Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O:PRO BONO PARTNERSHIP OF OHIO IS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING ONE OF THE REGION'S MOST ESSENTIAL ASSETS: NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. AS LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND ENFORCEMENT CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, NONPROFITS INCREASINGLY FACE LEGAL RISKS THEY ARE OFTEN NOT EQUIPPED TO MANAGE. THE COST OF BUSINESS LEGAL SERVICES CAN BE PROHIBITIVE, LEAVING ORGANIZATIONS EXPOSED TO COMPLIANCE CHALLENGES THAT CAN THREATEN THEIR MISSIONS. WORKING WITH ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS, PBPO HELPS PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FREE BUSINESS LEGAL SERVICES AND LEGAL EDUCATION TO NONPROFITS.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 394
- Highest pay
- $194,171, president & 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
- $2.0 million spent. PBPO PROVIDES QUALIFYING CINCINNATI AND DAYTON NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH NOCOST BUSINESS LEGAL SERVICES SO THEY CAN NAVIGATE THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE AND OPERATE EFFECTIVELY. PBPO HELPS NONPROFITS RESPOND TO EVOLVING LAWS AND RISK AREAS, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, COMPLIANCE, GOVERNANCE, AND OTHER CRITICAL LEGAL NEEDS, TAILORED TO EACH ORGANIZATION. PBPO ALSO DELIVERS TIMELY EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS THAT HELP NONPROFIT LEADERS UNDERSTAND AND APPLY NEW AND EMERGING LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. OF PBPO'S $2.15 MILLION IN PROGRAM EXPENSES, MORE THAN $1.35 MILLION REPRESENTS THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF DONATED LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS.PBPO'S SERVICES GIVE NONPROFIT LEADERS THE LEGAL CLARITY THEY NEED TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE THEIR MISSIONS, WHILE ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS STRENGTHEN THEIR TIES TO THE COMMUNITY. IN 2025, PBPO LED 562 LEGAL PROJECTS FOR 208 LOCAL NONPROFITS WITH SUPPORT FROM 394 ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS. PBPO ALSO PRODUCED 41 HIGH-IMPACT WORKSHOPS AND PUBLICATIONS ADDRESSING PRESSING LEGAL ISSUES AND REACHED 1,200+ NONPROFIT LEADERS AND ATTORNEYS. OVERALL, IN 2025, PBPO DELIVERED AN ESTIMATED $2.6 MILLION IN LEGAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION TO LOCAL NONPROFITS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.