Legal Outreach Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEGAL OUTREACH IS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY ORGANIZATION THAT USES INSTRUCTION IN LAW AS A CATALYST FOR INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING YOUTH FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY TO STRIVE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION CHANGES THE EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY OF URBAN YOUTH BY IMPLEMENTING A SERIES OF LEGAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER VISION, DEVELOP SKILLS, INSTILL VALUES AND ENHANCE CONFIDENCE AMONG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 17.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 77
- Volunteers
- 312
- Highest pay
- $219,000, executive director president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 17.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (1)
- $2.4 million spent. IN 2024-25, LEGAL OUTREACH BEGAN THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH 226 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ITS COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM (70 FRESHMEN, 64 SOPHOMORES, 53 JUNIORS, AND 39 SENIORS). WITHIN THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM, WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT OUR SCHOOL-YEAR ACADEMIC ADVISORY PROGRAM, WRITING PROGRAM, CON LAW DEBATE PROGRAM, MENTORING PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE PROGRAM, PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM, TRANSITION-TO-COLLEGE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM. WE FINISHED THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR WITH 216 STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM (65 FRESHMEN, 56 SOPHOMORES, 52 JUNIORS, AND 39 SENIORS). OUR RETENTION RATE FOR THE YEAR WAS THUS 96%. WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED ALL ELEMENTS OF THE MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM INCLUDING THE: 1) ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER; 2) STUDY AND LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM; 3) MENTORING PROGRAM; 4) CONSTITUTIONAL LAW DEBATE PROGRAM; 5) PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM; 6) SATURDAY WRITING PROGRAM; 7) COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM, 8) TRANSITION TO COLLEGE PROGRAM, 9) COLLEGE SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR OUR COLLEGE FRESHMEN. SUMMER COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAMS, ALL OF WHICH WERE DONE VIRTUALLY, INCLUDED 10) SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR RISING 10TH GRADE STUDENTS; 11) SAT PREP PROGRAM FOR RISING 11TH GRADERS; AND 12) COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM AND COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY CLASS FOR RISING 12TH GRADERS.WE ALSO HELPED 100% OF GRADUATING LEGAL OUTREACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAIN ADMISSION TO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE. WE STARTED THE 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR WITH 39 SENIORS. THIRTY-NINE (100 %) COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND EACH WAS ADMITTED TO AN AVERAGE OF 8 COLLEGES BASED UPON THEIR OVERALL PROFILE.REGARDING OUR FEEDER PROGRAM, THE SUMMER LAW INSTITUTE FOR RISING 9TH GRADE STUDENTS, WE ENROLLED 161 STUDENTS INTO THE INSTITUTES AT BROOKLYN, CARDOZO (ALL FEMALE IDENTIFYING), CUNY, FORDHAM (ALL FEMALE IDENTIFYING), NYU (ALL MALE IDENTIFYING), AND ST. JOHN'S LAW SCHOOLS. THE RISING NINTH GRADERS AT EACH INSTITUTE ATTENDED THE PROGRAM FROM 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR FIVE WEEKS. THEY WERE EXPOSED TO LEGAL OUTREACH'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM, LAWYERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS CAREER PATHS WITHIN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, LEGAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS LAW FIRMS AND COURTHOUSES, AND THE PRACTICE OF LAW THROUGH THE CULMINATING EVENT OF THE SUMMER, A MOCK-TRIAL COMPETITION. EACH INSTITUTE WAS STAFFED BY TWO LAW STUDENTS AND A COLLEGE INTERN. OF THE 161 STUDENTS WHO BEGAN THE INSTITUTE, 153 (95%) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE RIGOROUS FIVE-WEEK PROGRAM. THE ATTENDANCE RATE WAS 99.67%. OF THE 153 STUDENTS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, 116 (76%) APPLIED FOR ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12.WITHIN THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM, SINCE 2020 WE HAVE FACILITATED A LEADERSHIP COMPONENT CALLED THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM. IN 2024-25, 129 OF LEGAL OUTREACH COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, WITH 24 STUDENTS SERVING ON THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS), AND AN ADDITIONAL 13 STUDENTS TAKING PART IN THE FRESHMAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, AN INITIATIVE TO TRAIN AND PREPARE FRESHMAN FOR PARTICIPATION ON THE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AS THEY MATRICULATE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ENGAGED PHILLIBER RESEARCH ASSOCIATES TO CONDUCT AN EXTENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM. AMONG THE MOST RELEVANT STATISTICS FOR MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM WERE STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROGRAMS' USEFULNESS. STUDENTS PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING AVERAGE RATINGS WITH REGARD TO THE VALUE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM: (1) KEEPING ON TRACK TO COLLEGE (92%) (2) PREPARING TO COMPETE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL (91%), (3) IMPROVING ACADEMIC SKILLS (85%), (4) DOING WELL IN SCHOOL (83%). EACH OF THESE RATINGS IS WELL ABOVE OUR PROJECTION OF 70%. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, 96% OF THE STUDENTS SERVED CAME FROM MINORITY GROUPS AND 88% RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH AT SCHOOL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
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