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Rhode Island Legal Services Inc

EIN 05-0318596 · Providence, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND ELIGIBLE CLIENT GROUPS FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THEIR ECONOMIC CONDITION AND OVERALL WELLBEING BY PROTECTING AND ENFORCING LEGAL RIGHTS, STABILIZING THE FAMILY UNIT AND COMMUNITIES WHERE CLIENTS LIVE, PROMOTING SELF-RELIANCE, ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDING DIGNITY TO ALL PEOPLE, AND REACHING OUT TO GROUPS WITH ADDED BURDENS ON THEIR ABILITY TO ACCESS THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
60
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$178,558, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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, 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 (4)
  1. $807,436 spent. HOUSING LAW CENTER - RILS PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE HOUSING AREA INCLUDING: PROVIDING ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO CLIENTS IN EVICTION MATTERS CHALLENGING THE DENIAL OF ADMISSION TO PUBLIC AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING DELIVERING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH LOW INCOME TENANT GROUPS TO PRESERVE AND/OR DEVELOP SUBSIDIZED HOUSING. THE STAFF OF THE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROJECT LITIGATE COMMON MORTGAGE-RELATED ISSUES AND USE BANKRUPTCY AS AN ADDITIONAL STRATEGY FOR HOME PRESERVATION. MAJOR LITIGATION OF PRE AND POST-FORECLOSURE IMPACT ISSUES, WITH THE NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER, THE NATION'S LEADING EXPERTS ON FORECLOSURE ISSUES IS ENVISIONED. RILS FORECLOSURE PROJECT STAFF WILL ALSO REPRESENT TENANTS AFFECTED BY FORECLOSURE, EDUCATE BORROWERS AND TENANTS WHO RESIDE IN FORECLOSED PROPERTIES ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, AND HELP DEVELOP NEW INITIATIVES TO KEEP DEFAULTING BORROWERS AND TENANTS WHO RESIDE IN FORECLOSED PROPERTIES IN THEIR HOMES.
  2. $41,633 spent. SAFE FAMILY PROJECT - THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE FOR AND PROMOTE THE SAFETY OF FAMILIES THROUGH THE ADVICE, REFERRAL AND/OR REPRESENTATION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN FAMILY COURT RESTRAINING ORDERS.
  3. $793,999 spent. FAMILY PRESERVATION PROJECT - THIS PROJECT FUNCTIONS AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE RHODE ISLAND FAMILY COURT CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE PROJECT'S ATTORNEYS REPRESENT PARENTS WHO ARE FACING THE INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS OR ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR DEPENDENCY THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST THEM BY THE RI DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
  4. $6.2 million spent. PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT $175,980. FOR PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT SEE SCH I PART II.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 1970.

    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.

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