Lexisnexis Rule of Law Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PURPOSE OF THIS FOUNDATION IS TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'SUNDERSTANDING OF THE RULE OF LAW BOTH IN THE US AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND MATERIALS, FACILITATING ACCESS TO RESEARCH TOOLS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, PROVIDING HANDS ON EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION, DEVELOPING NONPARTISAN ANALYSIS, IMPROVING ACCESS TO LAWS AND COURT RECORDS RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND SUPPORTING ADVANCEMENT OF THE RULE OF LAW.
- Income
- $425,255
- Spending
- $592,642
- Spent on programs
- 51%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $220,650, vice president & treasurer (ret. in 2025)
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: 32 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1551% 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $303,325 spent. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION HELD LAUNCH EVENTS WITH ETHIOPIA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ADDIS ABABA AND LONDON FOR ETHIOPIA TAX TRANSPARENCY PROJECT; THE VOTING RIGHTS TOOL QUALIFIED AS A FINALIST IN THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT CHALLENGE; REGULATIONS IN UGANDA ON THE FIRST LAW PREVENTING HUMAN SACRIFICE WERE WRITTEN; ANNOUNCED THE COLLABORATION WITH WORLD BANK TO TAKE OVER THE AFRICAN MINING LEGISLATIVE ATLAS DEVELOPED AND RUN BY WORLD BANK FOR TEN YEARS; FINISHED DEVELOPING THE UGANDA JUDGMENT WRITING TOOL AND WORKING TO ADD CONTENT TO IT; PARTNERED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION ON THEIR PUBLICATION OF STUDIES IN SIX COUNTRIES ANALYZING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION (BRAZIL, NEPAL, MEXICO, UKRAINE, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA; TURKEY); SUPPORTED TRAINING AND A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES IN SOUTH AFRICA; OUR PARTNER LEGAL TEAM WHICH RECEIVED TRANSLATION HELP FROM THE FOUNDATION RECEIVED A FAVORABLE JUDGMENT IN SPANISH COURT RULING IN A PRECEDENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR A YOUNG HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM; WITH THE ABA INTERNATIONAL SECTION, PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR LEGAL RESEARCH TRAINING FOR AFGHANI WOMEN REFUGEE LAWYERS.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.