Public Charity

AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION

AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION is a nonprofit organization categorized as Public Charity based in CHICAGO, IL. Its most recent IRS filing (2025) reports revenue of $9.0M, expenses of $8.7M, total assets of $44.0M. Imperigo tracks 50 reported grant relationships connected to this organization totaling approximately $26.6M.

EIN: 366110271 CHICAGO, IL Professional Societies & Associations NTEE: I03 Latest filing: 2025
Total Revenue$9.0M
Total Expenses$8.7M
Total Assets$44.0M
Grant Records50
Funding Total$26.6M
Filing Years2021–2025

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.

Where $100 goes at American Bar Foundation

How American Bar Foundation divides every $100 it spends, from its own Form 990 filings, averaged across 9 years.

$68 Programs the work itself
$25 Management running the organization
$7 Fundraising raising the next dollar

Inside the $68 for programs

$51
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…
75% of program spending · Reported in the filing: 124,933 grants
$9
Academic affairs and fellowships the foundation offers a series of annual fellowships-in-residence to students of high scholarly achievement and potential
14% of program spending
$6
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…
9% of program spending

Plus 1 more program. Cost per person served and the full program breakdown are on the full profile.

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Source: Form 990 filings with the IRS, latest fiscal year 2025. Shares are from the organization's reported expenses. Data by Imperigo; not affiliated with the IRS.

Officers & Directors

PRIOR EXEC DIR (THRU 8/2022)/RESEARCHER Ajay Mehrotra
MEMBER Daniel B Rodriguez
MEMBER Darrel G Mottley
RESEARCHER Elizabeth Mertz
MEMBER Ellen M Jakovic
EX-OFFICIO Frank H Langrock

Officer compensation and complete director data available with membership.

Top Grant Purposes

Research & Policy
$14,840,119 14 grants
General Support
$11,446,632 22 grants
Human & Social Services
$250,750 9 grants
Education
$54,321 4 grants
Civil Rights & Social Justice
$5,550 1 grant

Financial Trends

Year Revenue Expenses Assets
2025 $9.0M $8.7M $44.0M
2024 $9.2M $8.4M $42.2M
2023 $8.8M $8.1M $39.6M
2022 $8.5M $7.9M $34.6M
2021 $9.4M $7.4M $37.9M

Between 2021 and 2025, reported annual revenue declined from $9.4M to $9.0M (-4%), with total assets most recently reported at $44.0M.

Interactive year-over-year charts and full filing details available with membership.

See the full picture for AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION

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