The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable affiliate of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, was incorporated in 1984 in response to the organized bar's desire to become more involved in public service.

A Board of Directors consisting of 23 voting members manages the Foundation. The Board is comprised of:

• One director elected from each of the 12 zones from which the Pennsylvania Bar Association elects members of its Board of Governors
• Two directors, who need not be lawyers, are appointed by the President-elect of the Pennsylvania Bar Association to serve during the President-elect's Presidency
• One director, who need not be a lawyer, appointed by the President of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation
• The President of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute or his/her designee
• The Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division or his/her designee
• The President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
• The President, Vice-president, Treasurer and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation
• The Immediate Past President

Elected Zone Directors may serve a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms. All other directors hold office for one year.

Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws guide the Foundation directors. The full Board meets quarterly and relies on its Executive Committee to address management issues between meetings. Full membership meetings are held annually in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

The financial support of Foundation is generated almost exclusively from voluntary lawyer contributions. In addition to the contributions Pennsylvania Bar Association members make through their annual dues renewal form, there are four categories of membership.