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Hillsborough County Bar Foundation Inc

EIN 59-3443939 · Tampa, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION IS OPERATED FOR CHARITABLE,SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIOANL PURPOSES. THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS AN EXTENSION OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, INC. AND LETS THE BAR ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS POOL THEIR TALENTS, RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE OF TAMPA BAY WHO ARE IN NEED.

Income
$333,978
Spending
$559,722
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$121,289, executive di

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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 68% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $396,354 spent. RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE CASE FILINGS HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. STAE AND COUNTY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS HAVE LIMITED THE ABILITY OF THE COURTS IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT TO MANAGE THESE CASES IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND HIGH RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE RATES ARE DAMAGING THE ECONOMY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA. UNDER FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER AOSCO9-54 DATED DECEMBER 28, 2009, PROCEDURES WERE ETABLISHIED FOR A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. BECAUSE THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS DEMONSTRABLE ABILITY TO ASSIST THE COURTS WITH MANAGING THE LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ACTIONS THAT RECENTLY AHVE BEEN FILED IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, THE UNDERSIGNED HAS DESIGNATED THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION AS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RESIIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE CASE FILINGS HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. STAE AND COUNTY BUDGET CONSTRAINTS HAVE LIMITED THE ABILITY OF THE COURTS IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT TO MANAGE THESE CASES IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND HIGH RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE RATES ARE DAMAGING THE ECONOMY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA. UNDER FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER AOSCO9-54 DATED DECEMBER 28, 2009, PROCEDURES WERE ETABLISHIED FOR A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. BECAUSE THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS DEMONSTRABLE ABILITY TO ASSIST THE COURTS WITH MANAGING THE LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ACTIONS THAT RECENTLY AHVE BEEN FILED IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, THE UNDERSIGNED HAS DESIGNATED THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION AS PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RESIIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION PROGRAM IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.
  2. $120,000 spent. LAW & LIBERTY DINNER: PROGRAM FUFILLS THE MISSION OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR OUTREACH GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS WHICH PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ACCESS TO LEGAL SYSTEMS TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS.
  3. JOHN WALL AWARD: THIS AWARD RECOGINIZES AN ATTORNEY FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OR A SPECIFIC AND EXTRAORDINARY ACT BY A GOVERNMENT OR PUBLIC SECTOR ATTORNEY.
  4. $9,172 spent. WILLS FOR HEROS

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 November 6, 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 November 1998.

    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 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.