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Legal Aid Society

EIN 13-5562265 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY IS A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION, THE OLDEST AND LARGEST IN THE NATION, DEDICATED SINCE 1876 TO PROVIDING QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS. (MISSION CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IT IS DEDICATED TO ONE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL BELIEF: THAT NO NEW YORKER SHOULD BE DENIED ACCESS TO JUSTICE BECAUSE OF POVERTY. DURING THE YEAR, THE SOCIETY HANDLED MORE THAN 222,255 INDIVIDUAL CASES AND MATTERS AND PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES IN THREE AREAS: THE CIVIL, CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICES. UNLIKE THE SOCIETY'S CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICES, WHICH ARE LEGALLY MANDATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE CIVIL PRACTICE RELIES HEAVILY ON PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.

Income
$439.7 million
Spending
$431.3 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
2,621
Volunteers
2,983
Highest pay
$404,385, general counsel & secretary

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

Weak: 44 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 96% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

    61 of 61 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. $233.5 million spent. CRIMINAL PRACTICE - REPRESENTED NYC INDIGENT CLIENTS INVOLVING CRIMINAL DEFENSE TRIAL, APPELLATE, POST-CONVICTION AND PAROLE REVOCATION DEFENSE MATTERS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE CRIMINAL PRACTICE WORKED ON APPROXIMATELY 136,575 CLIENT MATTERS THIS YEAR.
  2. $104.5 million spent. CIVIL PRACTICE - PROVIDED CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS AND WORKED ON APPROXIMATELY 59,500 CLIENT MATTERS THIS YEAR.
  3. $54.7 million spent. JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICE - REPRESENTED CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, DELINQUENCY AND OTHER MATTERS IN THE NYC FAMILY COURT. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE JUVENILE RIGHTS PRACTICE WORKED ON APPROXIMATELY 26,180 ONGOING CLIENT MATTERS THIS YEAR.

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 November 1943.

    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.

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