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Tarrant County Bar Foundation

EIN 75-2748222 · Fort Worth, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 26% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING PURPOSES WHICH SUPPORT, PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE ACTIVITIES OF JUSTICE AND LEGAL EDUCATION THROUGH THE SPONSORSHIP AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF LEGAL RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS, INSTITUTES, FORUMS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SHOLARSHIPS; ASSISTANCE OF THE INSTITUTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LEGAL AID FACILITIES FOR THE INDIGENT OR WORKING POOR AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF AID AND GRANTS FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SOURCES; THE EXTENSION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTORNEYS OR MEMBERS OF AN ATTORNEY'S FAMILY WHO ARE "IN NEED" AS DEFINED UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE REGULATIONS AND THE FOUNDATION'S BYLAWS; ANY OTHER ACTIVITY WHICH WILL PROMOTE AND AID AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE BENCH AND BAR IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, AND ELSEWHERE; AND THE MAKING OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE IRC OF 1986.

Income
$418,896
Spending
$287,449
Spent on programs
26%
Reserves
28.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
0
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$119,640, sec/exec dir

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    26% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    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 December 31, 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. $45,497 spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES PROVIDES GRANTS TO OTHERS TO FURTHER THEIR EXEMPT PURPOSE - THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS BY PROVIDING THE FACILITY, UNDERWRITING THE COSTS, (INCLUDING TCBA STAFF), AND VOLUNTEERS FOR VARIOUS LEGAL AND CHARITABLE PROJECTS: LEGALLINE, A FREE CALL-IN SERVICE FOR BASIC LEGAL INFORMATION; NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY; AND PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS AND PERFORMS VARIOUS SERVICES TO AID THE COMMUNITY INCLUDING BLOOD DRIVES AND THE PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUITION OF THE ELDER LAW HANDBOOK.
  2. $27,481 spent. TEXAS LAWYERS FOR TEXAS VETERANS (TLTV) IS A PRO BONO PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO VETERANS AND/OR WIDOWS OF VETERANS WHOSE INCOME IS NO MORE THAN 200% OVER THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.
  3. $1,194 spent. TARRANT COUNTY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY SERVICES (TVAS) IS A PRO BONO PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES BY ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS TO CITIZENS WHOSE INCOME IS NO MORE THAN 200% OVER THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES EXCEPT FOR ADOPTIONS WHICH IS 400%.

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