The Bronx Defenders
The Bronx Defenders reported $69.8 million in revenue and $68.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.56 went to program services, $11.84 to management and general costs and $0.60 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.4% of the total. Government grants made up 96.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $294,007 (CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER). 149 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 57% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $69MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $70MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.6% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.4% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 96.0% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $294,007 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.43% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 149 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.3 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHolistic defense: every person who comes to the Bronx Defenders for assistance is connected to a team of advocates, including criminal defense attorneys, family defense attorneys, civil attorneys, immigration attorneys, social workers, civil legal advocates, parent advocates, immigration advocates, and benefits specialists. Each team fosters interdisciplinary skills, ensures compassionate and comprehensive representation, and supports a culture of innovative, zealous, and holistic advocacy. We also leverage our team's experience in an early advocacy program that acts as an offramp for those…
Systemic advocacy: our proximity to the legal system and the experiences of the people we represent places US on the front line in the fight for fairness, justice, and equity. As a result, we partner with the people we serve to identify systemic problems and leverage our expertise to develop long-term solutions. Through impact litigation, policy reform advocacy, community organizing, and strategic communications, we push for systemic changes at the local, state, and national level
Training and education: we help public defenders and other advocates incorporate the principles of holistic defense into their practices, at the individual or the organizational level. We also provide personal and professional growth opportunities for community members through mentorship. Specific ongoing and annual initiatives include the center for holistic defense, the defenders' academy (trial skills training), the robert p. Paterson, jr. Mentoring program, and clinics at columbia law school and cardozo school of law. Our office provided training, mentorship, and other related services…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $261,784 | $0 | $32,223 | $294,007 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $271,542 | $0 | $20,594 | $292,136 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $268,556 | $0 | $10,460 | $279,016 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $233,135 | $0 | $7,466 | $240,601 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR FDP Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $208,958 | $0 | $7,887 | $216,845 |
| DIRECTOR OF PAYROLL/CONTROLLER Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $183,951 | $0 | $32,274 | $216,225 |
| MD P&C AND EIT Highest compensated employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $190,745 | $0 | $17,897 | $208,642 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR CDP Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $194,420 | $0 | $6,804 | $201,224 |
149 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Bronx Defenders (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.1M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5488
- Volunteers Part I, line 612
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Pro Cleaning Solutions Network Janitorial Services | $337,649 |
| Tabush Group Network Maintenance | $328,807 |
| CANOE Collective HR Consultants | $286,201 |
| G3R Acute Solutions LLP Professional Services | $260,228 |
| Sedreddine & Whoriskey LLP Legal Consultants - General Counsel | $212,500 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to The Bronx Defenders totaling $586K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from The Bronx Defenders's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Bronx Defenders, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Bronx Defenders spent in FY2025, $87.56 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Village NetworkWooster, OH · revenue $68M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
- Prison Fellowship MinistriesLansdowne, VA · revenue $70M · programs 68.6% · FY2025
- The National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenAlexandria, VA · revenue $67M · programs 92.3% · 2025
- Oriana HouseAkron, OH · revenue $75M · programs 95.3% · 2024
- Democracy Forward FoundationWashington, DC · revenue $66M · programs 90.7% · FY2025
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of The Bronx Defenders's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Bronx Defenders reported that 87.6% of its $68.5 million in expenses went to program services, 11.8% to management and general and 0.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Bronx Defenders pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Bronx Defenders reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $294,007, for the role of CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Bronx Defenders get its money?
Of $69.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 99.4% came from contributions and grants (including 96.0% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Bronx Defenders a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-3931074 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601349349310785 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531299349303468 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 (amended), object 202540869349301669 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202341809349300734 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201369349316005 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101379349309655 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-3931074: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.