Totals
- Total revenue
- $9,026,081
- Total expenses
- $8,714,001
- Contributions and grants received
- $7,659,073
- Grants paid
- $659,741
- Program service revenue
- $128,782
- Investment income
- $1,238,226
- Other revenue
- $0
- Total assets, end of year
- $43,975,891
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $3,838,905
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $40,136,986
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $5,623,737
- Management and general expenses
- $2,323,242
- Fundraising expenses
- $767,022
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $5,623,737
Program services were 64.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1b · Membership dues
$1,540,081
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$372,243
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$5,746,749
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$8,398
-
2a · Program service revenue: PUBLICATION REVENUE
total $46,782 · related or exempt $46,782
-
2b · Program service revenue: CONTRACT SERVICE
total $82,000 · related or exempt $82,000
-
2f · All other program service revenue
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
3 · Investment income
total $1,238,226 · excluded $1,238,226
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $0 · personal property $0
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $1,022,746
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $1,022,746
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $0 · other assets $0
-
11d · All other revenue
total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$0
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $90,241 · program services $90,241
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $569,500 · program services $569,500
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $285,691 · management and general $285,691
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $3,853,289 · program services $2,668,687 · management and general $779,929 · fundraising $404,673
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $344,732 · program services $215,985 · management and general $94,039 · fundraising $34,708
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $437,127 · program services $319,904 · management and general $73,033 · fundraising $44,190
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $302,261 · program services $195,282 · management and general $74,776 · fundraising $32,203
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $51,461 · management and general $51,461
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $52,633 · management and general $52,633
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $76,075 · management and general $76,075
-
11g · Fees: other
total $456,703 · program services $169,240 · management and general $287,463 · fundraising $0
-
13 · Office expenses
total $52,273 · program services $43,218 · management and general $7,960 · fundraising $1,095
-
14 · Information technology
total $136,065 · program services $54,759 · management and general $33,009 · fundraising $48,297
-
16 · Occupancy
total $976,880 · program services $630,212 · management and general $276,196 · fundraising $70,472
-
17 · Travel
total $272,071 · program services $215,414 · management and general $48,054 · fundraising $8,603
-
18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials
total $2,989 · program services $2,989
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $441,666 · program services $399,687 · management and general $41,979
-
21 · Payments to affiliates
total $28,307 · management and general $28,307
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $17,487 · program services $10,689 · management and general $4,538 · fundraising $2,260
-
23 · Insurance
total $61,104 · management and general $61,104
-
24a · Other expenses: PRINTING AND PUBLICATION
total $76,007 · program services $10,459 · management and general $10,345 · fundraising $55,203
-
24b · Other expenses: BANK FEES
total $78,669 · program services $220 · management and general $13,853 · fundraising $64,596
-
24c · Other expenses: All Other Expenses
-
24e · All other expenses
total $50,770 · program services $27,251 · management and general $22,797 · fundraising $722
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $1,560,794 · end of year $1,557,345
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $3,990,439 · end of year $4,066,405
-
5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people
beginning of year $0 · end of year $57,963
-
6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $41,586 · end of year $35,504
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$1,329,337
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$1,303,017
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $43,807 · end of year $26,320
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $33,227,434 · end of year $35,550,245
-
12 · Investments: other securities
beginning of year $0
-
13 · Investments: program-related
beginning of year $0
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $3,293,356 · end of year $2,682,109
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $403,197 · end of year $318,614
-
19 · Deferred revenue
beginning of year $460,405 · end of year $524,926
-
22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people
beginning of year $0 · end of year $0
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $3,636,103 · end of year $2,995,365
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $23,630,922 · end of year $25,198,642
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $14,026,789 · end of year $14,938,344
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
THE AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION (ABF) SEEKS TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE AND ADVANCE JUSTICE THROUGH INNOVATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY, AND RIGOROUS EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON LAW, LEGAL PROCESSES, AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS. TO FURTHER THIS MISSION THE ABF PRODUCES TIMELY, CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY TO INFORM AND GUIDE THE LEGAL PROFESSION, THE ACADEMY, AND SOCIETY IN THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY.
Activities or mission (Part I)
TO EXPAND KNOWLEDGE AND ADVANCE JUSTICE THROUGH INNOVATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY, AND RIGOROUS EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON THE LAW.
-
THE RESEARCH PROGRAM RESEARCH WORK IN PROGRESS IS CURRENTLY COMPRISED OF 33 PROJECTS IN THREE BROAD CATEGORIES OF INQUIRY: I) LEARNING AND PRACTICING LAW, II) PROTECTING RIGHTS, ACCESSING JUSTICE, AND III) MAKING AND IMPLEMENTING LAW. A NUMBER OF FOUNDATION RESEARCH FACULTY ARE RECIPIENTS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS. THE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH AND ITS DISSEMINATION IS DESIGNED TO FURTHER THE FOUNDATION'S OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF SCHOLARLY PREEMINENCE IN THE STUDY OF LAW, LEGAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION. TO THIS END, RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY AN INTERNAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE, AN EXTERNAL GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED AND INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS, AND A RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE RESEARCH PROJECTS ARE THEN VOTED ON BY THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW INCLUDE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY AND THE COMPORTMENT OF ITS DESIGN WITH THE STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND SCHOLARSHIP.
Expenses $4,208,960 · Grants $437,741 · Revenue $82,000
-
Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.
Expenses $759,686 · Grants $222,000
-
FELLOWS OF THE AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF THE PRACTICING BENCH, BAR, AND LEGAL ACADEMY ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH NOMINATION AS FELLOWS OF THE FOUNDATION.
Expenses $530,158
-
LAW & SOCIAL INQUIRY AND LIAISON
Expenses $124,933 · Revenue $46,782
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.
Listed in Part VII
-
Harold D PopeHAROLD D POPE
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Lauren K RobelLAUREN K ROBEL
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Michael H ByowitzMICHAEL H BYOWITZ
VICE-PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Sandra J ChanSANDRA J CHAN
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 3
-
Daniel B RodriguezDANIEL B RODRIGUEZ
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Darrel G MottleyDARREL G MOTTLEY
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ellen M JakovicELLEN M JAKOVIC
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Frank H LangrockFRANK H LANGROCK
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 5 related
-
Frank X NeunerFRANK X NEUNER
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 2 related
-
Hari M OsofskyHARI M OSOFSKY
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
HON DOLLY M Gee
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hon Eileen A KatoHON EILEEN A KATO
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hon Lora LivingstonHON LORA LIVINGSTON
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hon Peter M Reyes JrHON PETER M REYES JR
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
J Anthony Patterson JrJ ANTHONY PATTERSON JR
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jennifer L ParentJENNIFER L PARENT
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jo Ann EngelhardtJO ANN ENGELHARDT
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 2 related
-
Jonathan ColeJONATHAN COLE
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 35 related
-
Michelle BehnkeMICHELLE BEHNKE
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 35 related
-
Orlando LuceroORLANDO LUCERO
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Patty Ferguson-BohneePATTY FERGUSON-BOHNEE
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Paul M SmithPAUL M SMITH
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Prof Mario BarnesPROF MARIO BARNES
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Shayda Zaerpoor LeSHAYDA ZAERPOOR LE
MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
William R BayWILLIAM R BAY
EX-OFFICIO
- Total calculated
- $50,000
- From this org
- $0
- From related orgs
- $50,000
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1 + 60 related
-
Mark SuchmanMARK SUCHMAN
RESEARCHER (STARTING 07/2025)/PRIOR EXEC. DIRECTOR (THRU 07/2025)
- Total calculated
- $370,204
- From this org
- $328,502
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $41,702
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $289,306
- Bonus
- $5,000
- Other
- $34,196
- Deferred
- $29,500
- Nontaxable benefits
- $12,202
- Filer's total
- $370,204
-
Elizabeth MertzELIZABETH MERTZ
RESEARCHER
- Total calculated
- $228,350
- From this org
- $194,309
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $34,041
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $194,309
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $19,714
- Nontaxable benefits
- $14,327
- Filer's total
- $228,350
-
Janice NadlerJANICE NADLER
RESEARCHER
- Total calculated
- $140,408
- From this org
- $127,701
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $12,707
- Hours/week
- 17
-
Jothi SaunthararajahJOTHI SAUNTHARARAJAH
RESEARCHER
- Total calculated
- $153,723
- From this org
- $132,951
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $20,772
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $129,951
- Bonus
- $3,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,331
- Nontaxable benefits
- $7,441
- Filer's total
- $153,723
-
Matthew BurnettMATTHEW BURNETT
SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $192,711
- From this org
- $139,766
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $52,945
- Hours/week
- 35
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $139,766
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $15,192
- Nontaxable benefits
- $37,753
- Filer's total
- $192,711
-
Shari DiamondSHARI DIAMOND
RESEARCHER
- Total calculated
- $263,945
- From this org
- $217,225
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $46,720
- Hours/week
- 17
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $217,225
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $22,320
- Nontaxable benefits
- $24,400
- Filer's total
- $263,945
-
Ajay MehrotraAJAY MEHROTRA
PRIOR EXEC DIR (THRU 8/2022)/RESEARCHER
- Total calculated
- $166,757
- From this org
- $123,754
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $43,003
- Hours/week
- 17
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $123,754
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,431
- Nontaxable benefits
- $29,572
- Filer's total
- $166,757
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- Schedule J, Part I, Line 7 Non-fixed payments
- AS INDICATED IN SCHEDULE J, PART II, CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED BONUSES BASED ON PERFORMANCE. THESE BONUSES ARE APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD.
- Schedule J, Part II, Column (B)(iii)
- MARK SUCHMAN OTHER REPORTABLE COMPENSATION INCLUDES $12,646 FOR RELOCATION EXPENSE AND $21,550 FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR CHILD.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
RESEARCH
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
501(c)(6) · PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION · IL
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 17 June 2026
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.1
- Source object
- 202641689349300829
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.