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Federal Defenders of the Middle Distric of Georgia Inc

EIN 20-3469281 · Macon, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FEDERAL DEFENDERS OF THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, INC. (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "FDMDGA") IS THE DESIGNATED FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEFENDER ORGANIZATION FOR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. §3006A(G)(B). THE FDMDGA IS AN ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES FOR INDIGENT PERSONS. AS A COMMUNITY DEFENDER ORGANIZATION, THIS OFFICE AND ITS EMPLOYEES ARE NOT OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SINCE AUGUST 2005, WHEN IT WAS CREATED, THE FDMDGA HAS BEEN FEDERALLY FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS. THESE FEDERAL FUNDS ARE PROVIDED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENDERING DEFENSE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD COUNSEL AND WHO ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR, OR CHARGED WITH, VIOLATIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
29
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$243,978, first assistant defender

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $4.9 million spent. TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO QUALIFYING DEFENDANTS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM IN THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA. THE FDMDGA HAS TWO OFFICE LOCATIONS. THE HEADQUARTERS IS IN MACON, GEORGIA AND A BRANCH OFFICE IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. THE FDMDGA OFFICE PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO FIVE DIVISIONAL LOCATIONS STEMMING FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER LINE ACROSS TO THE ALABAMA BORDER DOWN TO THE FLORIDA BORDER. THE FIVE DIVISIONS ARE MACON, ATHENS, ALBANY, COLUMBUS, AND VALDOSTA. WE REPRESENT SOMEONE WHEN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT APPOINTS US TO DO SO. WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO WORK FOR YOU IN DEFENSE OF YOUR FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASE. WE DO NOT PROSECUTE OR FILE CHARGES AGAINST ANYONE; REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS IN STATE COURT; HANDLE CIVIL MATTERS; OR FILE GRIEVANCES OR COMPLAINTS AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DO NOT HANDLE CASES INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS DEPRIVATION OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (I.E. WITHHOLDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS). HOWEVER, TO THE EXTENT OTHER LITIGATION, GRIEVANCE PROCEEDINGS OR PERSONAL OR SOCIAL MATTERS MAY AFFECT A CLIENT'S FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASE, WE WILL THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THESE MATTERS. OUR ENTIRE STAFF AND ALL OF OUR RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULT FOR OUR CLIENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 September 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 August 2007.

    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.

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