Denton County Lawyers Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Denton County Lawyers Foundation is dedicated to the support, promotion, and encouragement of activities that further justice, access to justice and legal education. These activities are planned to include, but are not limited to, publishing a monthly Legal Education Bulletin online for public access; hosting an attorney blog forum for public access; providing a free attorney referral service to the public; furnishing space for a court ordered parent-child visitation center for low income parents who are only allowed supervised access to their children, Continued Legal Education relevant to access to justice, and the assumption of pro bono activities which are currently performed by the Denton County Bar Assocation: an annual Adoption Day (providing pro-bono adoptions for low income foster families); a Veterans Legal Clinic (providing legal advice to low income veterans), and the Pro Se Divorce Clinic (providing legal advice and support to low net worth couples who are divorcing). The
- Income
- $284,013
- Spending
- $201,055
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -85.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 0
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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 83% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 114% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $149,997 spent. Leased office space to the Denton County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (a 501(c)(3) public charity) and the Denton County Bar Association (a 501(c)(6) organization) pursuant to the organization's mission. During 2024, significant improvements to the building were completed and court ordered parent-child visitations began in 2025.
- $10,205 spent. Provided funds to benefit local music programs for youth and young adults in memory of Jack Balderson.
- $8,050 spent. Assisted the public, specifically children & their foster parents, in receiving adoption grants at the Denton County Courthouse on National Adoption Day. National Adoption Day is the annual, collective, national effort to raise awareness of the more than 10,000 children currently in foster care across the country.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.