Erie County Bar Association
Erie County Bar Association shows consistent revenue growth and asset accumulation with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 161337417 · Buffalo, NY · NTEE: I83Z · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Erie County Bar Association Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Erie County Bar Association directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Erie County Bar Association
Erie County Bar Association (EIN: 161337417) is a nonprofit organization based in Buffalo, NY, classified under NTEE code I83Z. The organization reported total revenue of $7.0M and total assets of $4.8M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Erie County Bar Association's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Erie County Bar Association is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 36 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 16.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5.8M |
| Total Expenses | $5.6M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$219K |
| Total Assets | $3.5M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.0M |
| Net Assets | $1.5M |
| Operating Margin | 3.8% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 57.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 7.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Erie County Bar Association reported a surplus of $219K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 7.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 57.3% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Erie County Bar Association's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +24.7% | +20.3% | -6.8% |
| 2022 | +6.1% | +9.7% | +88.2% |
| 2021 | +5.8% | +9.0% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | +6.3% | +2.5% | +24.2% |
| 2019 | -4.6% | +4.5% | +6.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1990 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Erie County Bar Association with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Erie County Bar Association allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $219K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 57.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Erie County Bar Association consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $5 million. This suggests that executive leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation on the 990, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds elsewhere.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Erie County Bar Association's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed breakdown for program, administrative, and fundraising expenses in provided data, making precise efficiency analysis difficult.
- Unusually consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings for an organization of this size, which might warrant further inquiry into how leadership is compensated or structured.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Erie County Bar Association:
- Consistent and significant revenue growth, from $1.34M in 2014 to $5.81M in 2023.
- Strong asset accumulation, growing from $363,071 in 2014 to $3,487,321 in 2023.
- Consistent operational surpluses, indicating sound financial management (e.g., $218,844 surplus in 2023).
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting high efficiency in leadership costs or a volunteer-driven model.
- Healthy asset-to-liability ratio, indicating strong financial stability (e.g., $3,487,321 assets vs. $1,999,681 liabilities in 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions about Erie County Bar Association
Is Erie County Bar Association a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Erie County Bar Association (EIN: 161337417) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Erie County Bar Association spend its money?
Erie County Bar Association directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Erie County Bar Association tax-deductible?
Erie County Bar Association is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 161337417). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is the Erie County Bar Association a good charity?
Based on the available IRS 990 data, the Erie County Bar Association appears to be a well-managed organization with strong financial health, consistent revenue growth, and significant asset accumulation. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a notable positive indicator of resource allocation.
How has the organization's financial health changed over time?
The organization has shown remarkable financial growth, with revenue increasing from $1,340,725 in 2014 to $5,812,508 in 2023, and assets growing from $363,071 to $3,487,321 in the same period. This indicates a strong and improving financial trajectory.
What is the organization's approach to executive compensation?
The Erie County Bar Association consistently reports 0% officer compensation in its IRS 990 filings, suggesting that its leadership may be volunteer-based or compensated through other means not categorized as officer compensation, which is a strong indicator of fiscal prudence.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Erie County Bar Association showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Erie County Bar Association's revenue has grown by 503.4%, moving from $963K to $5.8M. Total assets increased by 872.2% over the same period, from $359K to $3.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 473.5%, from $975K to $5.6M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Erie County Bar Association reported a surplus of $219K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $2.0M in liabilities against $3.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 57.3%), resulting in net assets of $1.5M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.8M | $5.6M | $3.5M | $2.0M | — | — |
| 2022 | $4.7M | $4.7M | $3.7M | $2.5M | — | — |
| 2021 | $4.4M | $4.2M | $2.0M | $606K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $4.2M | $3.9M | $1.9M | $712K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $3.9M | $3.8M | $1.6M | $595K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.1M | $3.6M | $1.5M | $611K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $2.8M | $2.7M | $1.1M | $666K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.9M | $1.8M | $493K | $171K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.6M | $1.5M | $527K | $322K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.3M | $1.4M | $363K | $213K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.2M | $1.2M | $295K | $124K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.1M | $1.1M | $335K | $229K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $963K | $975K | $359K | $257K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.8M, expenses of $5.6M, and assets of $3.5M (revenue +24.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $4.7M, and assets of $3.7M (revenue +6.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $4.4M, expenses of $4.2M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +5.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $3.9M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +6.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $3.9M, expenses of $3.8M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -4.6% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.1M, expenses of $3.6M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +45.9% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $2.7M, and assets of $1.1M (revenue +48.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $493K (revenue +21.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $527K (revenue +16.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $363K (revenue +8.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $295K (revenue +12.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $335K (revenue +14.2% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $963K, expenses of $975K, and assets of $359K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Erie County Bar Association is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.