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Central Jersey Legal Services Inc

EIN 21-0684259 · New Brunswick, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN NON-CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OR MATTERS TO PERSONS FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO AFFORD LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN MERCER COUNTY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, AND UNION COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

Income
$15.0 million
Spending
$14.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
99
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$252,713, deputy director

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% 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 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (1)
  1. $13.0 million spent. CENTRAL JERSEY LEGAL SERVICES (CJLS) IS A NONPROFIT LAW FIRM THAT SERVES LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF MIDDLESEX, MERCER, AND UNION COUNTIES. CJLS HAS ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS AS WELL AS OTHER SUPPORT STAFF IN FIVE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE REGIONS. OFFICES ARE OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY, 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. THERE ARE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH INCOME LESS THAN 250% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. CJLS ATTORNEYS AND PARALEGALS PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO PROTECT THEIR HOUSING AND INCOME, IMPROVE FAMILY STABILITY, REMOVE BARRIERS TO PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT, WIDEN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND CJLS ASSISTS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OBTAIN RESTRAINING ORDERS, SUPPORT AND CUSTODY. CJLS ASSISTS OTHERS WITH FAMILY ISSUES PROVIDING ADVICE, ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION. CJLS SERVICES OFFERS THREE LEVELS OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE CLIENT COMMUNITY AND RESOLVE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT PROBLEMS. FIRST, CASE HANDLERS PROVIDE LEGAL ASSESSMENT, ADVICE AND REFERRAL IN CASES WHERE THE CLIENT IS ABLE TO RESOLVE THEIR LEGAL PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN. INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION FROM AN ATTORNEY OR PARALEGAL IMPROVES CLIENTS' ABILITY TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR OWN BEHALF AND ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED OUTCOME. SECOND, IN COMPLEX MATTERS OR THOSE WITH SERIOUS LEGAL CONSEQUENCES, CJLS, PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND COURT PROCEEDINGS. FINALLY THE PROGRAM DELIVERS COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION TO THE TARGET POPULATION. THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND CLINICS, AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER AGENCIES, CJLS RAISES COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS AND PROVIDES COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS AND PROMOTE THEIR LEGAL INTERESTS. CJLS HELPS CLIENTS AVOID EVICTION OR OVERCOME FORECLOSURE, DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LEASE, IMPROVE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS, AND SECURE VITAL HOUSING SUBSIDIES. CJLS HELPED CLIENTS SECURE BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION, END CREDITOR HARASSMENT, DEFEND AGAINST FORCLOSURE, NEGOTIATE RESOLUTION OF DEBT, AND FIGHT UNFAIR AND ILLEGAL SALES PRACTICES. CJLS ASSISTED CLIENTS TO OBTAIN, INCREASE OR PROTECT IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INCOME FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, DISABILITY, UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD STAMPS, AND TANF, SO THEY COULD PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1956.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.