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Florida Bar Foundation Inc

EIN 59-1004604 · Maitland, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION, INC. IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE OF LIMITED MEANS. THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION FUNDS LEGAL SERVICES, DEVELOPS INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORTS LEGAL AID PROVIDERS AND THE COURTS. FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE FOUNDATION'S GRANTS:HTTPS://FUNDINGFLA.ORG

Income
$272.7 million
Spending
$97.7 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
16
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$220,984, 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

Good: 88 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 64% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $90.7 million spent. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE POOR:IN 2024-2025, APPROVED GRANT AWARDS INCLUDED CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES, IOTA DISTRIBUTIONS AND THE LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LRAP). CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES GRANTEES ASSIST NEEDY CHILDREN IN CRITICAL AREAS THAT AFFECT THEIR SAFETY, WELL-BEING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. IOTA DISTRIBUTIONS SUPPORT GRANTEES' EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FLORIDA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM AND/OR TO PROMOTE PRO BONO PUBLIC SERVICE BY QUALIFIED LEGAL PROVIDERS THROUGH THE PROVISION OR FACILITATION OF FREE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CLIENTS. THROUGH LRAP, STUDENT LOANS WERE FORGIVEN FOR 136 ATTORNEYS AT LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS, STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE POOR BY SUPPORTING THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE MOST QUALIFIED CIVIL LEGAL AID STAFF ATTORNEYS.OTHER 2024-2025 PROJECTS INCLUDED: 1) COORDINATING AND PARTIALLY SUBSIDIZING ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH SERVICES TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTEES AT A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RATE, WITH THE FOUNDATION FACILITATING CENTRALIZED BILLING FOR A STATEWIDE CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL LEGAL RESEARCH FIRM REUTERS THOMSON/WESTLAW; AND 2) CONTINUED PARTIAL SUBSIDIES TO GRANTEES FOR AN ONLINE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LEGAL SERVER) FUNDED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE FOUNDATION IN 2008 TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF DAY-TO-DAY CASEWORK AND RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR LAWYERS AND PARALEGALS. THIS CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDES GRANTEES THE DATA AND COMMUNICATION NEEDED TO MANAGE CASES, TRACK OUTCOMES, AND REPORT TO FUNDING SOURCES. THE FOUNDATION'S STATEWIDE CONTRACT WITH LEGAL SERVER EFFECTIVELY REDUCES THE COST TO GRANTEES AND MAKES THE SERVICE AVAILABLE TO SOME WHO COULD NOT OTHERWISE AFFORD A COMPUTERIZED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
  2. $800,000 spent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE:IN 2024-2025, APPROVED GRANT AWARDS INCLUDED CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE FLORIDA INNOCENCE PROJECT, WHICH WORKS TO EXONERATE FLORIDIANS FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, TO FLORIDA'S CHILDREN FIRST, WHICH WORKS TO IMPROVE THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, AND TO CABA PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO ASSIST NEURODIVERGENT PERSONS WITH LEGAL MATTERS.
  3. $159,738 spent. LAW STUDENT ASSISTANCE:THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW FOR A CLINIC ELIMINATING ECONOMIC BARRIERS FOR IMMIGRANT AND FARMWORKERS. GRANTS WERE ALSO APPROVED TO FUND 14 CIVIL LEGAL AID SUMMER FELLOWS FROM SEVEN LAW SCHOOLS.
  4. $3.5 million spent. PRO BONO PARTNERSHIPS:"PRO BONO" ROUGHLY TRANSLATES TO "FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC AND GENERALLY ENCOMPASSES LAWYERS REPRESENTING, AT NO CHARGE, PERSONS WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY. THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO BE A HUB AND CONNECTOR BETWEEN LAW FIRMS, LAW SCHOOLS, THE JUDICIARY, LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AND CREATE PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES.THE FLORIDA BAR FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE FLORIDA PRO BONO COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION TO EXPAND PRO BONO EFFORTS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATE FURTHER PARTNERSHIPS. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO FUND AND RUN FLORIDAPROBONOMATTERS.ORG, AN ONLINE REFERRAL SYSTEM THAT ENABLES LAWYERS TO SEARCH FOR AND TAKE PRO BONO CASES ACROSS THE STATE. PRO BONO SUPPORT AND ENHANCEMENT GRANTS WERE APPROVED TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE PRO BONO PROGRAMS AND EFFORTS OF NON-LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION-FUNDED GRANTEES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1962.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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