Massachusetts Legal Assistance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGAL ASSISTANCE CORPORATION PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE LEGAL SERVICES COMMUNITY, THE LEGISLATURE, THE PUBLIC, THE BAR, AND THE JUDICIARY.
- Income
- $82.3 million
- Spending
- $78.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 68%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $293,333, 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 (5)
- $61.2 million spent. GENERAL SUPPORT TO LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS - MLAC AWARDS FUNDS AS GENERAL SUPPORT TO ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS WHICH PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME CLIENTS IN CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS.
- $2.7 million spent. MLAC WAS AWARDED, AS A COORDINATED STATEWIDE ADMINISTRATION OF CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES (CSAL), A GRANT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE FOR VICTIM ASSISTANCE (MOVA). THIS IS A CONTRACT THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT (VOCA) FUNDING. THE PURPOSES OF THIS GRANT IS TO IMPLEMENT THE MASSACHUSETTS CIVIL LEGAL AID TO VICTIMS OF CRIME INITIATIVE (CLAVC) TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS (THE PROGRAMS) IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH CIVIL LEGAL AID ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR VICTIMIZATION, INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR THOSE CRIME VICTIMS REFERRED BY MOVA. MLAC WILL SERVE AS RECIPIENT FOR CLAVC GRANT. IT WILL EXERCISE APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT, IMPLEMENT FISCAL CONTROL, CARRY OUT REPORTING, AND MAKE SUB GRANTS TO THE PROGRAMS TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT TERMS.
- $2.5 million spent. MLAC RECEIVED FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THE ACCESS TO COUNSEL PILOT PROJECT, AIMED AT EXPANDING ACCESS TO FULL LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR LOW-INCOME TENANTS AND OWNER-OCCUPANTS FACING EVICTION IN MASSACHUSETTS.
- $9.2 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE INITIATIVES - PROJECTS THAT ADVANCE COLLABORATION AMONG LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AND ENSURE THAT LIMITED RESOURCES ARE USED AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
- MLAC PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE IOLTA COMMITTEE, WHICH OVERSEES THE DISBURSEMENT OF IOLTA FUNDS.
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 August 1984.
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.
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.