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Women Against Abuse Legal Center

EIN 23-2604575 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER PROVIDES FREE ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SEEKING LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN PHILADELPHIA.

Income
$461,170
Spending
$431,950
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
13
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$203,081, executive director & presi

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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. $431,950 spent. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER IN PHILADELPHIA SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE NATION. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER EMPOWERS WOMEN AND MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED TO NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION, COURT ADVOCACY AND TELEPHONE COUNSELING. EXPERIENCED STAFF MEMBERS WORK WITH VICTIMS TO SECURE LEGAL PROTECTIONS RELATING TO BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS, INCLUDING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION ORDERS, CHILD CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT. WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE ATTORNEYS HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN NAVIGATING LEGAL SYSTEMS AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A SENSITIVE MANNER THAT EMPOWERS CLIENTS. SEVERAL ATTORNEYS ALSO BRING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF DISTINCT SUBPOPULATIONS, SUCH AS VICTIMS OF STALKING AND VICTIMS WHO ARE IMMIGRANTS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER SERVED 3,029 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FREE REPRESENTATION OR ASSISTANCE TO 1,401 INDIVIDUALS; COURT ADVOCATES SERVED 883 CLIENTS; AND PARALEGALS AND SUPPORT STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO 1,303 VICTIMS AT CRUCIAL POINTS OF NEED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING IN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, THE GENERAL FILING UNIT OF PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT, AND FOR FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE LEGAL CENTER ALSO PROVIDED TELEPHONE COUNSELING TO 1,021 CLIENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND PROVIDED SUPPORT TO 589 VICTIMS AT HIGH-RISK OF LETHALITY, FOLLOWING A 911 CALL.IN ADDITION TO ITS DIRECT SERVICES, THE LEGAL CENTER PIONEERS INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO REACH VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING: THE TELEPHONE OUTREACH PROJECT (TOP): A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LEGAL CENTER AND THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, TOP PROVIDES FOLLOW-UP ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO HAVE CALLED 9-1-1 AND ARE AT HIGHEST RISK OF LETHALITY. "FAST TRACK" ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION PROGRAM: TO PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AND REPRESENTATION FOR MORE VICTIMS, WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE HAS STATIONED STAFF ATTORNEYS IN THE TWO COURT ROOMS IN PHILADELPHIA WHERE PROTECTION FROM ABUSE CASES ARE HEARD, OPENING ACCESS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. FAST TRACK ATTORNEYS CAN REPRESENT CLIENTS ON THE SPOT, CONNECTING THEM WITH LEGAL COUNSEL DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF NEED.

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 September 1990.

    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.

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.