Fund for Modern Courts
Fund for Modern Courts is a New York-based nonprofit advocating for court reform, judicial independence, and access to justice in NYS, producing training content such as the Immigrants and State Courts program in partnership with 20+ legal organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fund for Modern Courts does
Fund for Modern Courts is a non-partisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded (with conflicting sourcing between 1955 and 1970) and headquartered in New York City, dedicated to promoting a fair and effective New York State court system. Its core mission centers on judicial independence, court reform, and access-to-justice initiatives in NYS, and it operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees, indicating a lean, mission-driven operating model.
The organization's core products are its advocacy and policy-reform initiatives, paired with content/training assets such as the Immigrants and State Courts website, which provides training modules designed to improve how state courts interact with immigrant litigants. This product was developed and sustained in partnership with a network of more than 20 legal and advocacy organizations, positioning the organization as both an independent advocate and a convener within the NY legal-services ecosystem. The technology surface is primarily informational/web-based rather than platform-engineered.
Revenue mechanics are consistent with a small donor-funded nonprofit: contributions and grants sustain operations, with no commercial product pricing, no enterprise contracts, and no disclosed revenue figures. Customer/beneficiary segments include the NYS Judiciary and court system (as a reform target), legal aid and immigrant-services organizations (as partners and downstream beneficiaries), and the broader public (as recipients of training content and policy outcomes). Recent strategic activity is largely governance- and program-driven, including a January 2026 board leadership transition.
Fund for Modern Courts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fund for Modern Courts
- Legal name
- The Fund for Modern Courts
- Website
- https://moderncourts.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fund for Modern Courts is a New York-based nonprofit advocating for court reform, judicial independence, and access to justice in NYS, producing training content such as the Immigrants and State Courts program in partnership with 20+ legal organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fund for Modern Courts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Advocacy and Court Reform Services
- NAICS
- Other Legal Services (54119), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Criminal Justice Reform & Legal System Advocacy (BPAGAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights) (EDAAAFAI), Judicial Courts & Court Administration (BPAIAFAA)
Keywords
Where Fund for Modern Courts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fund for Modern Courts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: The organization is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that accepts donations from individuals and supporters to fund its court reform activities.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Fund for Modern Courts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fund for Modern Courts is a nonpartisan, statewide nonprofit that advocates for court reform and provides judicial education and training in New York State. Its core offerings include the Immigrants and State Courts web-based legal reference guide and training platform covering the intersection of Family Court Act articles and federal immigration law (U-Visa, SIJS, Orders of Protection, Contempt & Incarceration, Matrimonial & IDV). The organization also operates advocacy initiatives on judicial selection, court simplification, family court reform, judicial diversity, civil legal services, town and village courts, citizen court monitoring, and amicus briefs.
Product overview
Fund for Modern Courts is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice in New York State. The organization operates primarily as an advocacy and educational entity rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include the Immigrants and State Courts website (moderncourts.org/immigrants.moderncourts.org), a comprehensive legal reference guide and training platform providing modules on Family Court and federal immigration law intersections, including U Nonimmigrant Status Certification, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), Orders of Protection, Contempt & Incarceration, and Matrimonial & IDV proceedings. Additional programs include advocacy initiatives on Judicial Selection, Court Simplification, Family Court Reform, Civil Legal Services, Town and Village Courts, Judicial Diversity, Citizen Court Monitoring, Amicus Briefs, and Publications. The organization also manages awards including the Robert M. Kaufman Memorial Award, Fern Schair Public Service Award, Samuel J. Duboff Memorial Award, and hosts the Annual Justice Celebration and Hugh R. Jones Memorial Lecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Immigrants and State Courts Website A web-based legal reference guide and training platform providing guidance on the intersection of New York State Family Court proceedings and federal immigration law. Organized by Family Law subject areas. Audience: NYS judges, court personnel, attorneys, community organizations, and the public.
- FCA Legal Reference Guide Series A series of legal reference guides organized by Family Law subject areas covering intersections with federal immigration law, including Article 3 (Juvenile Delinquency), Article 4 (Child Support), Article 5 (Paternity), Article 8 (Family Offenses), Article 10 (Abuse & Neglect), Matrimonial & IDV, Orders of Protection, and Contempt & Incarceration. For judges, attorneys, and legal services providers.
- Judicial Selection Program Advocacy initiative dedicated to improving the methods of selecting judges in New York State, identified as the cornerstone of Modern Courts' mission. Targets NYS policymakers and the public.
- Court Simplification Initiative Reform initiative to modernize the structure and operations of the New York State court system.
- Citizen Court Monitoring Program Program enabling citizens to observe and report on NYS court proceedings to improve accountability and public understanding of the courts.
- Amicus Project Program filing amicus briefs in significant court cases affecting the administration of justice and judicial independence in NYS.
- Publications and Whitepapers Advocacy whitepapers, research reports, testimony, and policy recommendations on court reform topics in New York State.
- Annual Justice Celebration Annual fundraising and recognition event recognizing attorneys for outstanding contributions toward improving justice in New York State.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 500 clients served annually through Yale Law School civil legal services organization (affiliated faculty director Abbe Gluck)
Companies that use Fund for Modern Courts
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fund for Modern Courts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Fund for Modern Courts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Immigrant-ARCcoreContributing partner to the Immigrants and State Courts project since 2015. A collaborative effort concerned with the lack of knowledge of impacts of Family Court decisions on immigrants.
- Kim Susser, Esq.coreContributing partner to the Immigrants and State Courts project. Provided expertise on immigration law as it intersects with family court matters.
- Terry Lawson, Co-Counsel NYCcoreContributing partner and co-host of the Immigrants and State Courts webinar. Attorney with expertise in family and immigration law.
- Lee Wang, Immigrant Defense ProjectcoreContributing partner to the original 2015-2016 project development. Provided immigration expertise for the legal reference guides.
- Andrea Panjwani, My Sisters' Place Center for Legal ServicescoreContributing partner providing legal expertise on family law and immigration intersection.
- Lisa Rivera, NYLAGcoreContributing partner from the Matrimonial & Family Law Unit at NYLAG, providing expertise on serving immigrant clients in family court.
- Joanne Macri, NYSBAcoreContributing partner, Co-chair of Committee on Immigration Representation at NYSBA and Director of Regional Initiatives at NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services.
- Empire Justice CentercoreContributing partner providing legal expertise and advocacy for immigrants in New York State.
- City Bar Justice Center, New York City Bar AssociationcoreContributing partner through the Immigrant Justice Project, co-directed by Suzanne Tomatore.
- Sanctuary for FamiliescoreContributing partner through the Immigration Intervention Project, represented by Carmen Maria Rey.
- Bronx DefenderscoreContributing partner providing family defense practice expertise.
- Brooklyn Defender ServicescoreContributing partner providing expertise on family defense practice and its intersection with immigration.
- Bronx Legal ServicescoreContributing partner through the Family & Immigration Unit.
- Albany Law School Immigration Law CliniccoreContributing partner providing academic expertise and research support.
- The Legal Aid SocietycoreContributing partner providing staff attorney expertise on immigration and family law issues.
- Staten Island Legal ServicescoreContributing partner providing immigration and LGBTQ/HIV advocacy expertise.
- Her JusticecoreContributing partner providing legal services to immigrant women, including employment access project.
- Norton Rose FulbrightminorPro bono counsel providing legal expertise and support for the project.
- Davis Polk & Wardwell LLPminorContributing partner providing pro bono legal expertise.
- Hofstra Law SchoolcoreContributing partner through Clinical Professor of Law Theo Liebmann.
- NY Courts - Advisory Council on Immigration Issues in Family CourtcoreCollaborative partner formed by NYS Court System in 2015. Members represent judges, lawyers, experts and advocates recognizing the essential role Family Courts play in immigrants' lives. Jointly developed guidance memos on immigration issues.
- iKnow Web DesignminorProvided project development assistance for the Immigrants and State Courts website.
- Take TwominorProvided project development assistance and technology support.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Fund for Modern Courts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Center for State Courts: Nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice in state courts across the U.S. Provides research, consulting, and training to judicial systems, overlapping with Modern Courts' court reform and judicial training mandate.
- American Constitution Society: National progressive legal policy organization with programs on judicial nominations and access to justice. Comparable advocacy focus on judiciary and court reform, though operating at national scale.
Direct peers
- National Center for Access to Justice: Nonprofit focused on expanding access to justice and measuring court performance, sharing Modern Courts' access-to-justice mission. Comparable advocacy-driven approach to court reform.
- Brennan Center for Justice: National nonpartisan law and policy institute at NYU School of Law that works on judicial independence, court reform, and access to justice. Comparable mission around courts and judiciary, with deeper resources and broader geographic reach.
- Vera Institute of Justice: New York-headquartered nonprofit that works to build and improve justice systems, with strong programs on court reform, immigrant justice, and family court issues. Direct overlap with Modern Courts' immigrant and family court focus.
- Appleseed Foundation: National nonprofit network of locally-focused justice reform advocates working on access to justice and court reform. Comparable advocacy model with state-level chapters analogous to Modern Courts' statewide focus.
- Center for Court Innovation: A New York-based nonprofit that works to improve the justice system through research, demonstration projects, and reform initiatives. Directly comparable as a court reform-focused nonprofit serving the same NYS ecosystem of judges, attorneys, and community organizations.
Emerging players
- The Legal Aid Society: New York's primary provider of civil and criminal legal services to low-income residents, including extensive family defense practice. A partner of Modern Courts on the Immigrants and State Courts project and comparable in the NYS legal advocacy ecosystem.
- Justice in Aging: National nonprofit legal advocacy organization for older adults that engages in court reform and access-to-justice advocacy. Adjacent to Modern Courts' access-to-justice mission but focused on aging population.
Regional players
- Citizens Union of the City of New York: New York-based good government organization that engages in judicial selection reform, ethics, and civic engagement advocacy. Directly comparable in the NY judicial selection and court reform space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fund for Modern Courts social profiles
Digital presenceFund for Modern Courts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fund for Modern Courts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Fund for Modern Courts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fund for Modern Courts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fund for Modern Courts
What does Fund for Modern Courts do?
Fund for Modern Courts is a nonpartisan, statewide nonprofit that advocates for court reform and provides judicial education and training in New York State. Its core offerings include the Immigrants and State Courts web-based legal reference guide and training platform covering the intersection of Family Court Act articles and federal immigration law (U-Visa, SIJS, Orders of Protection, Contempt & Incarceration, Matrimonial & IDV). The organization also operates advocacy initiatives on judicial selection, court simplification, family court reform, judicial diversity, civil legal services, town and village courts, citizen court monitoring, and amicus briefs.
Is Fund for Modern Courts a public or private company?
Fund for Modern Courts is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fund for Modern Courts founded?
Fund for Modern Courts was founded in 1970. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fund for Modern Courts based?
Fund for Modern Courts is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Fund for Modern Courts make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Contributions.
Who are Fund for Modern Courts's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Center for State Courts and American Constitution Society. Direct peers are National Center for Access to Justice, Brennan Center for Justice, Vera Institute of Justice, Appleseed Foundation and Center for Court Innovation. Emerging players are The Legal Aid Society and Justice in Aging. Citizens Union of the City of New York is listed as a regional player.
Does Fund for Modern Courts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fund for Modern Courts.
What industry is Fund for Modern Courts in?
Fund for Modern Courts's product category is Legal Advocacy and Court Reform Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAI, Criminal Justice Reform & Legal System Advocacy, with a secondary code of EDAAAFAI, Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights). Its NAICS code is 54119 and its SIC code is 8600.