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Disability Law Center Inc

EIN 04-2741869 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
30
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$273,780, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% 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 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $767,838 spent. PAIDD-PROVIDED LEGAL & ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
  2. $549,526 spent. PAIMI-PROVIDED LEGAL & ADVOCACY SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
  3. $88,161 spent. PATBI-PROVIDED SEVICES FOR IMPROVING AND ENHANCING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
  4. $2.6 million spent. PAVA-PROVIDED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EXPENSE REVENUE TO ENSURE FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. 166,146 188,019 MLAC-GS-PROVIDED BACKUP AND SUPPORT TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREA OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITIES. 1,111,122 1,284,832 PAIR-PROVIDED LEGAL & ADVOCACY SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. 313,405 196,924 DPB-PROVIDED BACKUP AND SUPPORT TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREA. 184,975 182,256 PABSS-PROVIDED INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES TRYING TO SECURE OR REGAIN EMPLOYMENT. 141,657 146,824 PAAT-PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES GET THE ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND ASSITIVE TECHNOLOGY-RELATED SERVICES THEY NEED. 88,088 99,273 PABRP-PROGRAM ENTAILS ONSITE REVIEWS OF REP PAYEES CONSISTING OF DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE FINANCIAL RECORDS AND OF BENEFICIARY WELL-BEING. 551,019 671,461 PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM CASES IN LITIGATION DISABILITY LAW CENTER, INC. IS A PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3). THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVOCACY ON DISABILITY ISSUES THAT PROMOTE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND EQUALLY IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF MASSACHUSETTS. LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS PROVICED BY THE ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF BROAD PUBLIC IMPORTANCE AND IS NOT BASED ON ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY. THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT RECEIVE ATTORNEY FEES FROM ITS CLIENTS AND WAS NOT AWARDED ATTORNEY FEES BY A COURT OR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY IN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DURING THE YEAR. A LIST OF ALL CASES IN LITIGATION OR THAT HAVE BEEN LITIGATED DURING THE YEAR INCLUDING THE MATTER IN DISPUTE AND AN EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THE LITIGATION WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
  5. PAVA-PROVIDED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EXPENSE REVENUE TO ENSURE FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. 166,146 188,019 MLAC-GS-PROVIDED BACKUP AND SUPPORT TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREA OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITIES. 1,111,122 1,284,832 PAIR-PROVIDED LEGAL & ADVOCACY SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. 313,405 196,924 DPB-PROVIDED BACKUP AND SUPPORT TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREA. 184,975 182,256 PABSS-PROVIDED INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES TRYING TO SECURE OR REGAIN EMPLOYMENT. 141,657 146,824 PAAT-PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY TO ENSURE THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES GET THE ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND ASSITIVE TECHNOLOGY-RELATED SERVICES THEY NEED. 88,088 99,273 PABRP-PROGRAM ENTAILS ONSITE REVIEWS OF REP PAYEES CONSISTING OF DETAILED ASSESSMENTS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE FINANCIAL RECORDS AND OF BENEFICIARY WELL-BEING. 551,019 671,461 PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM CASES IN LITIGATION DISABILITY LAW CENTER, INC. IS A PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3). THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVOCACY ON DISABILITY ISSUES THAT PROMOTE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND EQUALLY IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF MASSACHUSETTS. LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS PROVICED BY THE ORGANIZATION IN ORDER TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF BROAD PUBLIC IMPORTANCE AND IS NOT BASED ON ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY. THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT RECEIVE ATTORNEY FEES FROM ITS CLIENTS AND WAS NOT AWARDED ATTORNEY FEES BY A COURT OR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY IN A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DURING THE YEAR. A LIST OF ALL CASES IN LITIGATION OR THAT HAVE BEEN LITIGATED DURING THE YEAR INCLUDING THE MATTER IN DISPUTE AND AN EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THE LITIGATION WILL BENEFIT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 November 1981.

    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.