North Carolina Bar Association

What it reported doing in 2024

Center for practice management: the center for practice management (cpm) is a practice management assistance program designed to provide free, confidential help to member attorneys with technology, marketing, management and finance. Cpm has been designed and implemented as an alternative to high-priced private consultants for ncba members. The services offered can benefit all ncba members but are of particular importance for the sizable portion of ncba members who work in law firms with fewer than 10 attorneys and without professional managerial staff.governmental affairs: the office of governmental affairs (oga) serves the membership of the North Carolina bar association (association) at every turn of the legislative process. The oga team performs as an experienced and effective advocate for attorneys throughout North Carolina on a variety of legal issues by organizing and directing the lobbying efforts for the association. The oga advocates for the passage of all legislative proposals or positions adopted by the association. The oga also provides information to members and legislators about pending legislation that may be of interest to an association section or committee or of concern to the public, the bench, or the bar as a whole. Marketing: the marketing department oversees the marketing operations of the ncba and the North Carolina bar foundation, including our social networking messaging with specific emphasis on facebook, linkedin and instagram. Lawyer referral service: the North Carolina lawyer referral service (lrs) is a service of the North Carolina bar association that provides free attorney referrals to members of the public. Attorneys who are members of the lrs agree to provide callers with an initial 30-minute consultation for no more than $50. Approximately 23,000 referrals are made yearly.annual meeting: the annual meeting is held annually, historically in june, at a time and location determined by the board of governors with business and elections conducted as required by the by-laws of the organization. All members of the association are notified in advance and are encouraged to attend and benefit from the additional programming and networking opportunities provided.communications: the external affairs and communications department of the North Carolina bar association is responsible for conveying the actions and accomplishments of the ncba to our members and the general public. Communications are distributed through the weekly electronic newsletter, e-bar; through the official blog of the ncba and its communities, ncbarblog; via email through the association management system; and through the quarterly digital magazine North Carolina lawyer, which is posted on the ncba website. The department also works closely with the marketing department to support social media content and distribution and provides extensive content and editorial support for the websites of the ncba and the North Carolina bar foundation.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 57.9%; rating input score 58
• Program expense ratio: 60.5%; rating input score 60
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 84.2%; rating input score 84; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.4%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.21; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.3; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 24.9%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.1% per year; rating input score 100; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.4% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 50th percentile among comparable filings