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Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Ini

EIN 27-5051293 · Prt Washingtn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ESTABLISH, STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT ACCESS TO JUSTICE RULE OF LAW GLOBALLY THROUGH JUSTICE EDUCATION LEGAL AID AND PRO BONO INITIATIVES, THAT INCLUDE A CORE FOCUS ON LEGAL ETHICS, PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PRO BONO AWARENESS.

Income
$970,287
Spending
$794,700
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
1
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$47,114, 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $337,255 spent. BABSEACLE worked collaboratively with universities, law faculties and organizational partners to develop and strengthen university- based Clinical Legal Education and Community Empowerment Programs throughout Asia and globally. This was done through raising awaremess about the issues faced by the communities we serve. We facilitate people-to-people exchanges, volunteer programs and legal training with the aim of building a network of legal professionals & community leaders to address the root causes of access to justice issues involved in the program included teachers and students at University Law Departments throughout the Asia region and globally.
  2. $46,904 spent. BABSEACLE holds an externship clinic program to support and development, justice education, as well as pro bono and access to justice initiatives throughout the Asian region. Interns were placed in one of our partner universities in the region, to teach CLE English to law teachers and law students. The CLE English curriculum combines English comprehension with CLE content and methodologies. As well as teaching, interns also had the responsibility of helping to develop the CLE English case studies and curriculum through researching, contextualizing & creating independent lesson plans. More than 40 interns were placed in the program. Interns from many countries participated with placement between 2 - 6 weeks.
  3. $295,292 spent. BABSEACLES Pro Bono and Legal Ethics Initiatives in Asia and globally. These initiatives, trainings, materials etc work with over 700 persons each year across the legal community including lawyers, legal service providers, legal educators, students, judges, government officials, and civil society professionals. All the initiatives are designed and delivered with a mandate of inspiring and building a strong committment to pro bono, legal ethics, rule of law, and justice education in the region and internationally.

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 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 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 August 2012.

    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.