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Legal Aid Society of Rochester Inc

EIN 16-0743070 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$13.7 million
Spending
$13.5 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
139
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$248,428, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 57 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 25

    14 of 15 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 March 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 (2)
  1. $8.3 million spent. THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER, NY (LASROC) PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND BRIEF LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. LASROC ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS TO BOTH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONALS AT OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES. EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN LASROC'S SERVICES RETURNS TENFOLD BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN SAVINGS FOR SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDER COSTS, AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FORECLOSURE AND INAPPROPRIATE EVICTIONS. EACH YEAR, LASROC REPRESENTS AN AVERAGE OF 8,500 CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND TIRELESSLY WORKS TO OBTAIN AN AVERAGE OF $3.62 MILLION IN SAVINGS, CHILD SUPPORT, AND MAINTENANCE FOR OUR CLIENTS. IN 2024-25, THE INTEREST ON LAWYERS' ACCOUNTS FUND (IOLA) CALCULATED THAT THE OVERALL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY BY LASROC WAS $33.33 MILLION.. LASROC OPERATES BOTH A CIVIL DIVISION AND A JUVENILE JUSTICE DIVISION. THE CIVIL CIVISION PROVIDES HOLISTIC LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH FAMILY LAW, HOUSING AND CONSUMER LAW, EDUCATION LAW, AND IMMIGRATION LAW UNITS. THESE SERVICES ARE PREDOMINANTLY PROVIDED IN MONROE, WAYNE, ORLEANS, GENESEE, LIVINGSTON, STEUBEN, AND ONTARIO COUNTIES. THE IMMIGRATION UNIT PROVIDES REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE, PRIMARILY IN THE 14 CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES SURROUNDING THOSE LISTED ABOVE. THE FAMILY LAW UNIT IS COMMITTED TO COMPASSIONATELY ADVOCATING FOR CLIENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE OFTEN OVERWHELMING PROCESSES OF FAMILY COURT AND MATRIMONIAL LITIGATION WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON THE REPRESENTATION OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OUR FAMILY LAW UNIT ATTORNEYS PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN THE AREAS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORDERS OF PROTECTION, CUSTODY, VISITATION, DIVORCE, AND OTHER FAMILY LAW MATTERS. THE HOUSING AND CONSUMER LAW UNIT PROVIDES A RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES AIMED AT THE PROTECTION OF CLIENTS' HOMES AND INCOME, INCLUDING EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, BANKRUPTCY, CONSUMER LAW, AND REPRESENTATION OF FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. THE IMMIGRATION LAW UNIT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVICE, AND INFORMATION TO NON-CITIZEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE OBTAINING A GREEN CARD, ASYLUM APPLICATIONS, UNITING FAMILIES THROUGH CONSULAR PROCESSING, DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS, FAMILY-BASED PETITIONS, NATURALIZATION/CITIZENSHIP, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS, T VISAS, TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS, U VISAS, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT PETITIONS, REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, AND WORK AUTHORIZATION. THE EDUCATION LAW UNIT PROVIDES AN ATTORNEY AND LAY ADVOCATES WHO STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS FACING LONG-TERM SUSPENSION OR WHO HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.
  2. $3.8 million spent. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE DIVISION PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, AND LEGAL COUNSELING TO YOUTH IN MONROE AND STEUBEN COUNTIES. THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD (AFC) UNIT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT YOUTH IN MONROE COUNTY FAMILY COURT HAVE ACCESS TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ENSURING THAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED. AFC ATTORNEYS ARE APPOINTED BY AN ORDER OF A FAMILY COURT JUDGE TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN IN A VARIETY OF CASES, INCLUDING ABUSE, NEGLECT, JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION (PINS), CUSTODY, AND VISITATIONS. EACH OF OUR AFC ATTORNEYS UTILIZES THEIR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE TO COMPASSIONATELY SUPPORT YOUTHS FACING THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 July 1969.

    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.