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Campaign Legal Center Inc

EIN 04-3608387 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NONPARTISAN CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER ADVANCES DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, FIGHTING FOR EVERY AMERICAN'S RIGHTS TO RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AND AFFECT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

Income
$13.9 million
Spending
$21.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
17 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
111
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$490,108, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 25

    17 of 18 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (7)
  1. $4.4 million spent. VOTING RIGHTS: VOTING SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL CITIZENS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE. TO MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT, WE NEED A SYSTEM THAT IS FREE AND FAIR TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. CLC BELIEVES THAT STATE AND FEDERAL POLICIES SHOULD UNIFORMLY PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND PROMOTE VOTER PARTICIPATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THIS CLC PROGRAM, THROUGH LITIGATION, POLICY ANALYSIS, STATE-BASED AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, SEEKS TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO THE BALLOT.
  2. $2.4 million spent. CAMPAIGN FINANCE: THE FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES EVERY AMERICAN THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. THE DEPENDENCE OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES ON WEALTHY SPECIAL INTERESTS IS A SERIOUS FLAW IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND MAKES ELECTED OFFICIALS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR LARGE DONORS RATHER THAN TO THE PUBLIC. THE TREMENDOUS POWER OF SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY IN POLITICS OFTEN DROWNS OUT THE VOICE OF EVERYDAY AMERICANS, THREATENS OUR FIRST AMENDMENT FREEDOMS, AND ERODES THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR ENTIRE DEMOCRACY. TO RESTORE FAIRNESS TO OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, THIS CLC PROGRAM ADVOCATES FOR PASSING AND ENFORCING STRONG CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORMS THAT HELP GUARANTEE A DEMOCRACY THAT IS BOTH REPRESENTATIVE OF AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE. THESE REFORM SOLUTIONS INCLUDE PLACING REASONABLE LIMITS ON FUNDING OF CAMPAIGNS, COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY OF CAMPAIGN SPENDING AND PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS. CLC HELPS ENACT SUCH POLICIES AT THE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION ENFORCES CURRENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS. CLC ALSO DEFENDS LAWS THAT PROMOTE THE FIRST AMENDMENT'S GUARANTEE THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
  3. $3.3 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS: CLC'S COMMUNICATION PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE OVERALL MISSION OF CLC AND UTILIZES STRATEGIES TO LEVERAGE AND BRAND CLC AS A THOUGHT LEADER, EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE. THE COMMUNICATION PROGRAM WORKS ACROSS CLC PROGRAM TEAMS TO CREATE AND DISSEMINATE CONTENT, BUILD PROGRAM AUDIENCES, AND SEEK PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION ON IMPORTANT PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING CAMPAIGN LEGAL CONVERSATIONS, WHICH EXPLORES COMPLICATED ISSUES IN DEMOCRACY, SHARING STORIES OF VOTERS WHO HAVE FACED BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND EDUCATING PRESS, PARTNERS AND DONORS ABOUT CLC'S LITIGATION EFFORTS.
  4. $829,473 spent. ETHICS: ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY IS PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE INTEGRITY OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS EARNED THROUGH THE COMMITMENT OF THOSE IN AND WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A PUBLIC TRUST. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENACT AND ENFORCE CLEAR ETHICAL GUIDELINES AND LAWS. ONLY THEN, CAN PUBLIC OFFICIALS ADEQUATELY NAVIGATE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY BREAK THE PUBLIC'S TRUST. THIS SYSTEM IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY. THIS CLC PROGRAM PROPOSES SOLUTIONS FOR STRONGER ETHICS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND SERVES AS A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG, HOLDING ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR ETHICS VIOLATIONS.
  5. $1.3 million spent. REDISTRICTING: DEMOCRACY WORKS BEST WHEN OUR VOTING MAPS ARE FAIRLY DRAWN ON A NONPARTISAN BASIS TO ENSURE THAT AMERICANS CAN PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN THE ELECTION OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. UNFORTUNATELY, INCUMBENTS OFTEN RIG THE SYSTEM TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES, THEIR PARTY, AND SPECIAL INTEREST SUPPORTERS, MANIPULATING VOTING MAPS TO DICTATE THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS. TWO SOURCES OF DISCRIMINATION IN VOTING MAPS ARE PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS THAT UNDERREPRESENT PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE RESULT IS DYSFUNCTION, MISTRUST, AND PUBLIC POLICIES THAT IGNORE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THIS CLC PROGRAM ADVANCES AND SUPPORTS LEGAL CASES THAT ADDRESS REDISTRICTING VIOLATIONS, WORKS ON THE FRONT LINES IN THE FIGHT FOR FAIR REDISTRICTING PRACTICES IN THE STATES, AND CONTINUES TO PROMOTE VOTERS' RIGHTS TO FAIR DISTRICTS NATIONWIDE.
  6. $2.3 million spent. POLICY: CLC'S POLICY PROGRAM WORKS TO ADVANCE PRO-DEMOCRACY, PRO-VOTER POLICY AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. CLC BRINGS DECADES OF POLICY AND LEGAL EXPERTISE TO OUR WORK WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES. CLC IS ENGAGED THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF THE LAW: DEVELOPING POLICY, DRAFTING LEGISLATION AND BALLOT INITIATIVES, AND ENSURING EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY. THE POLICY PROGRAM WORKS ACROSS CLC PROGRAM TEAMS TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY STRATEGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS.
  7. $1.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 2002.

    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.

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.