Understanding the re-organization

What is the role of each organization in our community?

In 2014, after thorough analysis, the membership and the Board of Directors of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association voted to support creating a second organization and increasing our political and civic voice in the San Diego community.  As a result, we now have a politically and socially engaged entity – the re-organized Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation (which retains its 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code).  These are separate corporate entities.  Although many people are members of both organizations, it is legally necessary that two separate organizations exist to protect and identify the tax status of both organizations and to adequately serve the interests of San Diego County’s African American community.

Donors are able to contribute either to the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation, or both.  Any gift or contribution to either association will be utilized to support, promote and defend the interests of San Diego County’s African American Community. Each organization may only apply funds contributed to it to accomplish its specific mission or purpose.

The newly re-organized Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association

The mission of the Association is to advance the legal, economic, social, educational, and political interests of African American lawyers and of the African American community. It will provide leadership on political and civic issues, make decisions on endorsing candidates for political and judicial office, and provide support or opposition on issues of important across the community.  The Association has an intentionally broad mission that focuses both on the African American legal community and on issues like education, equality, and empowerment that are important across all sectors of our community.

The Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation

The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and its mission is to  represent the interests of the African-American legal community in San Diego County.  The Foundation exists primarily to provide support for diversifying the legal community, which currently includes scholarships for law students and support for law students and African American legal professionals in growing as attorneys, obtaining and maintaining employment, developing private practice as sole practitioners or partners within law firms, advancing in public sector employment, and related efforts.

Gifts made to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

To learn more about the new, politically active organization and to become a member, please e-mail its Interim President, Dennis W. Dawson, at atty.denniswdawson@gmail.com.

To learn more about the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Foundation and to make a tax-deductible gift or contribution, contact President Charles Bell at ebgbfoundation@gmail.com.