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Transgender Law Center

EIN 05-0544006 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Transgender Law Center TLC changes law, policy and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Income
$15.7 million
Spending
$18.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
9.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
62
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$242,455, executive dir.

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (10)
  1. $3.5 million spent. POLICY & ORGANIZING: TLC provided training, convening and strategy opportunities to hundreds of transgender leaders, and built capacity of allies in related social justice movements to support this work through an array of programs. The organization worked in coalition to engage leaders from across the country to educate the public regarding its expansive vision and to build movement alignment. To protect youth, TLC has played a critical national support, coordination, and convening role, working with groups where the attacks against trans people are centered, especially in the South and the Midwest. TLC is collaborating with key partners in the South to center the leadership and expertise of Southern trans policy groups and advocates to build a shared strategy to counter the intensity of the backlash against trans people.
  2. $2.4 million spent. BLACK LGBTQIA+ MIGRANT PROJECT: The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) builds and centers the power of Black LGBTQIA+ migrants to ensure the liberation of all Black people through organizing and base-building, deportation defense, and strategic communications. BLMP uses leadership development, capacity building, and organizing to address the ways in which Black LGBTQIA+ migrants are criminalized by the legal and immigration systems and marginalized in the broader migrant community as well as in racial and economic justice movements
  3. $1.9 million spent. LEGAL PROGRAM: TLC's legal program succeeded in a variety of efforts to pursue legal protections for trans people. This included class action suits to ensure proper treatment in prisons, challenging overreach by governmental entities acting against organizations that support trans individuals, and filing amicus briefs to ensure courts hear important arguments on behalf of trans people. The organization's free, national legal Helpdesk and its Prison Mail Program responded to thousands of requests. Further, TLC incubates projects providing legal and humanitarian assistance to individuals in need.
  4. $1.5 million spent. BORDER BUTTERFLIES PROJECT
  5. $1.2 million spent. NARRATIVE LAB
  6. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS
  7. $815,588 spent. DISABILITY JUSTICE PROJECT
  8. $445,004 spent. POSITIVELY TRANS
  9. $327,062 spent. TRUTH/GENDER JUSTICE LEADERSHIP PROJECT
  10. $108,140 spent. BLACK TRANS CIRCLES

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 February 2005.

    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.