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Latin American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc

EIN 20-2484231 · Trenton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF ALL IMMIGRANTS (WITH A FOCUS ON THE LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE MERCER COUNTY AREA); FACILITATE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION; ADVOCATE FOR THE INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS; AND FOSTER INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION THAT STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES SERVED.

Income
$803,829
Spending
$739,969
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
22
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$96,206, executive dir.

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $519,151 spent. COMMUNITY CENTER - CASA DE BIENVENIDA, THE TRENTON COMMUNITY CENTER, IS A RESOURCE HUB FOR THE CITY'S LATINO AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, SERVING OVER 3,000 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY. CASA DE BIENVENIDA IS OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK, YEAR ROUND, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE SOCIAL CAPITAL OF IMMIGRANT HOUSEHOLDS. OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH DEPARTMENT DISSEMINATES ESSENTIAL AND RELIABLE INFORMATION ON RELEVANT TOPICS AS WELL AS ISSUING MERCER COUNTY ID CARDS TO EXTEND ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES. OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE COURSES IN THE AREAS OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION,CITIZENSHIP PREP, AND HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY. ALSO PROVIDED ARE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES.
  2. $120,226 spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - FUTURO PROGRAM WHICH IS AN INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM FOR FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT STUDENTS. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MENTORING AND TUTORING, SAT/ACT PREP, ASSISTANCE WITH SCHOLARSHIP AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, VISITS TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND MORE COMPLEMENTARY TO THE FUTURO PROGRAM IS FUTURO FAMILIA, WHICH PROVIDES A FORUM FOR FAMILIES OF STUDENTS TO DISCUSS CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS HOLISTIC FAMILY SUPPORT. LALDEF WORKS WITH AND ENGAGES ENTIRE FAMILIES, UNDERSTANDING THAT BY ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THISWAY, WE IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

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 July 2005.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: N a a C P Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-1655255. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.