Pro Bono Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EXPLORE AND IDENTIFY NEW APPROACHES TO AND RESOURCES FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR, DISADVANTAGED, AND OTHERS UNABLE TO SECURE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS CRITICAL LEGAL PROBLEMS.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 35.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $243,151, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 35.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 255 of 5 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 August 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 (4)
- $697,871 spent. CORPORATE PRO BONO - THE CORPORATE PRO BONO PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PRO BONO WORK PERFORMED BY IN-HOUSE COUNSEL AND TO ENHANCE THE PRO BONO CULTURE OF IN-HOUSE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE IN-HOUSE COMMUNITY, TARGETED RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS, ONLINE INFORMATION AND SERVICES, AND OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. ONE OF CORPORATE PRO BONO'S KEY FEATURES IS ITS WEBSITE, WWW.CPBO.ORG. (Expenses $ 119,688 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECT AND GLOBAL PRO BONO PROJECT
- $654,598 spent. LAW FIRM PRO BONO PROJECT - THE LAW FIRM PROJECT WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT AND EXPAND THE PRO BONO PUBLIC ACTIVITIES OF LARGE LAW FIRMS. FUNDED BY MEMBER LAW FIRMS AND SPONSORS, THE PROJECT ASSISTS LAW FIRMS IN DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE PRO BONO PROGRAMS AND IN INTEGRATING THOSE PROGRAMS INTO THE PRACTICE, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE OF THE FIRMS.
- $336,176 spent. CONFERENCE - THE PRO BONO INSTITUTE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE LEGAL PROFESSION'S PREMIER GLOBAL PRO BONO EVENT AND THE ONLY CONFERENCE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO THE INTERESTS, NEEDS, RESOURCES, AND EMERGING AND EVOLVING ISSUES FACED BY LAW FIRMS AND CORPORATE IN-HOUSE LEADERS INVOLVED IN THE DIRECTION, OVERSIGHT, SUPPORT, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THEIR PRO BONO PROGRAMS. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROVIDES AN IN-DEPTH, TIMELY, AND PRACTICAL ORIENTATION TO LEADING PRACTICES AND EMERGING ISSUES, TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS, CUTTING-EDGE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FAST-CHANGING WORLD OF LAW FIRMS AND CORPORATE IN-HOUSE PRO BONO, AND NEW AND COMPELLING PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES IN PUBLIC INTEREST LAW. (Expenses $ 119,688 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECT AND GLOBAL PRO BONO PROJECT
- $119,688 spent. PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECT AND GLOBAL PRO BONO PROJECT
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 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 November 6, 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 August 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 1998.
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 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.