Philadelphia Bar Foundation
The Philadelphia Bar Foundation is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based public charity that supports civil legal aid and works to strengthen the legal services system. The organization says it advances access to justice through grants, programs, partnerships, and support for legal aid nonprofits.
Philadelphia Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Philadelphia Bar Foundation gave $503K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $503,099
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,957
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,000
- Total assets
- $6,731,531
- +1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Philadelphia Bar Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1101 Market Street 11Th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 238-6334
Website: https://philabarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Philadelphia Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Philadelphia Equal Justice Center Inc ($143K). Together the top 10 received $407K.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 117 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its website describes its work as focused on Philadelphia’s civil legal aid ecosystem. In filing year 2025, all reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Philadelphia Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 21 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $29K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $357K (2022) to $720K (2023). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $503K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Equal Justice Center Inc Philadelphia, PA | Monetary Support | $142,599 |
| Community Legal Services of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $47,000 |
| Justice at Work Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $38,000 |
| Pennsylvania Hias Indigent Immigrant Legal Services Inc Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $37,000 |
| Nationalities Service Center Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $34,250 |
| Philadelphia Vip Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $30,750 |
| Pennsylvania Innocence Project Temple University Center City Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $28,500 |
| Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center York, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $19,250 |
| Support Center for Child Advocates Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $15,250 |
| Seniorlaw Center Philadelphia, PA | Non-Profit Legal Aid | $14,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing states that the Foundation holds investments for other organizations and administers grants or disbursements according to those entities’ instructions.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,731,531 | $828,848 | $1,189,283 | $503,099 | 21 | $361,346 |
| 2024 | $6,653,346 | $851,250 | $1,147,323 | $431,741 | 19 | $157,480 |
| 2023 | $6,520,183 | $1,218,468 | $1,413,081 | $719,560 | 28 | $260,632 |
| 2022 | $8,635,491 | $805,618 | $965,176 | $357,150 | 24 | $199,037 |
| 2021 | $9,741,312 | $1,251,825 | $925,042 | $371,300 | 25 | $452,115 |
| 2020 | $9,011,311 | $1,274,043 | $950,325 | $394,674 | 36 | $474,135 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote equal access to justice by strengthening the legal services system through unrestricted operating grants and technical assistance to legal aid nonprofits. Its filing describes grants to local charitable organizations providing legal services to people who are poor, disabled, elderly, or children, as well as fellowship, award, recognition, pro bono needs-assessment, event, and outreach programs.
The Foundation says its grants support civil legal aid nonprofits and are unrestricted, allowing organizations to address operating costs and urgent needs. Its website also describes capacity-building activities including the Equal Justice Center, board observer opportunities, trial skills training, fellowships and scholarships, and awards.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the work represented among its 2025 recipients. The Philadelphia Equal Justice Center says it works to make the civil legal system more accessible and equitable. Nationalities Service Center describes its mission as welcoming and empowering immigrants. The Support Center for Child Advocates says it advocates for victims of child abuse and neglect, while SeniorLAW Center says it seeks justice for older people through legal services, education, and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 21 grants totaling $503,099. Grants ranged from $5,750 to $142,599, with a median grant of $14,000. The largest award was $142,599 to Philadelphia Equal Justice Center Inc. Other notable grants included Community Legal Services of Philadelphia ($47,000), Justice at Work ($38,000), Pennsylvania HIAS Indigent Immigrant Legal Services ($37,000), Nationalities Service Center ($34,250), Philadelphia VIP ($30,750), and Pennsylvania Innocence Project Temple University Center City ($28,500).
Additional 2025 recipients included Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center ($19,250), Support Center for Child Advocates ($15,250), SeniorLAW Center ($14,500), Disability Rights Pennsylvania ($14,000), Philadelphia Legal Assistance ($12,500), and Homeless Advocacy Project ($10,500). The filing lists most of these awards as support for nonprofit legal aid; the Philadelphia Equal Justice Center award is listed as monetary support.
The Foundation’s website describes its grants as unrestricted and says it provides support to dozens of civil legal aid nonprofits. It has also invited public comment on proposed changes to its 2027 grantmaking framework, including proposed general operating support for some smaller organizations, flexible grants open to organizations operating primarily in Philadelphia, and a discretionary fund. These are proposed changes, not stated application instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Niki T. Ingram, Esq. (president); Joshua D. Snyder, Esq. (vice president); Mark A. Gittelman, Esq. (treasurer); Will Sachse (secretary); Matthew A. Grubman, Esq. (assistant secretary); and trustees Joyce Adelugba, Tricia K. Barrett, Esq., Harvey Bartle, Kristine L. Calalang, Esq., and Christian W. Castile, Esq.
Philadelphia Bar Foundation is led by Jessica Hilburn-Holmes, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jessica Hilburn-Holmes
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $83K (2025)
Niki T. Ingram Esq.
President
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer → Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion O, 2021
Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion O → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Kirk
Director of Operations
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$73K (2024) → $76K (2025)
Jeremy A. Menkowitz Esq.
Trustee
Board Member → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher D. Durham Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harsinie W. Panditaratne Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew A. Hamermesh Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christian W. Castile Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie J. Foreman Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John W. Devine Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim J. Hoban
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ezra Wohlgelernter Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannine M. Kenney Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen A. Fogdall Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison J. Russell Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth T. Seltzer Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Candice J. Enders
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christie Jones
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily White
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harvey Bartle
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Romero
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason A. Leckerman Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Adelugba
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristine L. Calalang Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew A. Glazer Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Newcomer
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nolan B. Tully Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia K. Barrett Esq.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua D. Snyder Esq.
Vice President
Assistant Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Gittelman Esq.
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew A. Grubman Esq.
Assistant Secretary
Board Member → Trustee, 2021
Trustee → Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Will W. Sachse Esq.
Secretary
Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Secretary & Trustee, 2024
Assistant Secretary & Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (47)
- Former: Andrew W. Boczkowski Esq. (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Cheryl D. Maddox (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Harvey L. Hurdle Jr. (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Lawrence F. Walker (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Leslie E. John (2020–2024) — Diversity Equity & Inclu
- Former: Meredith S. Auten (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Patrice Puddy A. Toland (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Lisa M. Scidurlo Esq. (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rasheen Davis Merritt Esq. (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Robin P. Sumner Esq. (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel Aiken (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jennedy S. Johnson Esq. (2022–2024) — Diversity Equity, Inclu & Trustee
- Former: Jennie Philip (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Krystal Kane Esq. (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Patrick Howard Esq. (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer S. Coatsworth Esq. (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Katayun I. Jaffari Esq. (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jordan J. Freeman (2024) — Trustee
- Former: Roberta Barsotti (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Brent W. Landau (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer L. Beidel (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Marc J. Zucker (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa Ruth (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Zachary Strassburger (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Carol A. Gershon (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Stewart L. Cohen (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Wilson M. Brown III (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Melissa R. Chandy (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Alan C. Promer Esq. (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Karen E. Schneck Esq. (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lora Spencer (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Paul Garvey (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Pauline W. Markey Esq. (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Marcy Hart (2021) — Trustee
- Former: A. Michael Snyder (2020) — Non-Voting Board Member
- Former: Brian S. Chacker Esq. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Deborah R. Gross Esq. (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Hilary Ladov Esq. (2020) — Non-Voting Board Member
- Former: Laura Powers (2020) — Director of Development & Communications
- Former: Lauren P. McKenna Esq. (2020) — Non-Voting Board Member
- Former: Mark I. Bernstein (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nicholas D. Feden Esq. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nicholas J. Lepore III Esq. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: P. Michael Jones (2020) — Non-Voting Board Member
- Former: Sean McGovern (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tricia Buck Horter Esq. (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Wesley R. Payne IV Esq. (2020) — Non-Voting Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $83K, to Jessica Hilburn-Holmes (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Philadelphia Bar Foundation
How much does Philadelphia Bar Foundation give each year?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation gave $503K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $432K across 19 grants.
What is Philadelphia Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,000, and its average grant was $23,957, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Philadelphia Bar Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Philadelphia Bar Foundation give grants?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (19 grants).
Does Philadelphia Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Philadelphia Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Non-Profit Legal Aid" (20 grants).
Who are Philadelphia Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Philadelphia Equal Justice Center Inc ($142,599), Community Legal Services of Philadelphia ($47,000) and Justice at Work ($38,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Philadelphia Bar Foundation?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $829K.
What does Philadelphia Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to promote equal access to justice by strengthening the legal services system through unrestricted operating grants and technical assistance to legal aid nonprofits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Philadelphia Bar Foundation?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check philabarfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Philadelphia Bar Foundation's EIN?
Philadelphia Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1660797. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Philadelphia Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Philadelphia Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/philadelphia-bar-foundation-morg_145c7242fa1b4eae95bd0edff6a0abbc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231660797_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Philadelphia Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/philadelphia-bar-foundation-morg_145c7242fa1b4eae95bd0edff6a0abbc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Philadelphia Bar Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Philadelphia Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?