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Allegheny County Bar Foundation

EIN 25-1383622 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION IS TO BE A DRIVING FORCE IN PROMOTING JUSTICE FOR ALL AND TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE LAW-RELATED PROGRAMS AS THE CHARITABLE ARM OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. TO FULFILL THIS MISSION, THE FOUNDATION RAISES, MANAGES, AND DISTRIBUTES FUNDS, ENCOURAGES AND ASSISTS LAWYERS TO PROVIDE PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, AND DEVELOPS AND SUPPORTS PUBLIC INFORMATION INITIATIVES.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 66%
Employees
43
Volunteers
520
Highest pay
$344,014, acba executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 June 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 (11)
  1. $369,304 spent. PRO BONO CENTER: THE PRO BONO CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE WELL TRAINED ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MEET THE LEGAL NEEDS OF THE INDIGENT IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 1,450 CLIENTS WERE SERVED BY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS. IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE CENTER RECRUITS, TRAINS, SUPPORTS AND RECOGNIZES ATTORNEY AND NON-ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS.
  2. $2.9 million spent. JUVENILE COURT PROJECT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR INDIGENT PARENTS OF CHILDREN INVOLVED IN JUVENILE COURT DEPENDENCY MATTERS. (THE JUVENILE COURT PROJECT HAD APPROXIMATELY 600 CASES IN THE CURRENT YEAR).
  3. $119,221 spent. ATTORNEYS AGAINST HUNGER PROVIDES FUNDING TO PITTSBURGH AREA FOOD BANKS. (FUNDS WERE DONATED TO 18 FOOD BANKS IN THE CURRENT YEAR).
  4. $75,141 spent. - THE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES GRANTS TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT WILL ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO THE CHANGING LEGAL NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE 6 RECIPIENTS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
  5. $4,000 spent. - BANKRUPTCY JUDGES MEMORIAL FUND AND NOTRE DAME FUND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO DESERVING LAW STUDENTS IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY AREA.
  6. $259,315 spent. - THE LAWYERS' FUND RELIEVES WANT OR DISTRESS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BAR OR MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS-IN-AID FOR RESEARCH, WRITING AND OTHER STUDIES OF LAW. THE LOUIS LITTLE FUND PROVIDES LOANS TO LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FINANCIAL NEED.
  7. $17,000 spent. - THE JOHN P. GISMONDI FUND PROVIDES FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE SUMMER LAW STUDENT FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
  8. $10,000 spent. -JOHN A. MEEHAN CITIZENSHIP INSTITUTE FUND
  9. $500 spent. - YLD SCHOLARSHIP FUND
  10. $11,091 spent. - GRANT TO NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO POOR AND VULNERABLE RESIDENTS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
  11. $18,172 spent. ZITTRAIN FORUMS ON LAW WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE THE LEGAL COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATIONAL, TOPICAL AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS TO LEAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEX ISSUES CONFRONTING OUR GOVERNMENT AND LEGAL SYSTEMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 September 2016.

    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.