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N a a C P Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc

EIN 13-1655255 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC. FUND. INC. (LEGAL DEFENSE FUND - LDF) IS AMERICA'S PREMIER LEGAL ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. USING THE POWER OF LAW, NARRATIVE, RESEARCH, AND PEOPLE, WE DEFEND AND ADVANCE THE FULL DIGNITY AND CITIZENSHIP OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA.

Income
$68.5 million
Spending
$63.8 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
55.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
259
Volunteers
1,599
Highest pay
$654,993, president and director-counsel

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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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. $29.3 million spent. THE LEGAL AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE LITIGATION, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING WORK IN CONNECTION WITH POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION, CIVIL ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
  2. $7.9 million spent. THE THURGOOD MARSHALL INSTITUTE IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTER WITHIN THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. THE INSTITUTE COMPLEMENTS LDF'S TRADITIONAL LITIGATION STRENGTHS AND BRINGS CRITICAL CAPABILITIES TO THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
  3. $5.7 million spent. THE HERBERT LEHMAN PROGRAM OFFERS GRANTS, GENERALLY OF $3,000 ANNUALLY TO U.S. CITIZEN UNDERGRADUATES AND $15,000 ANNUALLY TO U.S. CITIZEN LAW STUDENTS. PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENTERING THE FIRST YEAR OF FULL-TIME STUDY. THIS SCHOLARSHIP CAN BE RENEWED THREE TIMES FOR UNDERGRAD LAW STUDENT AND TWO TIMES FOR GRADUATE LAW STUDENTS. THE MARSHALL-MOTLEY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OFFERS LAW STUDENTS' FULL TUITION, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND BAR EXAM PREPARATION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1940.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.