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The Tennessee Legal Community Foundation Tlcf

EIN 62-1584777 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TENNESSEE LEGAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE LEGAL COMMUNITY AND WORKS TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$264,810, executive director

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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. THE FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE GENERAL CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES OF THE UNITED STATES LEGAL SYSTEM. THIS PURPOSE IS ACCOMPLISHED BY OFFERING CLASSES AND CONFERENCES TO THE COMMUNITY ON MANY LEGAL TOPICS, AS WELL AS EDUCATING THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.
  2. $168,039 spent. LEADERSHIP LAW AIMS TO SERVE THE LEGAL PROFESSION BY EQUIPPING PARTICIPANTS WITH THE VISION, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO SERVE AS LEADERS IN THE PROFESSION AND IN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES WILL BE TENNESSEE LAWYERS WITH 5-15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BY THE TIME OF NOMINATION, CALCULATED FROM THE YEAR IN WHICH THEY WERE LICENSED. THE GOALS OF LEADERSHIP LAW ARE TO NURTURE EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP WITH RESPECT TO ETHICAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ISSUES, TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AMONG LEGAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND FROM ACROSS DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE PROFESSION, TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AMONG LAWYERS REGARDING THE BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES FACING THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND TO ENHANCE THE DIVERSITY OF LEADERS WITHIN THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
  3. $98,504 spent. THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION (YLD) IS COMPRISED OF LAWYERS IN THEIR FIRST TEN YEARS OF PRACTICE OR UNDER 36 YEARS OF AGE. IT IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL NEEDS OF YOUNG LAWYERS AND SERVING THE PUBLIC AS THE "SERVICE ARM OF THE BAR."

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 1996.

    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.

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.