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ERIE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION INC

BUFFALO, NY · EIN 166052602 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE I128 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · eriebar.org
revenue
$424K
expenses
$351K
net assets
$1.6M
employees
0
volunteers
75
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

DEDICATED TO HELPING MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

profile · synthesized from sources

ERIE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION INC supports legal professionals in Western New York experiencing mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The organization provides confidential counseling, intervention, and monitoring services through its Committee to Assist Lawyers with Depression and related programs. It operates as a support resource for members of the legal profession in times of personal crisis.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $32K
    COUNSELING - TO PROVIDE INTERVENTION, MONITORING, AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Committee to Assist Lawyers with Depression
Provides confidential virtual support meetings via Zoom every Tuesday and Friday at noon for legal professionals dealing with depression and mental health issues.
Weekly AA Meeting with Lawyers Helping Lawyers
Hosts recurring in-person Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at St. Louis Church in Buffalo for members of the legal profession struggling with substance use disorders.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Legal Profession Standards Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advances justice and professional standards in the legal community
      Engages in education and advocacy efforts to promote professional integrity, address injustice, and strengthen the administration of justice within the legal profession.
  • Professional Networking Events 1 activity
    • Co-hosts professional networking events for legal community inclusion
      Collaborates on events such as the Out for Business Happy Hour to support LGBTQIA+ inclusion and professional networking within the legal field.
  • Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 1 activity
    • Hosts virtual support meetings for lawyers with depression
      Provides peer support for lawyers experiencing depression through recurring virtual meetings held every Tuesday and Friday at noon via Zoom.
  • 12-Step Recovery Support Services 1 activity
    • Hosts weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for lawyers
      Facilitates weekly in-person Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for members of the legal profession every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at St. Louis Church in Buffalo, NY.
  • Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
    • Organizes continuing legal education (CLE) events and legal training programs
      Hosts and co-hosts CLE events and educational updates on topics such as federal practice, labor and employment law, and federal habeas immigration litigation to support professional development among attorneys.
  • Outpatient Substance Use Treatment 1 activity
    • Provides mental health and substance use counseling services
      Offers intervention, monitoring, and counseling services for substance use disorders and mental health issues among legal professionals.
  • Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
    • Recognizes law firms and organizations supporting legal professional advancement
      Publicly acknowledges law firms and partner organizations that contribute to the mission of attorney professional development through sponsor listings and recognition programs.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$424K
Contributions & grants$230K54%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$194K46%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$351K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$70K
Grants paid out$196K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.74M
Cash$84K
Investments$1.56M
Liabilities$98K
Net assets$1.64M
Liquid reserves56.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +4.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ANNE M NOBLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8 $185K
board members · 17
  • CARIN S GORDON — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID E GUTOWSKI — DIRECTOR
  • HELEN FERRARO-ZAFFRAM — PRESIDENT
  • HUGH M RUSS III — DIRECTOR
  • JEFFERY M PRIORE — DIRECTOR
  • JESSLYN A HOLBROOK — VICE PRESIDENT
  • JOHN E RICHMOND — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN G HORN — DIRECTOR
  • KATHLEEN M SELLERS — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN W SPITLER — DIRECTOR
  • LAURIE STYKA BLOOM — DIRECTOR
  • MARIANNE MARIANO — DIRECTOR
  • MARY MOORMAN PENN — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL F PERLEY — TREASURER
  • PAMELA H THIBODEAU — DIRECTOR
  • PENNY B SELMONSKY — SECRETARY
  • TERRENCE M CONNORS — DIRECTOR
relationships · 32

Who they work with

  • Ahrens Bar Marketplace Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • BSK Associates Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Bar Association of Erie County Government — Sustaining Firms are recognized by the Bar Association of Erie County for their support and full membership.
  • Bar Association of Erie County Network — Hosts the Committee to Assist Lawyers with Depression as part of its member services.
  • Bar Association of Erie County Network — Operates as a committee within the Bar Association of Erie County (BAEC), serving its members.
  • Brown Chiari LLP Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Connors Law Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Counsel Press Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Duke Holzman Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • HSE Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Hodgson Russ LLP Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Hurwitz Fine Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Jeffrey Freedman PLLC Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • John Velmore Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Law Offices of Timothy O'Mara Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Lawyers Helping Lawyers Partner — Co-sponsors and supports weekly AA meetings for members of the legal profession.
  • Lawyers Helping Lawyers Partner — Collaborates to provide Alcoholics Anonymous meetings tailored for legal professionals.
  • Neighborhood Legal Services Partner — Participated in the organization's 50th Anniversary Gala on July 10, 2026.
  • Nixon Peabody Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Northwest Bank Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • OurFamilyWizard Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • P.B. Elder Law Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Paramount Advisors Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Personius Melber LLP Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Pride Center of WNY Partner — Co-hosted the Out for Business Happy Hour event on July 23, 2026.
  • Roach Quinlan Grable Partner — Bronze sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Sellers Insurance Partner — Silver sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Usherwood Partner — Gold sponsor of the Bar Association of Erie County.
  • Volunteer Lawyers Project Partner — Co-hosted a free CLE on Federal Habeas Immigration Litigation on July 30, 2026.
  • Western District of New York Partner — Co-hosted a free CLE on Federal Habeas Immigration Litigation on July 30, 2026.
+ 2 more
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Confidential Peer Support Model
    methodology: confidential_peer_support
    By providing confidential, profession-specific peer support meetings, we reduce stigma and increase access to mental health and substance use recovery resources for lawyers, because anonymity and shared professional experience foster trust and engagement in a high-stress, stigma-sensitive field.
  • DEI Strengthening Through Collective Engagement
    methodology: dei-b
    By advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through collective engagement with underrepresented populations, we strengthen the legal community’s legitimacy and effectiveness, because inclusive systems produce more just outcomes and foster broader professional resilience.
  • Lawyer Well-Being as Professional Foundation
    methodology: lawyer-well-being
    By prioritizing lawyer well-being, we improve professional resilience and competence, because mental and emotional health are foundational to sustained legal excellence and ethical practice.