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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION.

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 Pope

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Lauren K Robel

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Michael H Byowitz

    VICE-PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Sandra J Chan

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Daniel B Rodriguez

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Darrel G Mottley

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ellen M Jakovic

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Frank H Langrock

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 5 related
  • Frank X Neuner

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 2 related
  • Hari M Osofsky

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • HON DOLLY M Gee

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hon Eileen A Kato

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hon Lora Livingston

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hon Peter M Reyes Jr

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • J Anthony Patterson Jr

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jennifer L Parent

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jo Ann Engelhardt

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related
  • Jonathan Cole

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 35 related
  • Michelle Behnke

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 35 related
  • Orlando Lucero

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Patty Ferguson-Bohnee

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul M Smith

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Prof Mario Barnes

    EX-OFFICIO

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Shayda Zaerpoor Le

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • William 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 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 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 Nadler

    RESEARCHER

    Total calculated
    $140,408
    From this org
    $127,701
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,707
    Hours/week
    17
  • Jothi 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 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 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 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

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 June 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202641689349300829

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