irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0LIBRARY SERVICES ENHANCE THE MEMBERSHIP'S AND THE PROFESSION'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE COMPETENT AND VALUABLE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY BY MAKING RESEARCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE.
- #2 $0THE LEGAL REFERRAL SERVICE MATCHES THE SERVICES OF THE PROFESSION WITH THE LEGAL NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS, TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
150 Committees
Issue-focused committees that produce reports, advocate for legal reform, and host events on areas including human rights, animal law, and tax policy.
City Bar Center for CLE
Offers continuing legal education programs for attorneys on topics such as litigation, ethics, real estate, and health law.
City Bar Justice Center
Provides pro bono legal services to disadvantaged populations in New York City, focusing on immigration, housing, and family law.
Legal Referral Service
Matches individuals and organizations with vetted lawyers based on their legal needs.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 2 activities
- Law Library ServicesOperates the largest member-funded law library in the United States, providing members with access to both traditional and digital legal research materials, including online databases and legal resources to support competent legal practice.
- Member Portal and Digital ResourcesProvides members with access to a searchable member directory, research databases, on-demand videos, and content through a secure, members-only online portal; enables registration for events, CLE programs, and committee participation for members and non-members.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Legal Referral ServiceConnects individuals, businesses, and organizations with pre-vetted, qualified attorneys through an online portal and phone line; offers initial consultations at $35 or free for up to 30 minutes. The service is co-sponsored and available to the public.
- Pro Bono Legal ServicesProvides pro bono legal support to low-income and disadvantaged New Yorkers in areas such as immigration, homelessness, and criminal justice through the City Bar Justice Center; also supports international pro bono initiatives in human rights and environmental law via the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, serving clients in Latin America, Africa, and other regions.
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Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 1 activity
- Attorney and Law Student Support ProgramOffers a free, confidential assistance program for attorneys, judges, law students, and their families in New York City dealing with substance abuse, mental health, and related personal challenges; also runs a fall career development program to support entry and advancement in the legal profession.
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Professional Certification and Continuing Education 1 activity
- Continuing Legal Education (CLE) ProgramsOffers over 150 annual live, live-webcast, and on-demand CLE programs for attorneys, covering corporate, real estate, labor, regulatory, financial technology, and emerging legal issues. Programs are accessible to members and non-members.
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Legal Reform and Public Policy AdvocacyOperates more than 140 committees focused on legal reform, justice administration, and public policy development at local, state, and federal levels; issues reports, testifies before legislative bodies, and advocates on nominations and legislation, such as opposing the nomination of Todd Blanche for U.S. Attorney General and supporting appellate review reform.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Member and Public Event HostingHosts hundreds of committee-led events annually, including conferences, receptions, galas, business meetings, and weddings; provides rental access to event spaces, private offices, and conference rooms equipped with free Wi-Fi, video conferencing, printing, and legal research tools for members and the public.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$16.61M
Contributions & grants$127K1%
Program service revenue$14.37M87%
Investment income$893K5%
Other revenue$1.22M
expenses
Total expenses$16.38M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$9.93M
Grants paid out$50K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$21.74M
Cash$1.43M
Investments$9.41M
Liabilities$6.48M
Net assets$15.26M
Liquid reserves7.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +1.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 11
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRET PARKER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $347K |
| THOMAS J HALTER | CHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER (END 1/25) | 40 | $226K |
| LAUREN AXELROD | GENERAL COUNSEL | 35 | $219K |
| GEORGE WOLFF | LRS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $216K |
| MARTHA HARRIS CARON | SR DIR, PROGRAMS & COMM ENGAGEMENT | 40 | $203K |
| KAMRAN QURESHI | IT DIRECTOR | 40 | $193K |
| ERIC FRIEDMAN | DIR. OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $190K |
| RICHARD TUSKE | SR. DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS | 40 | $183K |
| BETH SCHEFFLAN | SR. DIR. OF HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $171K |
| JOHN G CROWLEY | DIR. OF BUILDING OPERATIONS | 40 | $166K |
| CECILIA SAKOSKY | CHIEF FIN. OFFICER (AS OF 12/24) | 40 | $751 |
board members · 14
- ANA M ALFONSO — MEMBER (AS OF 5/2024)
- ANNA M POHL — VICE PRESIDENT (END 5/2024)
- ANTA CISSE-GREEN — MEMBER (AS OF 5/2024)
- BRIAN DANIEL FARKAS — MEMBER
- DAVID F LEVINE — MEMBER
- DEVIKA KEWALRAMANI — VICE PRESIDENT (END 5/2024)
- GARY M KAUFMAN — MEMBER
- HON KIYO A MATSUMOTO — MEMBER (END 5/2024)
- HON LILLIAN WAN — VICE PRESIDENT (AS OF 5/24)
- HON TANYA R KENNEDY — MEMBER (END 5/2024)
- JAIPAT SINGH JAIN — MEMBER (END 5/2024)
- JAMES P CHOU — MEMBER
- JENNIFER G RODGERS — MEMBER
- JEREMY FEIGELSON — MEMBER (AS OF 5/2024)
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- American Bar Association Partner — Frequently collaborates on research and professional initiatives.
- City Bar Fund Network — Sister 501(c)(3) organization that supports public service, education, policy advocacy, and research activities for City Bar programs.
- City Bar Justice Center Network — Nonprofit affiliate of the City Bar Fund providing pro bono legal services in New York City.
- Customer Relations Department Government — Internal department providing support for login and membership inquiries
- Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice Network — Nonprofit affiliate of the City Bar Fund supporting international pro bono and access to justice initiatives.
- George Washington University Partner — Frequent research collaborator.
- International Islamic University Malaysia Partner — Frequent research collaborator.
- New York City Bar Legal Referral Service Network — Operates as a referral network connecting clients to screened and qualified lawyers.
- New York County Lawyers’ Association Partner — Jointly sponsors the Legal Referral Service with the City Bar.
- Senate Judiciary Committee Government — Submitted formal opposition to a federal nomination before the committee.
strategies · 4
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.
- Committee-Based Advocacy and Expertisemethodology: committee_based_advocacyBy engaging members in specialized committees, the organization generates expert analysis and drives legal reform across jurisdictions, because collective professional expertise strengthens advocacy and public policy influence.
- Legal Capacity Building via Research and Education Accessmethodology: research-support-for-legal-professionBy providing affordable continuing legal education and access to research materials, the organization enhances attorneys’ competence and service quality, because well-informed legal professionals deliver more effective representation to the public.
- Pro Bono Leverage Through Community Mobilizationmethodology: pro_bono_leverageBy mobilizing pro bono participation from the NYC legal community and channeling it through structured referral networks, the organization expands access to justice, because underrepresented populations gain legal representation that would otherwise be inaccessible.
- Workplace Culture Change via Employer Engagementmethodology: workplace_culture_change_through_employer_engagementBy partnering with legal employers to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, the organization advances systemic change in the profession, because institutional policies shape long-term workforce equity more effectively than individual interventions.