AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION

EIN: 366110271 501(c)(3) Crime & Legal

CHICAGO, IL

Total Revenue
$9,026,081
Total Expenses
$8,714,001
Total Assets
$43,975,891
Net Assets
$40,136,986
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1952
Legal Domicile
IL
Phone
3129886500
Tax Period
2024-09-01 to 2025-08-31

AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION, founded in 1952, is a community nonprofit in the Crime & Legal sector that reported $9.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $8.7M left a modest 3% surplus.

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.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $4,208,960 Revenue: $82,000

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...

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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.

Program 2
Expenses: $759,686

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND FELLOWSHIPS THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A SERIES OF ANNUAL FELLOWSHIPS-IN-RESIDENCE TO STUDENTS OF HIGH SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT AND POTENTIAL. THESE FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO...

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ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND FELLOWSHIPS THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A SERIES OF ANNUAL FELLOWSHIPS-IN-RESIDENCE TO STUDENTS OF HIGH SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENT AND POTENTIAL. THESE FELLOWSHIPS ARE AWARDED TO POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS, DOCTORAL CANDIDATES AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ON A MERIT BASIS. SELECTION IS MADE BY RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION STAFF UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

Program 3
Expenses: $530,158

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...

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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.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $7,659,073
Program Service Revenue $128,782
Investment Income $1,238,226
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $9,026,081

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $659,741
Salaries & Benefits $5,223,100
Fundraising Expenses $767,022
Program Expenses $5,623,737
Other Expenses $2,831,160
TOTAL EXPENSES $8,714,001

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $9,026,081 $9,200,711 0.0%
Expenses $8,714,001 $8,435,191 +0.0%
Net Income $312,080 $765,520 -0.6%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
25
Independent Members
24
Employees
66
Volunteers
101

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
5
$370,204
Total Directors
25
$50,000
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
5
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
HAROLD D POPE TREASURER 3.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
LAUREN K ROBEL SECRETARY 3.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL H BYOWITZ VICE-PRESIDENT 3.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SANDRA J CHAN PRESIDENT 3.0
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DANIEL B RODRIGUEZ MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
DARREL G MOTTLEY MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELLEN M JAKOVIC MEMBER 2.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
FRANK H LANGROCK EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
FRANK X NEUNER EX-OFFICIO 2.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
HARI M OSOFSKY EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
HON DOLLY M Gee MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
HON EILEEN A KATO MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
HON LORA LIVINGSTON EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
HON PETER M REYES JR MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
J ANTHONY PATTERSON JR MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER L PARENT EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
JO ANN ENGELHARDT MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
JONATHAN COLE EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHELLE BEHNKE EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
ORLANDO LUCERO EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
PATTY FERGUSON-BOHNEE MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
PAUL M SMITH MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
PROF MARIO BARNES EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHAYDA ZAERPOOR LE MEMBER 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $0
WILLIAM R BAY EX-OFFICIO 1.0
Director
$0 $0 $50,000
MARK SUCHMAN RESEARCHER (STARTING 07/2025)/PRIOR EXEC. DIRECTOR (THRU 07/2025) 35.0
Officer
$328,502 $41,702 $370,204
ELIZABETH MERTZ RESEARCHER 35.0
Highest
$194,309 $34,041 $228,350
JANICE NADLER RESEARCHER 17.0
Highest
$127,701 $12,707 $140,408
JOTHI SAUNTHARARAJAH RESEARCHER 35.0
Highest
$132,951 $20,772 $153,723
MATTHEW BURNETT SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER 35.0
Highest
$139,766 $52,945 $192,711
SHARI DIAMOND RESEARCHER 17.0
Highest
$217,225 $46,720 $263,945
AJAY MEHROTRA PRIOR EXEC DIR (THRU 8/2022)/RESEARCHER 17.0
$123,754 $43,003 $166,757
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $9,026,081 $8,714,001 $43,975,891 $312,080
2024 $9,200,711 $8,435,191 $42,157,416 $765,520
2023 $8,804,741 $8,109,798 $39,551,778 $694,943
2022 $8,543,107 $7,911,819 $34,564,445 $631,288
2021 $9,357,330 $7,419,588 $37,925,650 $1,937,742
2020 $9,858,156 $6,919,429 $33,961,410 $2,938,727
2019 $11,200,967 $7,579,460 $31,363,675 $3,621,507
2018 $8,850,670 $7,569,846 $27,511,560 $1,280,824
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