American Bar Association

Not tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(6)Since 1905EIN 36-0723150

To serve equally the members of the legal profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession and to promote public good.

Run by 6,000 volunteers and 472 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(6)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
Worth a look: the IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $6.6M a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Pay to officers and key staff
$4.7M
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.3 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
14
named funders · $11.2M
Looks good: 14 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$159.2M
52% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 52% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
43
of 44 voting members
Looks good: 43 of 44 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$166.2M
+40% vs prior year
Spent
$138.6M
Net assets
$148.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$166.2M
FY2025▲ +40%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$98.2M
FY2021$86.6M
FY2022$98.4M
FY2023$108.0M
FY2024$119.1M
FY2025$166.2M
Expenses
$138.6M
FY2025▲ +2%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$112.7M
FY2021$96.1M
FY2022$114.1M
FY2023$118.3M
FY2024$136.2M
FY2025$138.6M
Net assets
$148.5M
FY2025▲ +4%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$131.8M
FY2021$189.7M
FY2022$134.3M
FY2023$132.9M
FY2024$143.0M
FY2025$148.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1994.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Who runs it and what they're paid

60 people listed on the 990; $4.7M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$774,253Pt VII · Sec A
SR Assoc Exec Dir-Govt Affairs and Pil
$417,550Pt VII · Sec A
SR Assoc. Executive Director and CFO
$385,545Pt VII · Sec A
SR Assoc Exec Dir and Chief of Staff
$362,639Pt VII · Sec A
Assoc Exec Director-Media Relations and Strategic Comm
$357,197Pt VII · Sec A
SR Assoc Exec Dir and General Counsel
$338,120Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Product Officer-Chief Member Experience Officer
$320,923Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Membership and Marketing Officer
$295,186Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jack L Rives—$1,000,477$1,374,690$993,627$1,139,931$1,209,697
Alpha M Brady$774,253$557,881$378,611———
William K Phelan$385,545$471,307$441,744$418,372$416,794$425,822
James Dimos————$332,050$426,388
Holly O Cook$417,550$405,643$381,986———
Ken Zinn$295,186$373,709$349,105$331,040$290,581—
Amy B Eggert$362,639$325,308$303,074———
Barry Currier————$268,126$360,511

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See American Bar Association executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports the legal profession and the public by providing professional development for lawyers, defending liberty, and promoting justice and the public good nationwide.

Provided by the organization

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1 program service, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The ABA provides lawyers unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and service through numerous groups dedicated to specific areas of law. The Association currently has 22 Sections, which range in size from about 1,000 members to more than 40,000 7 divisions and 6 forums.

Pt IX · col B

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Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 14 funders →
Grants paid · 226 grants · $7.1M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$72,350
University of South CarolinaFY2024$60,000
Wisconsin Dept of JusticeFY2024$6,000
West Virginia Ag's OfficeFY2024$6,000
Washington State AgFY2024$6,000
State of Wyoming Ofc of AgFY2024$6,000
State of Vermont-Ofce of Attorney GenlFY2024$6,000
State of South DakotaFY2024$6,000
State of Rhode IslandFY2024$6,000
State of New Jersey Ofc of AgFY2024$6,000
State of Nevada Office of AgFY2024$6,000
State of MinnesotaFY2024$6,000
State of Maryland Ofc of AgFY2024$6,000
State of Kansas Atty GeneralFY2024$6,000
State of Indiana Office of AgFY2024$6,000
State of Hi Dept Commerce & Consumer AffFY2024$6,000
State of DelawareFY2024$6,000
State of Arkansas Ofc of AgFY2024$6,000
See all 226 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$166.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$83.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$58.1M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.3M
Money outPt IX
$138.6M
Ln 25
Owns and owesPt X
$148.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.8M
Total assetsLn 16$307.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$159.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
60
listed · VII A
PaidVII A15
Voting boardVI 1a44
IndependentVI 1b43
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$83.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$58.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$8.6M
Gains on assetsLn 7$56.9M
Total revenueLn 12$166.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.2M
SavingsLn 2$1.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$246.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.6M
Other assetsLn 15$44.6M
Total assetsLn 16$307.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$159.2M
Net assetsLn 32$148.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5472
VolunteersI 66,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$3.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$250.8M$246.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.1M$5.6M
Total assetsLn 16$318.8M$307.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$175.8M$159.2M
Net assetsLn 32$143.0M$148.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$371K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$72K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$3.5M
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$47.1M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$15.6M
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.1M
Payroll taxesLn 10$3.2M
Management feesLn 11a$20K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.8M
Accounting feesLn 11c$491K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$1.2M
Investment management feesLn 11f$734K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$9.3M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$7.1M
Office expensesLn 13$2.2M
Information technologyLn 14$1.7M
RoyaltiesLn 15$1.6M
OccupancyLn 16$7.2M
TravelLn 17$5.7M
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$22.7M
InterestLn 20$2.7M
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.4M
InsuranceLn 23$580K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$279K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$138.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $166.2M$138.6M$27.6M$148.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $119.1M$136.2M−$17.1M$143.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $108.0M$118.3M−$10.3M$132.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $98.4M$114.1M−$15.8M$134.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $86.6M$96.1M−$9.5M$189.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $98.2M$112.7M−$14.5M$131.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $166,167,244 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $729,002 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1d Related organizations$6,686,722
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,564,239
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$16,250,961
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $81,208,739 · Unrelated business $1,314,221$82,522,960
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,200,400$1,200,400
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $7,018,133$7,018,133
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $639,400$639,400
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $56,870,112$56,870,112
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Unrelated business $936,276$936,276
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $81,937,741 · Unrelated business $2,250,497 · Excluded from tax $65,728,045$166,167,244
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $138,566,608 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$371,194
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$72,350
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staff$3,540,498
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$47,117,766
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$15,628,647
IX-9 Other employee benefits$2,126,266
IX-10 Payroll taxes$3,186,156
IX-11a Management fees$19,550
IX-11b Legal fees$1,837,670
IX-11c Accounting fees$491,085
IX-11d Lobbying fees$1,198,570
IX-11f Investment management fees$734,138
IX-11g Other fees for services$9,252,875
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$7,081,000
IX-13 Office expenses$2,228,328
IX-14 Information technology$1,671,725
IX-15 Royalties$1,561,548
IX-16 Occupancy$7,194,710
IX-17 Travel$5,650,774
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$22,669,337
IX-20 Interest$2,718,541
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$1,355,090
IX-23 Insurance$579,628
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)$279,162
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expenses$138,566,608
Part X · Balance sheet $307,695,958 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,460,346$2,167,388
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $294,826$1,644,762
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,468,047$4,247,507
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $314,736$170,666
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,920,999$3,246,181
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,062,172$5,553,729
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $250,786,771$246,066,013
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $51,511,402$44,599,712
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $318,819,299$307,695,958
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $16,038,080$13,415,474
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $31,368,479$30,286,553
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $56,017,143$46,874,286
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $72,350,479$68,641,630
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $175,774,181$159,217,943
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $143,045,118$148,478,015
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $143,045,118$148,478,015
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $318,819,299$307,695,958
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $148,478,015 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$166,167,244
XI-2 Total expenses$138,566,608
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$27,600,636
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$143,045,118
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$32,479,599
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$832,235
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$9,479,625
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$148,478,015

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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