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Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundati on

EIN 34-1671726 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS AIMED AT ACHIEVING JUSTICE FOR ALL IN THE COMMUNITY OF GREATER CLEVELAND.

Income
$315,943
Spending
$602,310
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
0
Volunteers
530
Highest pay
$127,778, ceo (part-year)

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 91% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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 (4)
  1. $31,434 spent. THE OHIO MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM IS A STATEWIDE LAW-RELATED ACADEMIC COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE COORDINATE THE CUYAHOGA DISTRICT AND REGIONAL COMPETITIONS AS PART OF THE OHIO MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM. MOCK TRIAL OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE LAW AND HONE IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND WORKING AS A TEAM. WITH THE HELP OF 25 VOLUNTEERS FROM THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, 385 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED REPRESENTING HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY AREA.
  2. $55,740 spent. THE LOUIS STOKES SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT OFFERS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE LAW AND LEGAL CAREERS. THIS SUMMER PROGRAM IS HANDS-ON AND INTERACTIVE, PROVIDING PARTICIPNATS WITH STIPEND PAID INTERNSHIPS, GROUP LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND SEMINARS FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESIONAL SKILL BUILDING, MENTORS, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO LAW SCHOOL FROM THE LSAT (LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST) TO ADMISSIONS TO FINANCIAL AID AND CURRICULUM.
  3. $20,678 spent. THE COUNCIL ON CONSCIOUS INCLUSION (CCI) SIGNIFIES A DEDICATED EFFORT TO INTEGRATE CONSCIOUS INCLUSION INTO EVERY FACET OF THE CMBA'S OPERATION, EFFECTIVELY REPLACING THE PRIOR "INCLUSION & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE." BY BRINGING TOGETHER LEADERS FROM VARIOUS GROUPS FOCUSED ON DEI, LEGAL EDUCATION, AND SYSTEMIC REFORM, CCI CHAMPIONS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
  4. $382,442 spent. OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: LAW DAY, CLEVELAND HOMELESS LEGAL ASSISTANCE, REACH OUT FOR NON-PROFITS, SUMMER LEGAL ADVENTURE, TLC AT CMSD, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR ART, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

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 July 1991.

    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.