY ASSISTS YORK COUNTY NONPROFITS TO DEVELOP PLANNED-GIFT PROGRAMS, ENCOURAGES PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS TO INCLUDE CHARITABLE GIVING IN ESTATE PLANNING AND PROMOTES PLANNED GIVING TO THE PUBLIC. LEAVE A LEGACY RECEIVED FUNDS TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE AND LEGACY GIVING IN YORK COUNTY. LEAVE A LEGACY YORK COUNTY, RECEIVED $2,000 TO PROMOTE CHARITABLE AND LEGACY GIVING IN YORK COUNTY. THE YORK COUNTY ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL (YCEPC) IS A GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS EDUCATING THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN ESTATE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. LAL AND YCEPC HAVE LEVERAGED THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING PART OF A LARGER INSTITUTION THAT PROVIDES STAFF SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION.
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
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 December 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 June 1991.
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.