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Legal Services Law Line of Vermont Inc

EIN 03-0349316 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO AS MANY LOW INCOME VERMONTERS AS POSSIBLE. LSV WILL SEEK TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF LOW INCOME VERMONTERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF EDUCATION STRATEGIES.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
23
Volunteers
134
Highest pay
$146,251, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $557,440 spent. CASE SERVICES: TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, LEGAL ADVICE, PRO SE ASSISTANCE, REPRESENTATION AND REFERRAL IN NON-CRIMINAL MATTERS TO LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS.
  2. $667,845 spent. HELP: TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME VERMONT TENANTS FACING EVICTION DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND TO ASSIST TENANTS WITH ACCESSING RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
  3. $171,692 spent. PRO BONO INITIATIVE: TO IMPROVE INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR ENGAGING AND REFERRING CASES TO PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE VARIETY OF PRO BONO PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST LOW- INCOME VERMONTERS WITH CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES.
  4. $662,881 spent. PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT: TO RECRUIT ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS. NETWORK FOR CRIME VICTIMS: TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES AND REFERRALS TO ATTORNEYS TO VICTIMS OF ALL TYPES OF CRIME FACING CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR VICTIMIZATION. TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE GRANTS: TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS BY MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO WEB SERVICES. MIGRANT SERVICES: TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL TO H2A MIGRANT WORKERS FACING LEGAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
  5. PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT: TO RECRUIT ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS. NETWORK FOR CRIME VICTIMS: TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES AND REFERRALS TO ATTORNEYS TO VICTIMS OF ALL TYPES OF CRIME FACING CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR VICTIMIZATION. TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE GRANTS: TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION TO LOW-INCOME VERMONTERS BY MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO WEB SERVICES. MIGRANT SERVICES: TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, ASSISTANCE AND REFERRAL TO H2A MIGRANT WORKERS FACING LEGAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR EMPLOYMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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