Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE LEGAL SERVICES THAT ENABLE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN EAST PALO ALTO AND BEYOND TO ACHIEVE A SECURE AND THRIVING FUTURE.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 13.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 59%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 273
- Highest pay
- $164,008, executive 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM WORKS TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC STABILITY. WE PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH TO FAMILIES SEEKING IMMIGRATION REMEDIES, INCUDING ASYLUM AND OTHER FORMS OF HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, DEPORTATION DEFENSE, DACA RENEWALS, U-VISAS, AND WORK AUTHORIZATION RENEWALS. OUR SERVICES IMPACTED 2,500+ HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN FISCAL 2025.
- $1.3 million spent. THE HOUSING PROGRAM WORKS TO KEEP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO REMAIN IN SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. WE PROVDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO TENANTS TO STOP DISPLACEMENT; WE WORK WITH PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION TO TENANTS IN WEEKLY UNLAWFUL DETAINER MANDATORY SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES; WE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND COALITIONS TO PROVIDE KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS INFORMATION, AND WE ADVOCATE ALONGSIDE TENANTS AND FAMILIES TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE SILICON VALLEY. OUR SERVICES IMPACTED 1,884 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN FISCAL 2025.
- $659,263 spent. THE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM WORKS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC SECURITY AND STABILITY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAST CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE POST-CONVICTION RECORD RELIEF; WE ASSIST WORKERS WHO FACE WORKPLACE CHALLENGES LIKE WAGE THEFT, HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION. IN FISCAL 2025, WE REMOVED 213 BARRIERS FOR 92 CLIENTS AND RECOVERED $136,000 IN UNPAID WAGES AND OTHER DAMAGES FOR WORKERS WHO EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT AND/OR UNFAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.