The New York Bar Foundation
The New York Bar Foundation is a public charity based in Albany, New York, formed in 1950. It makes grants for law-related work, including civil legal services, improvements to the justice system, legal research and education, professional ethics, and public understanding of the law.
The New York Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: The New York Bar Foundation gave $469K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in New York. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $469,399
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,204
- +9.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,975
- Total assets
- $13,475,857
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (12 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (97% 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 The New York Bar Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Create an organization account and submit an application through the online grant system.
- Review Cycle
- The grants FAQ lists September 15 as the annual deadline. A separate announcement gave September 30 as the deadline for the 2026 cycle; the current grant page says to check back in August for the 2027 deadline.
- Deadline
- The grants FAQ lists September 15 as the annual deadline.
- Next open deadline
- September 15, 2027 (New York Bar Foundation General Grants Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: One Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 487-5651
Website: https://tnybf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The New York Bar Foundation
Who The New York Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nysba Lawyer Assistance Program ($90K). Together the top 10 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
218 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 214 grants of 218 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting law-related organizations throughout New York State and says its guidelines call for geographic diversity in New York legal-services grants. In filing year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 3% to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The New York Bar Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 46 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $8K 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 $343K (2022) to $537K (2020). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $469K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nysba Lawyer Assistance Program Albany, NY | Expanded Lawyer Assistance Program Services & Staff | $90,000 |
| Nysba Law Youth and Citizenship Program Albany, NY | New york state high school mock trial program (2024-2025) | $20,000 |
| Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund Inc DBA City Bar J New York, NY | Intergenerational Asset Preservation Initiative | $13,804 |
| Hias Silver Spring, MD | Stabilizing the family unit protecting immigrant youth through family and immigration law | $13,804 |
| United Tenants of Albany Inc Albany, NY | Proactive court advocacy: tenant dignity and safe housing act | $10,500 |
| Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (Aaldef) New York, NY | Immigrant Rights Empowerment and Advocacy Project | $9,538 |
| Capital District Women's Bar Association (CDWBA) Schenectady, NY | Civil Legal Services for Victims of Domestic Violence | $9,538 |
| Center for Elder Law & Justice Buffalo, NY | Defending Nursing Home and Adult Care Facility Evictions | $9,538 |
| Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans Astoria, NY | Welcoming Asylum Seekers to New York | $9,538 |
| Girls Rule the Law Pawling, NY | Girls Rule the Law Annual Youth Conference | $9,538 |
Ready to take the next step with The New York Bar Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,475,857 | $1,535,902 | $1,623,130 | $469,399 | 46 | $557,069 |
| 2024 | $13,106,895 | $2,640,656 | $1,966,592 | $418,940 | 45 | $1,113,226 |
| 2023 | $12,412,723 | $1,102,253 | $1,525,379 | $405,900 | 37 | $269,026 |
| 2022 | $11,884,386 | $633,550 | $1,452,020 | $342,523 | 31 | $183,270 |
| 2021 | $14,786,501 | $1,758,419 | $1,260,073 | $503,475 | 59 | $1,014,968 |
| 2020 | $13,972,865 | $1,208,516 | $1,289,890 | $537,150 | 78 | $353,328 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated goals include promoting and advancing service to the public, improvements in the administration of justice, legal research and education, high standards of professional ethics, and public understanding of legal heritage. Its vision is a more stable society through a more equitable legal system.
Its current grant priorities include civil legal services addressing access to education; benefit eligibility, including health care and public benefits; consumer debt; elder law; family matters; housing; small-business legal matters for underserved or disadvantaged populations; and veterans’ issues. Its guidelines also cover law-related projects that improve the justice system and law, enhance professional competence and ethics, or increase public understanding of the law.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of supported work. United Tenants of Albany describes its mission as protecting tenants’ rights to safe, decent, affordable housing. The Legal Aid Society of Rockland County says it provides legal services to people unable to afford or obtain them. Lawyers for Children describes providing free legal and social-work advocacy for children in cases including abuse, neglect, foster care, custody, and adoption. The Center for Elder Law & Justice says it provides free civil legal services to elderly, disabled, and low-income people in Western New York.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 46 grants totaling $469,399. Grant amounts ranged from $5,109 to $90,000, with a median of $7,975. The largest reported grants included $90,000 to the NYSBA Lawyer Assistance Program for expanded services and staff, and $20,000 to the NYSBA Law Youth and Citizenship Program for the 2024–2025 New York State High School Mock Trial Program.
Other notable grants included $13,804 to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund for an intergenerational asset-preservation initiative; $13,804 to HIAS for work protecting immigrant youth and stabilizing families; and $10,500 to United Tenants of Albany for court advocacy related to tenant dignity and safe housing. Several organizations received $9,538, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Capital District Women’s Bar Association, Center for Elder Law & Justice, Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans, Girls Rule the Law, Lawyers for Children, and Legal Aid Society of Rockland County.
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online system; mailed applications are not accepted. Guidelines say an organization must have been in existence for at least two years, should demonstrate project need and impact, and should identify other funding sources to support project viability. An organization is generally limited to one proposal per 12-month period, with an exception for extraordinary circumstances; the limit does not apply to New York State Bar Association projects. Funding for a meritorious program may continue for up to three years, with a stated exception for some New York State Bar Association projects. Grants are not provided for law-school instructional programs in which students receive credit or monetary compensation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Hon. Cheryl E. Chambers as president, Carla M. Palumbo as immediate past president, C. Bruce Lawrence as treasurer, Pamela McDevitt as secretary, and Lucia B. Whisenand as assistant secretary. Directors listed include Sherry Levin Wallach, Ross Kartez, M Salman Ravala, Kimberly Wolf Price, and John Nonna. The Foundation’s website says it is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors.
The New York Bar Foundation is led by Cheryl E. Chambers, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 27 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheryl E. Chambers
President
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James R. Barnes
Chair of the Fellows
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David C. Singer
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellis R. Mirsky
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gioia A. Gensini
Director
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ilene S. Cooper
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James B. Kobak Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John P. Christopher
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
June M. Castellano
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mirna M. Santiago
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William T. Russell Jr.
Director
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2023
Assistant Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren E. Sharkey
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vincent E. Doyle III
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Nonna
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Wolf Price
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
M. Salman Ravala
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ross Kartez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Levin Wallach
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
C. Bruce Lawrence
Treasurer
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2022
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla M. Palumbo
Immediate Past President
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Immediate Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David M. Schraver
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald C. Doerr
Vice Chair of the Fellows
Vice Chair of the Fellows → Director, 2021
Director → Vice Chair of the Fellows, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen G. Makofsky
Assistant Treasurer
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren J. Wachtler
Vice Chair of the Fellows
Vice Chair of the Fellows → Director, 2021
Director → Vice Chair of the Fellows, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucia B. Whisenand
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela McDevitt
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan B. Lindenauer
Chief Publicity Officer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Martin Minkowitz (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Edwina F. Martin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lesley Rosenthal (2020–2021) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Earamicha Brown (2020) — Director
- Former: Emily Franchina (2020) — Chair of the Fellows
- Former: Joseph McCarthy (2020) — Director
- Former: Marion Hancock Fish (2020) — Director
- Former: Roger Maldonado (2020) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The New York Bar Foundation
How much does The New York Bar Foundation give each year?
The New York Bar Foundation gave $469K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $419K across 45 grants.
What is The New York Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
The New York Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,975, and its average grant was $10,204, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The New York Bar Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The New York Bar Foundation give grants?
The New York Bar Foundation gives mostly in New York: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (14 grants), Albany, NY (5 grants), Brooklyn, NY (4 grants) and Rochester, NY (4 grants).
Does The New York Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 46 grants with a stated purpose on The New York Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The New York Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
The New York Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nysba Lawyer Assistance Program ($90,000), Nysba Law Youth and Citizenship Program ($20,000) and Association of the Bar of the City of New York Fund Inc DBA City Bar J ($13,804), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The New York Bar Foundation?
The New York Bar Foundation reported $13.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does The New York Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated goals include promoting and advancing service to the public, improvements in the administration of justice, legal research and education, high standards of professional ethics, and public understanding of legal heritage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The New York Bar Foundation?
Create an organization account and submit an application through the online grant system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The New York Bar Foundation's EIN?
The New York Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-6029915. 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 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The New York Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The New York Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-new-york-bar-foundation-morg_85b1878c613e410f9cfdfc873e5f90c8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_146029915_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The New York Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-new-york-bar-foundation-morg_85b1878c613e410f9cfdfc873e5f90c8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The New York 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.
The New York Bar Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?