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Smith County Bar Foundation

EIN 81-0585550 · Tyler, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE SMITH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION IS TO FURTHER JUSTICE AND PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. ESTABLISHED IN 2002, THE SMITH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE CHARITABLE GIVING ARM OF THE SMITH COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION.

Income
$88,006
Spending
$93,266
Reserves
45.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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. $30,131 spent. LAW DAY IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM, HELD ANNUALLY, DESIGNED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC OF THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER OUR COUNTRY'S RULE OF LAW. AS PART OF LAW DAY, THE SMITH COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION HOSTS POSTER AND ESSAY CONTESTS FOR SMITH COUNTY STUDENTS (PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND HOME-SCHOOL). ADDITIONALLY, LAW DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ATTORNEYS, PARALEGALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. THE CELEBRATION CULMINATES IN A RECOGNITION LUNCHEON.
  2. $11,372 spent. CONSTITUTION DAY IS ANOTHER NATIONAL PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE THE BACKBONE OF OUR COUNTRY - THE US CONSTITUTION. WHILE CONSTITUTION DAY EFFORTS FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE YOUTH, IT IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION. THE SCBF FACILITATES THE DAY, PROVIDING SPEAKERS, MATERIALS, AND OTHER RESOURCES NEEDED.
  3. $28,107 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT IS AT THE CORE OF THE SCBF MISSION. THROUGH THE PROVISION OF A VARIETY OF RESOURCES, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERS, GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE, THE SCBF WORKS TO CONTINUALLY SUPPORT JUSTICE AND PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW. ONE OF THE KEY COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS IS THE PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL. PEOPLE'S LAW SCHOOL (PLS), A FREE EVENT THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN SIZE AND SCOPE OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS. PLS PROVIDES CLASSES ON VARIETY OF LEGAL TOPICS, TAUGHT BY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED LEGAL PROFESSIONALS. THE SCBF ALSO FACILITATES A VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM FOR MEMBER ATTORNEYS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHAT INITIALLY STARTED AS A DAY-EVENT THAT ASSISTED LONE STAR LEGAL AID WITH CLIENT OUTREACH, THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM HAS GROWN TO AN ONLINE FEATURE THATALLOWS ANYONE, AT ANY TIME, TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE/ADVICE FROM A GROUP OF 30+ ATTORNEYS. ATTORNEYS THEN REACH OUT TO THE PERSON TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 February 2004.

    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.

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.