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North Penn Legal Services Inc

EIN 23-1659111 · Pittston, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SOLVE CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS AND EMPOWER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION.

Income
$10.1 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
105
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$181,539, deputy director for legal

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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

    11 of 11 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY SOLUTION THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. REQUESTS FOR OUR FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES DURING THE LAST YEAR RESULTED IN HANDLING MORE THAN 10,400 CASES. IN 20 COUNTIES, CLOSE TO 190,000 PEOPLE (AGES 18+) ARE IN POVERTY AND ELIGIBLE FOR THE SERVICES OF NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES. WE PROVIDED CIVIL LEGAL AID TO 1,930 OF THOSE PEOPLE THROUGH COURT AND ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, ENHANCING CLIENTS' ECONOMIC SECURITY BY OBTAINING AWARDS OF JUST OVER $3 MILLION PRIMARILY IN CONSUMER CASES.
  2. $3.0 million spent. AS A REGIONAL PROVIDER OF CIVIL LEGAL AID FOR 60 YEARS, NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES HAS BEEN ENSURING THAT LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST PA HAVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND THE SAME LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE MEANS CAN AFFORD ON THEIR OWN. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES STAFF PROVIDE CRITICAL ADVOCACY THROUGH REPRESENTATION AT HEARINGS, MODERATING DIFFICULT LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROVIDING SELF-HELP MATERIALS TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE FACING EVICTION, FORECLOSURE, AND LOSS OF FEDERAL HOUSING SUBSIDIES. IN 2024-2025 HOUSING WAS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR CLIENTS. NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES STAFF HELPED 6,419 PEOPLE WITH HOUSING ISSUES.
  3. $1.1 million spent. LEGAL AID LAWYERS AND PARALEGALS AT NORTH PENN LEGAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN ESSENTIAL IN PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH SAFETY AND STABILITY WHEN THEY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN. IN CASES WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WERE THREATENED WITH VIOLENCE FROM AN INTIMATE PARTNER, STAFF OBTAINED PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDERS IN 532 CASES. IN SITUATIONS WHERE FAMILIES WERE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR HOME, NPLS WAS ABLE TO PREVENT EVICTION OR PRESERVE SHELTER IN 385 CASES. DURING THIS PAST YEAR OF FUNDING, NPLS HAS MAINTAINED A STEADY NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, PARALEGALS, STAFF SUPPORT, AND INTERNS WHO ASSISTED OUR CLIENTS. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES THROUGH SPECIAL PROJECT FUNDING SUCH AS OUR LEHIGH VALLEY FAIR HOUSING PROJECT.

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 February 1966.

    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.

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