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Passes our checks

The Ip Law Foundation

EIN 54-2019670 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HELPS OFFER CAREER-PREPARATION, CAREER-READINESS, AND CAREER-ADVANCEMENT SUPPORT TO STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION.

Income
$306,811
Spending
$368,321
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
49.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
0
Volunteers
42

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 49.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    42 of 42 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $312,198 spent. TO OFFER CAREER-PREPARATION, CAREER-READINESS, AND CAREER-ADVANCEMENT SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE IN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS WORK TOWARD ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEDICATED IP PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH NETWORKING, COUNSELING, AND MENTORING EFFORTS AIMED AT FOSTERING CAREER ADVANCEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SIDNEY B. WILLIAMS, JR. SCHOLAR PROGRAM: THIS MERIT-BASED PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENTS FROM STEM BACKGROUNDS WHO ASPIRE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW. DESIGNED TO EXPAND ACCESS AND SUCCESS WITHIN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION, THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS APPLYING TO ABA- ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, THE SIDNEY B. WILLIAMS, JR. SCHOLAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN A VITAL SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS EXPLORING CAREERS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW. TODAY, THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED ITS REACH PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS SECURE A LEGAL EDUCATION AND LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN PATENT LAW. IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SCHOLARS NOW BENEFIT FROM: PERSONALIZED COUNSELING AND CAREER GUIDANCE ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS AND CLERKSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SUPPORT IN PREPARING FOR AND GAINING MEMBERSHIP IN THE PATENT BAR THROUGHOUT THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND DURING THEIR LEGAL EDUCATION, SCHOLARS ENGAGE WITH EXPERIENCED PATENT LAW PROFESSIONALS, MENTORS, AND LEADERS IN THE FIELD. TO OFFER CAREER-PREPARATION, CAREER-READINESS, AND CAREER-ADVANCEMENT SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE IN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS WORK TOWARD ACCELERATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEDICATED IP PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY THROUGH NETWORKING, COUNSELING, AND MENTORING EFFORTS AIMED AT FOSTERING CAREER ADVANCEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AN INTEREST IN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SIDNEY B. WILLIAMS, JR. SCHOLAR PROGRAM: THIS MERIT-BASED PROGRAM SUPPORTS STUDENTS FROM STEM BACKGROUNDS WHO ASPIRE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW. DESIGNED TO EXPAND ACCESS AND SUCCESS WITHIN THE PATENT LAW PROFESSION, THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS APPLYING TO ABA- ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, THE SIDNEY B. WILLIAMS, JR. SCHOLAR PROGRAM HAS BEEN A VITAL SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS EXPLORING CAREERS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW. TODAY, THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED ITS REACH PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS SECURE A LEGAL EDUCATION AND LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN PATENT LAW. IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SCHOLARS NOW BENEFIT FROM: PERSONALIZED COUNSELING AND CAREER GUIDANCE ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS AND CLERKSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SUPPORT IN PREPARING FOR AND GAINING MEMBERSHIP IN THE PATENT BAR THROUGHOUT THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND DURING THEIR LEGAL EDUCATION, SCHOLARS ENGAGE WITH EXPERIENCED PATENT LAW PROFESSIONALS, MENTORS, AND LEADERS IN THE FIELD.

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 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 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 March 2002.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.