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Neighborhood Defender Service Inc

EIN 06-1296692 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE (NDS) PROVIDES HOLISTIC, CLIENT-CENTERED, COMMUNITY-BASED LEGAL SERVICES AND WRAP AROUND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES IN NEW YORK CITY NEIGHBORHOODS OF HARLEM, THE BRONX; WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN; AND IN THE TEXAS COMMUNITIES OF HAYS COUNTY, SAN ANTONIO, AND HOUSTON. OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE JUSTICE A REALITY FOR THOSE FARTHEST FROM ITS REACH AND WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF LEGAL CHALLENGES, WITH A FOCUS ON SYSTEMIC RACISM AND POVERTY.

Income
$55.2 million
Spending
$53.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
389
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$434,753, 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

Fair: 51 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 87% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (3)
  1. $26.5 million spent. NDS PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT PERSONS, IN THE HARLEM OFFICE, NDS HAS GROWN OUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE PRACTICE TO INCLUDE A HOMICIDE PRACTICE. WE EXPANDED OUR FAMILY DEFENSE PRACTICE AND MADE OUR IMMIGRATION AND CIVIL DEFENSE PRACTICES MORE ROBUST. WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE A FULL HOST OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE HARLEM COMMUNITY.
  2. $13.3 million spent. IN THE DETROIT OFFICE, WE BEGAN REPRESENTING RESIDENTS OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONY OFFENSES. WE PROVIDE OUR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY FREE OF CHARGE.
  3. $6.9 million spent. NDS TEXAS PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT PERSONS THROUGH CRIMINAL DEFENSE. THIS YEAR WE ARE RUNNING A PROGRAM OPERATION LONE STAR TO ASSIST WITH DEFENSE OF PERSONS NEEDING IMMIGRATION DEFENSE. WE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AS WELL AS SOCIAL SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS USING A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

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 October 1991.

    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.