Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Glbtq Legal Advocates & Defenders Inc

EIN 04-2660498 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$11.6 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
47
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$284,534, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 March 31, 2026, 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 (2)
  1. $5.6 million spent. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING:LITIGATION:- SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST A NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW BANNING DEI PROGRAMS ADDRESSING RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND DISABILITY.- REPRESENTED FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN RECEIVED TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE AT CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL AND SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED COURT ORDER BLOCKING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S EFFORTS TO SUBPOENA PRIVATE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THEM. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)- ARGUED, ON APPEAL, IN DEFENSE OF INJUNCTIONS WE OBTAINED AGAINST THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER FEMALE INMATES IN FEDERAL FACILITIES, AND IN OUR CHALLENGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN. - FILED ADDITIONAL LAWSUITS CHALLENGING THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY BLOCKING TRANSGENDER ADULT DEPENDENTS OF SERVICEMEMBERS FROM ACCESSING ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE; AGAINST YALE NEW HAVEN HEALTH AND CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER FOR ABRUPTLY TERMINATING MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANSGENDER PATIENTS UNDER 19; AND AGAINST THE MILITARY FOR RESCINDING PROMISED RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO CERTAIN TRANSGENDER AIR FORCE SERVICE MEMBERS. - IN BERNIER V. TURBOCAM, CURRENTLY IN SUMMARY JUDGMENT BRIEFING, GLAD LAW IS CHALLENGING A PRIVATE EMPLOYER'S REFUSAL TO COVER AN EMPLOYEE'S MEDICAL CARE RELATED TO GENDER TRANSITION, CITING RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS.- INTERVENED IN MATTER IN MAINE TO SUCCESSFULLY OBTAIN A COURT ORDER REJECTING A FEDERAL AND STATE EFFORT TO WEAKEN AN AGREEMENT THAT UPHELD THE RIGHTS OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES. AMICUS ADVOCACY:- SUBMITTED A NUMBER OF SUPREME COURT AMICUS BRIEFS IN CRITICAL LGBTQ+-RELATED CASES, INCLUDING CASES RELATED TO CONVERSION THERAPY (CHILES V. SALAZAR); TRANSGENDER STUDENTS INCLUSION IN ATHLETICS (BPJ V. WEST VIRGINIA, ET. AL.); AND LGBTQ+ INCLUSION IN EDUCATION (MAHMMOUD V. TAYLOR). - SUBMITTED AMICUS BRIEFS IN COURTS OF APPEALS AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN DEFENSE OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS' ACCESS TO VITAL ID DOCUMENTS.- LED LGBTQ+ COALITION IN AMICUS BRIEF FILING IN CASES CHALLENGING THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION'S MODIFICATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY, AND POLICY ADVOCACY:- COMMENTED ON AND ULTIMATELY DELAYED THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO MODIFY TITLE IX (THE LAW BANNING SEX DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS); ADDRESSING EFFORTS TO EXCLUDE LGBTQ+ STUDENTS FROM FUNDING FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH; - COMMENTED ON A FEDERAL EFFORT TO ERASE TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY STUDENTS FROM DATA COLLECTION ABOUT HARASSMENT- PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN IN OPPOSING A HARMFUL BALLOT INITIATIVE TARGETING TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN MAINE.- COMMENTED ON PROPOSED RULES THAT THREATEN HEALTH CARE FUNDING FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH. - PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN DRAFTING AND/OR SUPPORTING, THE ILLINOIS EVERY FAMILY ACT.- ADVOCATED FOR NEW VERMONT CONFIRMATORY ADOPTION LAW TO BOOST SECURITY FOR LGBTQ+ FAMILIES - WORKED IN COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR A NEW MASSACHUSETTS LAW THAT REMOVES BARRIERS AND INCREASES SECURITY IN THE NAME CHANGE PROCESS, AND A LAW THAT EXPANDED STATE PROTECTIONS FOR ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE AND TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE. - SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSED EIGHT BILLS IN MAINE THAT TARGETED TRANSGENDER STUDENT ATHLETES, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, AND THE MAINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT.ONGOING MISSION:- CONTINUING TO WORK TO DEFEND OBERGEFELL AND NATIONWIDE MARRIAGE EQUALITY. - CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARD THE ERADICATION OF HIV BY ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT WITHOUT UNNECESSARY BARRIERS.
  2. $2.3 million spent. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION (CPE) ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS:- PUBLISHED GLAD LAW BRIEFS NEWSLETTER: - PRINT EDITION IN JUNE 2025 - ONLINE EDITION IN NOVEMBER 2025.- COORDINATED GLAD LAW'S PARTICIPATION IN BOSTON PRIDE FOR THE PEOPLE, MULTIPLE SMALLER PRIDE EVENTS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND, AND PARTICIPATED IN PALM SPRINGS PRIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)GLAD LAW ANSWERS:- HANDLED 1,800 DISTINCT LEGAL INTAKES THROUGH CALLS AND EMAILS. - PROVIDED LEGAL INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS TO LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING UPDATED INFORMATION AS THE LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE RAPIDLY CHANGED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF FEDERAL POLICIES AND COURT RULINGS. ID PROJECT:- HANDLED 276 INTAKES TO OUR ID PROJECT SUPPORTING PEOPLE NEEDING TO UPDATE NAME AND GENDER MARKERS- ONBOARDED TWO ADDITIONAL LAW FIRM PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE ID PROJECT- STARTED A REFRESH OF ALL 6 NEW ENGLAND ID GUIDES (ONGOING) HOSTED COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS ON KEY TOPICS:- FIRST 100 DAYS COMMUNITY BRIEFING MAY 2025- SUPREME COURT TERM DEBRIEF JULY, 2025- BACK TO SCHOOL: MASSACHUSETTS LGBTQ STUDENTS RIGHTS BRIEFING SEPTEMBER 2025- SUPREME COURT PREVIEW OCTOBER 2025- SPIRIT OF JUSTICE COMMUNITY EVENT SAFEGUARDING CIVIL RIGHTS: STATE STRATEGIES FOR PROGRESS NOVEMBER 2025- ONE YEAR LATER: LGBTQ+ RIGHTS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION JANUARY 2026- COMMUNITY BRIEFING ON TRANSGENDER STUDENT RIGHTS AT THE SUPREME COURT, CO-HOSTED WITH ACLU OF MASSACHUSETTS FEBRUARY 2026 STRATEGIC MESSAGING & RESEARCH:- RAN A SUSTAINED MEDIA OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO TELL THE STORY OF TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN WENT INTO EFFECT. THIS INCLUDED A VIDEO STORY PROJECT AND A PARTNERSHIP WITH DIGITAL CREATORS TO SHARE THE VIDEOS ON VETERANS' DAY- COMPLETED A MESSAGE RESEARCH PROJECT ON STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES: LGBTQ FAMILY RECOGNITION AND FAMILY BUILDING, WITH EXTERNAL RESEARCH PARTNERS.- BEGAN DEVELOPMENT OF A SECOND EDITION OF THE BOOK TRANSGENDER FAMILY LAW. WRITING AND EDITING ARE ONGOING AND WE ANTICIPATE PUBLISHING AT THE END OF 2026.POLICY CONVENINGS:- HELD QUARTERLY RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCATES MEETINGS.- HOSTED AN IN PERSON NEW ENGLAND POLICY CONVENING IN SEPTEMBER 2025 IN WORCESTER, MA, WITH ADVOCATES FROM SIX STATES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 March 2026.

    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 February 1980.

    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.