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Metrowest Legal Services Inc

EIN 04-3177488 · Framingham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

METROWEST LEGAL SERVICES (MWLS) PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES IN CIVIL CASES TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF LOW-INCOME, ELDERLY, DISABLED AND OTHER DISENFRANCHISED PEOPLE IN THE 45 COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING CLIENTS OBTAIN LEGAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
40
Volunteers
93
Highest pay
$177,468, 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 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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 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 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)
  1. $4.3 million spent. MWLS HANDLED 3,949 CASES DURING FY25, AN INCREASE OF 18% OVER FY24. OF THOSE HANDLED, THE TYPES OF CASES HANDLED WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE RESULTS OF THE 2023 NEEDS ASSESSMENT. CASES HANDLED INCLUDED HOUSING AND IMMIGRATION - 31% EACH, FAMILY - 16%, DOCUMENT DRAFTING FOR SENIORS - 10%, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS - 6%, CONSUMER - 4%, AND EDUCATION - 2%. MWLS ADVOCACY RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR CLIENTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDING $6,795,587 IN DIRECT DOLLAR BENEFITS TO CLIENTS AND $4,108,684 IN DIRECT DOLLAR SAVINGS TO CLIENTS. MWLS CONTINUED TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN PRIVATE ATTORNEYS PARTICIPATING IN THE PRIVATE BAR INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM. MWLS CONTINUED ITS LAWYER FOR THE DAY IN MARLBOROUGH AND STARTED A NEW LAWYER FOR THE DAY IN THE NORFOLK PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT IN CANTON IN THE SPRING OF 2025. THE SENIOR CITIZEN LEGAL PROJECT HELD 108 ELDER LEGAL CLINICS AT 10 LOCAL SENIOR CENTERS THAT PROVIDED LEGAL ADVICE TO 474 SENIORS. THE IMMIGRATION UNIT HELD BI-MONTHLY CLINICS AT VOICES AGAINST VIOLENCE WHERE IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS WERE SCREENED FOR POSSIBLE IMMIGRATION RELIEF AVAILABLE TO THEM. MWLS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH ACROSS SUBSTANTIVE UNITS AND AS AN ORGANIZATION. OUTREACH TOOK MULTIPLE FORMS INCLUDING PARTICIPATING IN MANY LOCAL AND REGIONAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HEALTH FAIRS, SENIOR FAIRS, TABLING EVENTS THAT ARE HELD BY CITIES/TOWNS, SCHOOL EVENTS, AND EVENTS HELD BY OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION.MWLS ALSO PROVIDED 21 TRAINING EVENTS, BENEFITING 855 ATTENDEES.MWLS STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATED IN COALITIONS, COMMITTEES, AND ROUNDTABLES WHICH PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AWARE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM.

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

  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 June 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 August 1993.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Legal Services Corporation (Washington, DC), EIN 52-1039060. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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

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