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Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project

EIN 22-3260883 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT HELPS LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS IMPROVE THEIR LEGAL STATUS, AND WORKS FOR MORE JUST AND HUMANE LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING IMMIGRANTS.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
35
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$145,742, executive di

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $2.1 million spent. DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES: ILAP OFFERS A RANGE OF DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS, INCLUDING FULL REPRESENTATION, CONSULTATIONS, AND PRO SE ASSISTANCE. IN 2024, WE PROVIDED DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO 2,470 PEOPLE, MAINTAINING A GREATER THAN 99% APPROVAL RATE FOR FULL REPRESENTATION CASES THAT RECEIVED A FINAL DECISION. IN ADDITION, PRO BONO ATTORNEYS DONATED 2,265 HOURS OF THEIR TIME AT A VALUE OF 834,315.
  2. $386,335 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: ILAP PROVIDES ACCURATE AND ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ON COMPLEX LEGAL ISSUES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GROUPS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE. IN 2024, WE HOSTED 119 IN- PERSON OR VIRTUAL OUTREACH EVENTS ATTENDED BY 2,744 INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO EXPANDED THE LEGAL EDUCATION AND SELF-HELP TOOLS AVAILABLE ONLINE. OUR WEBSITE HAD 159,000 UNIQUE VISITORS AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES REACHED NEARLY 35,000 PEOPLE.
  3. $103,023 spent. SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY: ILAP COLLABORATES WITH IMMIGRANT-LED GROUPS, PARTNERS IN MAINE'S IMMIGRANT JUSTICE MOVEMENT, AND REGIONAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SAFEGUARD AND PROMOTE LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE STATE'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, WE SERVED AS A SOURCE OF ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA ON 33 OCCASIONS AND ENDORSED 35 POLICY RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND JOINED PUBLIC COMMENTS ON A RANGE OF LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ISSUES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION LAW AND POLICY.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1993.

    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.