American Inns of Court Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE AMERICAN INNS OF COURT INSPIRE THE LEGAL COMMUNITY TO ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW BY ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM THROUGH EXAMPLE, EDUCATION, AND MENTORING.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 86%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 351
- Highest pay
- $252,652, executive director/ceo
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
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 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)
- $1.3 million spent. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS - THE FOUNDATION CARRIED OUT NUMEROUS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ASSIST LOCAL INNS OF COURT IN DELIVERING A HIGH-QUALITY MEMBER EXPERIENCE, AND TO ENHANCE THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE BEYOND WHAT OCCURS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. SUCH PROGRAMS INCLUDED REGIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMITS, INNSIGHT LEADERSHIP NEWSLETTER, THE BENCHER BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE, THE ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE RECOGNITION PROGRAM, INN ADVISORY SERVICES, AND THE PROMOTION OF AIC IDEALS THROUGH THEMED MONTHS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON CIVILITY.
- $242,085 spent. EDUCATION AND MENTORING - THE FOUNDATION CARRIED OUT PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE MENTORING THROUGH LOCAL INNS OF COURT AND GENERALLY, SUCH AS MENTORING MONTH AND NUMEROUS ONLINE RESOURCES. THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO DEVELOPING AN ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM INNOVATION EDUCATION TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED PARTS OF THE PROFESSION.
- $228,831 spent. AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION BUILDING - THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED BUILDING AWARENESS OF ITS MISSION BY PROMOTING ITS IDEALS THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF THE LEWIS F. POWELL, JR. AWARD FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS, THE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR AWARD FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, THEWARREN E. BURGER PRIZE, AND THE AIC PROFESSIONALISM AWARDS.
- $174,355 spent. GROWTH STRATEGIES - THE FOUNDATION ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ON THE LEGAL PROFESSION. THIS INCLUDED THE PROMOTION OF NEW INNS AND MEMBERSHIP IN EXISTING INNS, ENGAGEMENT OF ITS ALUMNI MEMBERS, LAW SCHOOLS, AND THE JUDICIARY, AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE A. SHERMAN CHRISTENSEN AWARD. IT ALSO INCLUDED ENGAGEMENT OF THE PROFESSION'S FUTURE LEADERS WITH THE PEGASUS AND TEMPLE BAR SCHOLARSHIPS.
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
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 June 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 January 1986.
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.