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Shreveport Bar Foundation Pro Bono Project

EIN 72-1115393 · Shreveport, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SHREVEPORT BAR FOUNDATION (SBF) PROVIDES CHARITABLE LEGAL ASSISTANCE & EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO THE PUBLIC AND OPERATES A PRO BONO PROJECT PROVIDING FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME CLIENTS AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME LEVEL IN AREAS OF FAMILY LAW, DOMESTIC PROTECTIVE ORDERS, SUCCESSIONS, & OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS.

Income
$620,080
Spending
$621,089
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$32,002, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $517,807 spent. SBF PROVIDES PRO BONO ASSISTANCE IN CIVIL MATTERS TO PERSONS AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY INCOME LEVEL. RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THESE CLIENTS IN THE AREAS OF FAMILY LAW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS, SUCCESSIONS, & UNCONTESTED DIVORCES; A FREE ASK-A-LAWYER CLINIC EACH MONTH AT THE SHREVEPORT BAR CENTER, A BUILDING OWNED AND OPERATED BY SBF; A PRO SE LIBRARY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A SAFE AND PRIVATE ENVIRONMENT TO RESEARCH LEGAL ISSUES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SBF STAFF. IN ADDITION, SBF OPERATES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CADDO PARISH JUVENILE COURT AND FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, LEGAL AID OF NORTH LA, NORTHWEST LA FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND PROJECT CELEBRATION INC. TO ACCEPT REFERRALS FOR REPRESENTATION OF THEIR CLIENTS FOR CASES INVOLVING SUCCESSIONS, UNCONTESTED DIVORCES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS FOR THE CADDO, BOSSIER AND OTHER PARISHES IN NORTHWEST LA. SBF REGULARLY NETWORKS WITH SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER RESCUE MISSION, BOSSIER PARISH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, SALVATION ARMY AND CADDO PARISH VICTIMS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.IN 2021, A TOTAL OF 45 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS DONATED 660 HOURS OF LEGAL SERVICES TO ASSIST 825 CLIENTS.
  2. $79,152 spent. THE BAR CENTER BUILDING IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY SBF, AND SERVES AS HEADQUARTERS FOR THE SHREVEPORT BAR ASSOCIATION, THE SHREVEPORT BAR FOUNDATION AND ITS PRO BONO PROJECT. THIS ALLOWS FOR COORDINATED EFFORTS IN SUPPORT OF THE SHREVEPORT BAR FOUNDATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE BUILDING PROVIDES SPACE FOR SBF TO INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF JUSTICE BY IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT ENCHANCE THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY. THE BAR CENTER SERVES AS A PERMANENT LEGAL HUB IN DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT SERVING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. THE BUILDING IS LOCATED AT 625 TEXAS ST., SHREVEPORT, LA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 1992.

    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.

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