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Immigration Equality

EIN 13-3802711 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IMMIGRATION EQUALITY PROMOTES JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND HIV-POSITIVE IMMIGRANTS THROUGH DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, POLICY ADVOCACY, AND IMPACT LITIGATION.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
22
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$175,066, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $1.5 million spent. LEGAL SERVICES - IMMIGRATION EQUALITY PROVIDES DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND HIV-POSITIVE (LGBTQ/H) IMMIGRANTS. WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO MORE THAN 500 LGBTQ/H INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR IN-HOUSE LEGAL TEAM AND NATIONWIDE PRO BONO NETWORK. OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND TRAIN PRO BONO ATTORNEYS ON HOW TO REPRESENT THEIR ASYLUM CLIENTS. OUR LEGAL TEAM ALSO REPRESENTS LGBTQ/H ASYLUM SEEKERS DETAINED IN IMMIGRATION JAILS, SECURING THEIR RELEASE, REPRESENTING THEM DIRECTLY OR HELPING THEM SECURE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND PROVIDING THEM WITH SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO HELP THEMSELVES. FINALLY, WE IDENTIFY LGBTQ/H REFUGEES IN NEED OF SUPPORT, AND HELP THEM FILE THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR RESETTLEMENT TO SAFER COUNTRIES.
  2. $203,551 spent. OUTREACH - IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON THE DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY ON LGBTQ/H IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHAT THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORTERS CAN DO TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE. IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S COMMUNICATIONS TEAM SECURES COVERAGE IN HUNDREDS OF OUTLETS EACH YEAR, ACROSS PRINT, DIGITAL, TV, AND RADIO. OUR WEBSITE ATTRACTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS PER YEAR, AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS ARE FOLLOWED BY MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, IMMIGRATION EQUALITY'S EMAIL LIST REACHES UP TO 20,000 INDIVIDUALS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
  3. $14 spent. POLICY ADVOCACY - IMMIGRATION EQUALITY WORKS TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT PROTECT LGBTQ/H ASYLUM SEEKERS AND DETAINED INDIVIDUALS. IN MEETINGS, BRIEFINGS, AND HEARINGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE EDUCATE DECISION MAKERS ABOUT THE DANGERS THAT LGBTQ/H IMMIGRANTS FACE. OUR CLIENTS, WHO HAVE FACED THESE DANGERS THEMSELVES, SHARE THEIR PERSONAL TESTIMONIES OF DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE. WE LAY BARE THE TOLL OF HARMFUL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS, AND WE WORK IN COALITIONS TO PUT FORWARD SOLUTIONS. BY SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES, CRAFTING AND ENDORSING POLICIES, AND RESPONDING TO ISSUES IN THE PRESS, WE PUSH OUR LEADERS TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE IN THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT BENEFITS OUR CONSTITUENTS.
  4. REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT - TRADITIONAL REFUGEE PROGRAMS OFTEN MISS LGBTQ/H PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THEY FACE. WE CREATE NEW WAYS FOR LGBTQ/H REFUGEES TO FIND RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. SINCE OUR PROGRAM LAUNCHED, WE'VE HELPED LGBTQ/H REFUGEES FROM COUNTRIES INCLUDING AFGHANISTAN, COLOMBIA, EGYPT, EL SALVADOR, IRAN, IRAQ, GUINEA, KENYA, RWANDA, SOMALIA, SOUTH SUDAN, SYRIA, AND UGANDA.

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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 May 1995.

    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 November 4, 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.