Greater Boston Legal Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL (NON-CRIMINAL) LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ALMOST 341,000 LOW-INCOME PERSONS LIVING IN METROPOLITAN BOSTON TO HELP THEM SECURE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE HOMELESS FAMILIES SEEKING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PERMANENT HOUSING, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING ABUSE, FAMILIES FACING DESTITUTION, POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING ILLEGAL OR INAPPROPRIATE EVICTION, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS EXPLOITED BY MORTGAGE SCAMS, ELDERS INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS DENIED CRITICAL BENEFITS, LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY DENIED EARNED WAGES, AND VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND PERSECUTION SEEKING ASYLUM.
- Income
- $34.8 million
- Spending
- $27.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 17.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 244
- Volunteers
- 236
- Highest pay
- $265,884, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2585 of 85 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
- $23.4 million spent. GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL (NON-CRIMINAL) LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE ALMOST 339,000 LOW-INCOME PERSONS LIVING IN METROPOLITAN BOSTON TO HELP THEM SECURE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. OUR CLIENTS ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES SEEKING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PERMANENT HOUSING, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING ABUSE, FAMILIES FACING DESTITUTION, POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING ILLEGAL OR INAPPROPRIATE EVICTION, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS EXPLOITED BY MORTGAGE SCAMS, ELDERS INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS DENIED CRITICAL BENEFITS, LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY DENIED EARNED WAGES AND VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND PERSECUTION SEEKING ASYLUM. IN 2025, GBLS HANDLED 14,960 CASES, PROVIDING CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO 11,971 PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. ASSISTANCE RANGED FROM BRIEF SERVICE AND ADVICE TO FULL REPRESENTATION, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE CASE. THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO WERE NOT GBLS' CLIENTS ALSO BENEFITED FROM GBLS' WORK THROUGH COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND IMPACT ADVOCACY EFFORTS SUCH AS CLASS ACTION SUITS, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, ALL OF WHICH BRING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE.GBLS CONDUCTS SPECIAL OUTREACH PROJECTS TO SPECIFIC POPULATIONS WHICH FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING LEGAL ASSISTANCE. SUCH EFFORTS INCLUDE GBLS' ASIAN OUTREACH PROJECT CONDUCTING REGULAR INTAKE HOURS IN BOSTON'S CHINATOWN; ELDER UNIT STAFF MAKING HOME VISITS, ENGAGING IN OUTREACH AT NURSING HOMES AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SCORES OF ELDERLY SITES; EMPLOYMENT UNIT STAFF CONDUCTING REGULAR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO LOW-WAGE WORKERS; AND FAMILY LAW STAFF CONDUCTING REGULAR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN CHELSEA FOR ABUSED WOMEN, AS WELL AS CONTINUING A UNIQUE ON-SITE PROGRAM AT BOTH MIDDLESEX AND SUFFOLK PROBATE COURT TO ASSIST ABUSED WOMEN WHO COME TO THE COURT PRO SE SEEKING A RESTRAINING ORDER.GBLS' CONSUMER UNIT CONTINUED ITS DEBT RELIEF CLINICS IN CHELSEA AND ROXBURY, HELPING LOW INCOME CONSUMERS DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS OR FRAUDULENT DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.GBLS' HEALTH AND DISABILITY UNIT, CONTINUED ITS CHILDREN'S DISABILITY PROJECT TO ASSIST DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS GAIN CRITICAL BENEFITS. THE UNIT CONTINUED ITS MAJOR SYSTEMIC INITIATIVE, HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PROJECT TO OVERCOME BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE AT MAJOR BOSTON AREA MEDICAL FACILITIES. UNIT ATTORNEYS ALSO ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL ELDER CLIENTS TO SECURE OR RETAIN SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. GBLS' WELFARE UNIT ADVOCATES ASSIST CLIENTS TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN CRITICAL BENEFITS TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES FROM DESTITUTION. UNIT ATTORNEYS ARE MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN A MAJOR CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR ITS FAILURE TO APPROPRIATELY ASSIST ITS DISABLED CLIENTS IN A NUMBER OF MAJOR AREAS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DENIAL OF LIFE SUSTAINING BENEFITS. GBLS' EMPLOYMENT UNIT ATTORNEYS CONTINUED REPRESENTING LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY OR INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED WAGES AND BENEFITS. AT THE REQUEST OF THE TAX COURT JUDGE, UNIT ATTORNEYS CONTINUED TO BE PRESENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TAX COURT SESSION IN BOSTON TO ASSIST PRO SE LITIGANTS IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRS ATTORNEYS OVER THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CREDIT. MOST LITIGANTS, MANY OF WHOM DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE, ARE UNREPRESENTED. THE UNIT ALSO CONTINUED ITS CORI/ REENTRY PROJECT TO ASSIST FORMER OFFENDERS IN OVERCOMING BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM SUCCESSFULLY REENTERING SOCIETY AND MAINTAINING SELF- SUFFICIENCY. ATTORNEYS IN THE FAMILY LAW UNIT FOCUSED ON ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SECURE INDEPENDENT LIVES FREE FROM ABUSE. AS PART OF THIS WORK, THE UNIT CONTINUED ITS FIRST IN THE NATION RELOCATION PROJECT THAT PROVIDES ADVICE ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND ADVICE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL THROUGH A PROGRAM RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL NETWORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ATTORNEYS IN THE HOUSING UNIT CONTINUED TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME TENANTS IN EFFORTS TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PRIORITY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING. THE UNIT ALSO REPRESENTED LOW-INCOME TENANT GROUPS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION OF AT-RISK AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. TO DATE, THE UNIT HAS HELPED PRESERVE THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WHICH FACED BEING LOST TO MARKET RATE RENTS. STAFF ALSO CONTINUED ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO EXPAND HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND FUNDING MECHANISM TO BUILD MORE UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. GBLS' IMMIGRATION UNIT CONTINUED A PROJECT TO PROVIDE VICTIMS OF TORTURE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND MEDICAL CARE. THE UNIT ALSO CONTINUED ITS WOMEN REFUGEES PROJECT WHICH CONTINUES TO ASSIST IMMIGRANT WOMEN GAIN RESIDENT STATUS BASED ON GENDER CLAIMS, ITS BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN'S PROJECT THAT ASSISTS BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN ESTABLISHING LEGAL U.S. STATUS INDEPENDENT OF THEIR ABUSERS, AND ITS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN WHO HAVE ENTERED THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS. THE ASIAN OUTREACH PROJECT CONTINUED ITS WORK AS A MODEL COMMUNITY LAWYERING PROGRAM, THAT IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING INDIVIDUAL LOW-INCOME ASIAN INDIVIDUALS WHO ENCOUNTER BARRIERS TO SECURING LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HELPS EMPOWER A DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITY. THE ASIAN BATTERED WOMEN'S PROJECT CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ASIAN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1933.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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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