Peggy Browning Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.
- Income
- $857,224
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 88%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $153,554, executive director (p)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 March 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)
- $814,327 spent. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SEE ATTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICES. THE PEGGY BROWNING FUND - FORM 990, PART III, LINES 4A & 4B: OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM SERVICES THE PEGGY BROWNING FUND (PBF) WAS FORMED IN 1997 TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF MARGARET A. (PEGGY) BROWNING, A RENOWNED PHILADELPHIA LABOR LAWYER WHO SERVED ON THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) FROM 1994 TO 1997. PBF EDUCATES LAW STUDENTS ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF WORKERS. WE ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAWYERS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE BOTH IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN OTHER ARENAS. PBF'S CORE PROGRAM PROVIDES LAW STUDENTS FROM LAW SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH TEN-WEEK PAID SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS (PLUS TWO PAID SCHOOL-YEAR FELLOWSHIPS). THESE PEGGY BROWNING FELLOWS WORK WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING UNIONS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS WORKER CENTERS, AND UNION-SIDE LAW FIRMS (THE LAW FIRMS PAY THE COST FOR THEIR OWN FELLOWS). PBF PLACED OUR FIRST 10 STUDENTS IN 1998. TODAY WE HAVE 150 PARTICIPATING LAW SCHOOLS. THROUGH A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS, 110 LAW STUDENTS, DRAWN FROM OVER 500 APPLICANTS, WERE PLACED IN FELLOWSHIPS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024 (PLUS TWO DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR) WITH UNIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS RIGHTS' CONFERENCE. IN 2024 WE CONDUCTED 8 REGIONAL ADVOCATING FOR WORKPLACE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS; ALL WERE CONDUCTED IN-PERSON WITH AN OPTION TO STREAM. THIS ENABLED US TO REACH ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 200+ STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2024. THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS DERIVES NOT ONLY FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, RICH BREAN, BUT FROM THE TALENTS AND COMMITMENT OF OUR GOVERNING AND ADVISORY BOARDS, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF, AND OUR NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS. OUR FOUNDER, JOSEPH LURIE, FORMALLY RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS PRESIDENT IN AUGUST 2022. THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT WAS DISSOLVED AND LEADERSHIP IS CURRENTLY SHARED BETWEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, RICHARD BREAN, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RACHEL DEL ROSSI. MR. BREAN AND MS. DEL ROSSI ARE WELL SUPPORTED BY OUR GOVERNANCE BOARD, ADVISORY BOARD, NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF. WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR BOARD LEADERSHIP BY FORMING AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOARD OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS. THIS GROUP MEETS MONTHLY TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND GUIDANCE TO THE ORGANIZATION. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THE STUDENTS SELECTED ARE CALLED FELLOWS AND THEIR SUMMER PLACEMENTS ARE IN MENTOR ORGANIZATIONS. PBF TODAY IS HELD IN SUCH HIGH REGARD THAT WELL OVER 500 STUDENTS APPLIED IN 2024 FOR THE 110 COVETED SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS. IT'S CONSIDERED A SIGNIFICANT HONOR TO BE SELECTED AS A PBF FELLOW - A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR STUDENTS AND RESPECT FROM THE BROAD LEGAL COMMUNITY. PBF HAS DEVELOPED INTO THE NATION'S PREEMINENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR PROVIDING FUNDED SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS TO WORK FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. IN DOING SO, WE FULFILL OUR MISSION OF EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LAWYERS ABOUT WORKERS RIGHTS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO EMBRACE THIS FIELD WHILE ALSO PROVIDING VITAL SERVICES TO UNDERSTAFFED MENTOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN AN EFFORT TO AUGMENT OUR IMPACT, IN 1999 WE ADDED AN ANNUAL NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS' RIGHTS CONFERENCE. THE 2023 CONFERENCE, IN WHICH 170+ STUDENTS PARTICIPATED, WAS ONE OF OUR LARGEST GROUPS EVER. SESSIONS WERE SPREAD OVER TWO DAYS, AND INCLUDED TWO PLENARY SESSIONS AND OUR USUAL LISTING OF SUBSTANTIVE WORKSHOPS. STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS ALIKE GAVE US VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK. (FOR A CURRENT LIST OF PARTICIPATING LAW SCHOOLS, SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PLACEMENTS, INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND NEWS ABOUT OTHER EVENTS, SEE WWW.PEGGYBROWNINGFUND.ORG.) REGIONAL WORKSHOPS THE DUAL PURPOSE OF PBF'S REGIONAL WORKSHOPS IS TO INTEREST LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS IN APPLYING FOR PEGGY BROWNING FELLOWSHIPS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS IN A BROAD RANGE OF PRACTICE SETTINGS DEVOTED TO SECURING WORKING PEOPLE THEIR FULL MEASURE OF RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW. EACH REGIONAL WORKSHOP INVOLVES A PANEL DISCUSSION CO-SPONSORED BY PBF AND THE HOST LAW SCHOOL, LED BY A MODERATOR (USUALLY A LAW PROFESSOR), FOLLOWED BY TIME FOR STUDENTS TO NETWORK WITH THE PANELISTS AND THE OTHER LAWYERS IN ATTENDANCE. AT LEAST ONE PANEL MEMBER IS ALWAYS A FORMER PEGGY BROWNING FELLOW, WHO EXPLAINS THE MECHANICS OF THE PBF APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE BROAD RANGE OF PAID SUMMER PLACEMENTS AVAILABLE. THE REMAINING PANELISTS ARE LAWYERS WORKING AT FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES, WORKER CENTERS, LAW FIRMS, UNION LEGAL DEPARTMENTS AND LEGAL SERVICES OFFICES. EACH PANELIST EXPLAINS THE CHALLENGES AND SATISFACTIONS OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE, AND THEIR EXAMPLE BROADENS STUDENTS' HORIZONS AS TO POSSIBLE CAREER CHOICES. THE 40+ PRACTICING ATTORNEYS, PROFESSORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, AND PBF ALUMNI WHO VOLUNTEERED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR REGIONAL WORKSHOPS AS PANELISTS HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ATTENDEES. THE WORKSHOPS HAVE INCREASED AWARENESS OF PBF'S PROGRAMS AND HAVE BECOME A VITAL PART OF OUR PROGRAM. ALUMNI PROGRAM THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE PROVIDED VARIOUS SERVICES TO OUR ALUMNI, PARTICULARLY BY HELPING THEM NETWORK WITH OTHERS IN THE LABOR LAW COMMUNITY AND BY PROVIDING JOB LEADS. MANY ALUMNI IN TURN HAVE REMAINED ACTIVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION, PARTICULARLY AS RESOURCES FOR NEW FELLOWS, AS PARTICIPANTS IN PLANNING OR PRESENTING WORKSHOPS, AND AS MENTORS IN OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. IN 2024, WHILE CONTINUING THESE SERVICES, WE CONTINUED WORKING TO STRENGTHEN OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND: A. TO PROVIDE ALUMNI WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMING A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST WITH OTHERS INTERESTED IN ADVOCATING FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS; B. TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF PBF ALUMNI THROUGH NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIAL JOB LE
- ANNUAL NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS RIGHTS' CONFERENCE SEE ATTACHMENT TO SCHEDULE O FOR DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICES. THE PEGGY BROWNING FUND - FORM 990, PART III, LINES 4A & 4B: OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM SERVICES THE PEGGY BROWNING FUND (PBF) WAS FORMED IN 1997 TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF MARGARET A. (PEGGY) BROWNING, A RENOWNED PHILADELPHIA LABOR LAWYER WHO SERVED ON THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) FROM 1994 TO 1997. PBF EDUCATES LAW STUDENTS ABOUT THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF WORKERS. WE ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAWYERS TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE BOTH IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN OTHER ARENAS. PBF'S CORE PROGRAM PROVIDES LAW STUDENTS FROM LAW SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH TEN-WEEK PAID SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS (PLUS TWO PAID SCHOOL-YEAR FELLOWSHIPS). THESE PEGGY BROWNING FELLOWS WORK WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING UNIONS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS WORKER CENTERS, AND UNION-SIDE LAW FIRMS (THE LAW FIRMS PAY THE COST FOR THEIR OWN FELLOWS). PBF PLACED OUR FIRST 10 STUDENTS IN 1998. TODAY WE HAVE 150 PARTICIPATING LAW SCHOOLS. THROUGH A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PROCESS, 110 LAW STUDENTS, DRAWN FROM OVER 500 APPLICANTS, WERE PLACED IN FELLOWSHIPS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024 (PLUS TWO DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR) WITH UNIONS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR ANNUAL NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS RIGHTS' CONFERENCE. IN 2024 WE CONDUCTED 8 REGIONAL ADVOCATING FOR WORKPLACE JUSTICE WORKSHOPS; ALL WERE CONDUCTED IN-PERSON WITH AN OPTION TO STREAM. THIS ENABLED US TO REACH ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 200+ STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2024. THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS DERIVES NOT ONLY FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, RICH BREAN, BUT FROM THE TALENTS AND COMMITMENT OF OUR GOVERNING AND ADVISORY BOARDS, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF, AND OUR NUMEROUS VOLUNTEERS. OUR FOUNDER, JOSEPH LURIE, FORMALLY RESIGNED HIS POSITION AS PRESIDENT IN AUGUST 2022. THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT WAS DISSOLVED AND LEADERSHIP IS CURRENTLY SHARED BETWEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, RICHARD BREAN, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RACHEL DEL ROSSI. MR. BREAN AND MS. DEL ROSSI ARE WELL SUPPORTED BY OUR GOVERNANCE BOARD, ADVISORY BOARD, NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF. WE HAVE INVESTED IN OUR BOARD LEADERSHIP BY FORMING AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOARD OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS. THIS GROUP MEETS MONTHLY TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND GUIDANCE TO THE ORGANIZATION. FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THE STUDENTS SELECTED ARE CALLED FELLOWS AND THEIR SUMMER PLACEMENTS ARE IN MENTOR ORGANIZATIONS. PBF TODAY IS HELD IN SUCH HIGH REGARD THAT WELL OVER 500 STUDENTS APPLIED IN 2024 FOR THE 110 COVETED SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS. IT'S CONSIDERED A SIGNIFICANT HONOR TO BE SELECTED AS A PBF FELLOW - A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR STUDENTS AND RESPECT FROM THE BROAD LEGAL COMMUNITY. PBF HAS DEVELOPED INTO THE NATION'S PREEMINENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR PROVIDING FUNDED SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS TO WORK FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. IN DOING SO, WE FULFILL OUR MISSION OF EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LAWYERS ABOUT WORKERS RIGHTS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO EMBRACE THIS FIELD WHILE ALSO PROVIDING VITAL SERVICES TO UNDERSTAFFED MENTOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN AN EFFORT TO AUGMENT OUR IMPACT, IN 1999 WE ADDED AN ANNUAL NATIONAL LAW STUDENTS WORKERS' RIGHTS CONFERENCE. THE 2023 CONFERENCE, IN WHICH 170+ STUDENTS PARTICIPATED, WAS ONE OF OUR LARGEST GROUPS EVER. SESSIONS WERE SPREAD OVER TWO DAYS, AND INCLUDED TWO PLENARY SESSIONS AND OUR USUAL LISTING OF SUBSTANTIVE WORKSHOPS. STUDENTS AND FACILITATORS ALIKE GAVE US VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK. (FOR A CURRENT LIST OF PARTICIPATING LAW SCHOOLS, SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PLACEMENTS, INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AND ANNUAL CONFERENCE, AND NEWS ABOUT OTHER EVENTS, SEE WWW.PEGGYBROWNINGFUND.ORG.) REGIONAL WORKSHOPS THE DUAL PURPOSE OF PBF'S REGIONAL WORKSHOPS IS TO INTEREST LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS IN APPLYING FOR PEGGY BROWNING FELLOWSHIPS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS IN A BROAD RANGE OF PRACTICE SETTINGS DEVOTED TO SECURING WORKING PEOPLE THEIR FULL MEASURE OF RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW. EACH REGIONAL WORKSHOP INVOLVES A PANEL DISCUSSION CO-SPONSORED BY PBF AND THE HOST LAW SCHOOL, LED BY A MODERATOR (USUALLY A LAW PROFESSOR), FOLLOWED BY TIME FOR STUDENTS TO NETWORK WITH THE PANELISTS AND THE OTHER LAWYERS IN ATTENDANCE. AT LEAST ONE PANEL MEMBER IS ALWAYS A FORMER PEGGY BROWNING FELLOW, WHO EXPLAINS THE MECHANICS OF THE PBF APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE BROAD RANGE OF PAID SUMMER PLACEMENTS AVAILABLE. THE REMAINING PANELISTS ARE LAWYERS WORKING AT FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATORY AGENCIES, WORKER CENTERS, LAW FIRMS, UNION LEGAL DEPARTMENTS AND LEGAL SERVICES OFFICES. EACH PANELIST EXPLAINS THE CHALLENGES AND SATISFACTIONS OF HIS OR HER PRACTICE, AND THEIR EXAMPLE BROADENS STUDENTS' HORIZONS AS TO POSSIBLE CAREER CHOICES. THE 40+ PRACTICING ATTORNEYS, PROFESSORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, AND PBF ALUMNI WHO VOLUNTEERED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR REGIONAL WORKSHOPS AS PANELISTS HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ATTENDEES. THE WORKSHOPS HAVE INCREASED AWARENESS OF PBF'S PROGRAMS AND HAVE BECOME A VITAL PART OF OUR PROGRAM. ALUMNI PROGRAM THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE PROVIDED VARIOUS SERVICES TO OUR ALUMNI, PARTICULARLY BY HELPING THEM NETWORK WITH OTHERS IN THE LABOR LAW COMMUNITY AND BY PROVIDING JOB LEADS. MANY ALUMNI IN TURN HAVE REMAINED ACTIVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION, PARTICULARLY AS RESOURCES FOR NEW FELLOWS, AS PARTICIPANTS IN PLANNING OR PRESENTING WORKSHOPS, AND AS MENTORS IN OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. IN 2024, WHILE CONTINUING THESE SERVICES, WE CONTINUED WORKING TO STRENGTHEN OUR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND: A. TO PROVIDE ALUMNI WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMING A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST WITH OTHERS INTERESTED IN ADVOCATING FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS; B. TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF PBF ALUMNI THROUGH NETWORKI
- NETWORKING MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES - THE ORGANIZATION HOLDS VARIOUS NETWORKING MEETINGS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR ITS STUDENTS AND FOR OTHERS IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT. THESE MEETINGS PROVIDE IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO THE BROADER LABOR COMMUNITY AND FOR MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY TO NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER AND TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE ISSUES AND PROGRAMS.
- NEWSLETTER - THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A NEWSLETTER PROVIDING NEWS ABOUT ITS EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 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 October 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 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.