The Bronx Defenders
87% goes to programs $1 to raise $100 Growing revenue
The Bronx Defenders is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Bronx, New York, registered in 1997, with $65,539,087 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 87% of spending to programs.
360 E 161st St, Bronx, NY, 10451 EIN 13-3931074 Since 1997
Revenue (FY2023)
$65.5M
▲ 11.5% vs prior year
Crime & Legal median: $309K
Expenses (FY2023)
$66.3M
Net assets
$5.9M
Employees
495
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B+
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →AProgram efficiency40% of the rating87% to programs · $1 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For The Bronx Defenders: 87% to programs · $1 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
C+Financial health25% of the rating1 mo reserves · -1% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For The Bronx Defenders: 1 mo reserves · -1% margin earns a C+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For The Bronx Defenders: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For The Bronx Defenders: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The bronx defenders provides legal representation and other related services to more than 20,000 low-income people in the bronx, every year, free of charge.
What they do
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 both in person and virtually to hundreds of lawyers from defender offices, organizations, and community groups throughout the country.
Contact & location
- Address
- 360 E 161st St, Bronx, NY, 10451
- City
- Bronx
- State
- New York
- Category
- Crime & Legal-Related
- Subcategory
- Legal Services
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $23.6M (FY2013) to $65.5M (FY2023) across 10 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $31.9MNet assets $5.9M
Operating margin
-1.2%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$37.8M
Total liabilities
$31.9M
Net assets
$5.9M
Salaries & benefits
$52.8M
80% of expenses
Board members
12
12 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $65,539,087▲11.5% | $66,327,438▲11.4% | $5,868,677▼11.8% | $37,778,532▼14.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $58,801,198▲13.5% | $59,553,010▲18.5% | $6,657,028▼10.1% | $44,374,515▲78.1% | 990 |
| 2021 | $51,806,033▲9.4% | $50,260,060▲4.7% | $7,408,840▲26.4% | $24,918,932▲12.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $47,367,976▲6.4% | $48,000,293▲5.2% | $5,862,867▼9.7% | $22,219,409▲11.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $44,506,036▲8.5% | $45,648,637▲6.1% | $6,495,184▼15.0% | $19,924,848▲21.4% | 990 |
| 2018 | $41,017,852▲9.0% | $43,031,400▲20.7% | $7,637,785▼20.9% | $16,416,850▲1.1% | 990 |
| 2017 | $37,632,655▲25.4% | $35,655,926▲18.6% | $9,651,333▲25.8% | $16,242,363▲36.5% | 990 |
| 2016 | $30,001,564▲10.9% | $30,071,181▲12.5% | $7,674,604▼0.9% | $11,900,383▲8.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $27,057,440▲14.8% | $26,727,614▲13.3% | $7,744,221▼6.1% | $11,004,607▲1.4% | 990 |
| 2013 | $23,571,685 | $23,591,141▲22.2% | $8,247,978▼0.2% | $10,854,138▼24.5% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $19,306,239▲12.5% | $8,267,434▲16.1% | $14,371,956▲15.0% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $17,163,119▲21.1% | $7,121,972▲73.9% | $12,497,280▲27.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $14,169,200▲32.0% | $4,095,231▲17.9% | $9,780,140▲70.2% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $10,735,710 | $3,472,415 | $5,744,601 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Justine Olderman — $286,504 (0.43% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Justine Olderman | Executive Director (thru 1/2024) | 40 | $286,504 |
| Jesus Infante | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $246,793 |
| Robyn Mar | Deputy Director | 40 | $222,264 |
| Shannon Cumberbatch | Md P&C and Eit (thru 10/2023) | 40 | $221,366 |
| Emma Ketteringham | Managing Director Fdp | 40 | $207,762 |
| Sameth Caines | Deputy Director | 40 | $200,465 |
| Ann Mathews | Managing Director Cdp | 40 | $190,801 |
| Amy L Crawford | Managing Director of Strategic Partnership | 40 | $184,967 |
| Annette Lee | Deputy Director Cdp | 40 | $173,512 |
| Runa Rajagopal | Managing Director Cap | 40 | $169,899 |
| Lourdes Santiago | Director of P&C | 40 | $158,755 |
| Anne Pineda | Director of Pro Bono | 40 | $157,506 |
| James Kenniff | Legal Director Fdp | 40 | $155,381 |
| Lijo Chirayil Varghese | Chief Financial Officer (start 9/2023) | 40 | $61,330 |
| Abbe Smith | Board Member | 0.3 | — |
| Christine Gooden | Board Member | 0.3 | — |
| Earl Ward | Board Chair | 0.3 | — |
| Grace O'donnell | Board Member | 0.3 | — |
| Jay Cohen | Board Member (until 3/2025) | 0.3 | — |
| Kyle Harris | Board Secretary | 0.3 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Canoe Collective | Professional Fees | $338,180 |
| Pro Cleaning Solutions Network | Janitorial | $319,469 |
| Johanna Steinberg Law Pllc | Law Services | $287,250 |
| Bdo-fma LLC | Professional Fees | $218,215 |
| Thomson Reuters-west | Technology | $198,072 |
Grants received · $11.9M total
92 grants to The Bronx Defenders totaling $11.9M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Hood Foundation | Poverty relief | 2024 | $500,000 |
| The New York Community Trust | For program support. | 2024 | $100,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Crime | 2024 | $50,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $16,507 |
| The New York Community Trust | For program support. | 2024 | $15,000 |
| Phipps Houses | Annual gala sponsorship | 2024 | $10,000 |
| George Kaiser Family Foundation | Fy 2024-ssrt(also see female incarceration fund) | 2023 | $2,000,000 |
| Robin Hood Foundation | Poverty relief | 2023 | $325,000 |
| Research Foundation of the City University of New York | Research | 2023 | $275,193 |
| The New York Community Trust | For program support. | 2023 | $265,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $226,050 |
| George Kaiser Family Foundation | Best still she rises tulsa program grant | 2023 | $157,189 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Community & human services | 2023 | $75,000 |
| American Endowment Foundation | General operating support | 2023 | $50,000 |
| Boston Foundation Inc | Operating support/annual fund | 2023 | $21,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is The Bronx Defenders a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. The Bronx Defenders is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 13-3931074, based in Bronx, New York. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is The Bronx Defenders's EIN?
- The Bronx Defenders's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 13-3931074.
- How much revenue does The Bronx Defenders report?
- The Bronx Defenders reported $65,539,087 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of The Bronx Defenders's spending goes to programs?
- The Bronx Defenders spends about 87% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does The Bronx Defenders have?
- CharityIndex grades The Bronx Defenders B+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does The Bronx Defenders's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on The Bronx Defenders's latest Form 990 is $286,504, paid to Justine Olderman (Executive Director (thru 1/2024)).
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Data for The Bronx Defenders (EIN 13-3931074) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.