The Houston Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Houston Bar Association. The Foundation supports pro bono legal services to the community and promotes community understanding of our legal system.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
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
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $761K a year · 31% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $15.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $3K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$163K
0.9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.7M
Spent
$1.5M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$17.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.7M
FY2021$2.0M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$2.6M
Expenses
$1.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.5M
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$1.5M
FY2025$2.1M
Net assets
$17.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$17.0M
FY2021$20.7M
FY2022$18.0M
FY2023$19.9M
FY2024$23.2M
FY2025$25.2M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1982.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $1.3M Management & general 8% · $117K Fundraising 6% · $91K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

17 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Dir.
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Houston Bar Foundation 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Provides free legal help and educates the public about the law.

Questions for Houston Bar Foundation

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.3M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

The primary beneficiary of the Houston Bar Foundation is Houston Volunteer Lawyers, which is the pro bono service arm of the Houston Bar Association. The Houston Bar Foundation also supports programming of the Houston Bar Association that is consistent with its HBA's mission to serve Houston lawyers and foster the administration of…

$1.3Mprogram expense

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$3K
Grants paid · 33 grants · $8.7M · 2019–2024
The Center for PursuitTX · FY2024$128,751
Individual RecipientFY2024$24,500
Hay Center FoundationTX · FY2024$10,000
Individual RecipientFY2023$33,000
Harris County Criminal Justice CenterFY2023$33,000
Individual RecipientFY2023$33,000
Hay Center FoundationTX · FY2023$10,000
The Center for PursuitTX · FY2023$7,747
Combined ArmsTX · FY2023$6,469
The Center for PursuitTX · FY2022$47,612
Combined ArmsTX · FY2022$11,000
See all 33 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.7M
Ln 12
Investment incomeLn 3$2.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Money outPt IX
$1.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.3M
Managementcol C$117K
Fundraisingcol D$91K
Owns and owesPt X
$17.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$219K
Total assetsLn 16$17.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$163K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.5M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$105K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$999K
Investment incomeLn 3$2.3M
Gains on assetsLn 7$1.9M
Total revenueLn 12$3.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$30K
SavingsLn 2$189K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$219K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$17.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$163K
Net assetsLn 32$17.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 616
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.0M$219K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$14.3M$15.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$16.3M$17.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$777K$163K
Net assetsLn 32$15.5M$17.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.3M$1.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
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$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$65K$217$18K$47K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$4K$9$1K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$4K$17$1K$3K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$17K$17K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$71K$71K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$8K$4K$125$4K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$21K$20K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$24K$12K$5K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$10K$9K$388
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$689$352$337
InterestLn 20$4K$4K
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$25K$360$25K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.5M$1.3M$117K$91K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $2.6M$2.1M$484K$25.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.4M$1.5M$905K$23.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$1.9M$249K$19.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.0M$1.6M$432K$18.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.0M$1.7M$290K$20.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $3.7M$1.5M$2.2M$17.0M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,743,422 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,787,859$1,524,422
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $464,524$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $527,402$2,320,102
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $55,651−$101,102
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,835,436$3,743,422
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,127,560$1,285,965
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefits$72,907
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $824,361$180,689
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,951,921$1,539,561
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $883,515$2,203,861
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,743,422 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$999,239
VIII-1d Related organizations$125,481
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$399,702
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$104,855
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,524,422
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $394,428$394,428
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,925,674$1,925,674
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$101,102−$101,102
VIII-12 Total revenueExcluded from tax $2,219,000$3,743,422
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,539,561 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,285,965$1,285,965
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
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$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $217 · Management $17,856 · Fundraising $47,018$65,091
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $9 · Management $1,102 · Fundraising $2,891$4,002
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $17 · Management $1,042 · Fundraising $2,755$3,814
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $17,250$17,250
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $70,560$70,560
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,564 · Management $125 · Fundraising $4,114$7,803
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $19,722 · Fundraising $1,620$21,342
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $12,374 · Management $4,907 · Fundraising $6,997$24,278
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $9,371 · Fundraising $388$9,759
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $352 · Fundraising $337$689
IX-20 InterestManagement $3,514$3,514
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 Insurance$0
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $360 · Fundraising $25,134$25,494
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,331,591 · Management $116,716 · Fundraising $91,254$1,539,561
Part X · Balance sheet $17,156,241 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,021,885$30,178
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$188,966
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $692,373$1,237,978
X-4 Accounts receivable$1,000
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $2,269$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $14,288,877$15,698,119
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $265,279$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,270,683$17,156,241
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $120,435$1,519
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $501,492$82,643
X-25 Other liabilities$76,536
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $777,322$162,843
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $15,493,361$15,065,578
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$1,927,820
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,493,361$16,993,398
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,270,683$17,156,241
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,993,398 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,743,422
XI-2 Total expenses$1,539,561
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,203,861
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,493,361
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$1,593,824
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$890,000
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,993,398

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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