Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for Elder Law and Justice Inc

EIN 16-1118282 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED AND LOW-INCOME PERSONS IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK AREA THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ASSURE THAT CLIENTS MAY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH DIGNITY.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$8.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
101
Volunteers
104
Highest pay
$298,599, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% 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 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $6.8 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O:CELJ ADVOCATES FOR OLDER ADULTS, DISABLED PERSONS AND LOW INCOMEINDIVIDUALS IN WESTERN NEW YORK. SINCE 1978, CELJ HAS SERVED CLIENTSTHROUGH DIRECT SERVICES, LEGAL WORKSHOPS AND CLINICS, PRO BONOACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS. THE AGENCY IS DIVIDED INTOTWO DEPARTMENTS: CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND GUARDIAN AND TRUSTEESERVICES. IN 2024, WE HAD 8,001 TOTAL CASES OPEN AT ANY TIME, SERVING13,993 PEOPLE (USING TOTAL HOUSEHOLD SIZE). WE HOSTED 236 OUTREACHESWITH 15,604 ATTENDEES. OUR SERVICES SAVED TAXPAYERS ACROSS NEW YORKSTATE AN ESTIMATED $5,712,470 AND WE HELPED OUR CLIENTS RECOVER OR SAVEAN ESTIMATED $5,536,234.IN ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAM REVENUE, WE MANAGE A POOLED SUPPLEMENTAL NEEDS TRUST. THE WESTERN NEW YORK COALITION TRUST HAS $15,274,744 UNDER FISCAL MANAGEMENT PROVIDING TRUSTEE SERVICES TO 803 BENEFICIARIESFINALLY, WE ARE COURT APPOINTED GUARDIANS FOR 85 PEOPLE MANAGING AN ADDITIONAL $9,794,582 IN ASSETS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 1981.

    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.