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Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana Inc

EIN 01-0718469 · Fort Wayne, IN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To cultivate a culture of pro bono service within the community dedicated to meeting the legal need of low-income families and individuals.

Income
$426,448
Spending
$390,531
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
7
Volunteers
131
Highest pay
$50,989, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $278,002 spent. Pro bono Legal Services: The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit legal aid organization whose mission is to cultivate a culture of pro bono service within the community dedicated to meeting the legal need of low-income families and individuals. In 2025, 131 volunteer attorneys donated 1,229 hours of legal assistance to low income residents. These legal services saved our low income residents in excess of $307,240 in legal charges that attorneys customarily bill for services in their private practices. Please see Schedule O for additional information.
  2. $36,967 spent. Adult Guardianship Services: The VLP established 37 new guardianships for incapacitated people during 2025. Family guardianship days in Allen Superior Court is an efficient and streamlined system that allows for up to ten hearings to take place on a single court day.
  3. $17,353 spent. Housing Stability Services: VLP attorneys provide eviction assistance in the nine-county region of Northeast Indiana. Advice, representation in rent and damages hearings, and on-site courthouse clinics opening in seven of the nine counties represented gave rural residents access to eviction assistance services. By partnering with social service agencies within the various counties, and attorney staffed legal-aid services, VLP was able to use its resources to make a difference in 2025. Funding was made available to staff a volunteer coordinator for the housing stability program along with a part-time navigator (paralegal referral specialist for housing/eviction assistance). During 2025, 144 individuals were assisted by this program.
  4. The Volunteer Lawyer Program continues to collaborate and partner with the local court system and community social service partners to serve the legal needs of as many low-income residents as possible. In 2025, the VLP provided a community-wide legal advice clinic, specialized driving privileges clinics, staff trainings on legal information and database, attorney legal education through Zoom, and pro bono service opportunities. The VLP intake paralegals fielded over 10,000 inquiry calls during 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.