Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Center for Law and Social Policy

EIN 23-7000150 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP) IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN, ANTI-POVERTY NONPROFIT ADVANCING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES. WE DEVELOP PRACTICAL YET VISIONARY STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING POVERTY, PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL AND RACIAL BARRIERS FACED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. WITH OVER 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, WE'RE ADVANCING A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE ROOTED IN ECONOMIC SECURITY AND RACIAL EQUITY.

Income
$9.1 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
13.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
86
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$231,755, deputy executive dir., communications

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% 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

    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 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. $1.1 million spent. CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION - CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP) IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN, ANTI-POVERTY NONPROFIT ADVANCING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES. WE DEVELOP PRACTICAL, YET VISIONARY STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING POVERTY, PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND ADDRESSING INSTITUTIONAL AND RACIAL BARRIERS FACED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR. WITH OVER 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, WE'RE ADVANCING A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE ROOTED IN ECONOMIC SECURITY AND RACIAL EQUITY
  2. $1.1 million spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICE REQUIRES A PUBLIC BENEFITS SYSTEM THAT WORKS BOTH FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING A FINANCIAL EMERGENCY AND ALSO SUPPORTS LONG-LASTING ECONOMIC SECURITY. THAT'S WHY CLASP ADVOCATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE POLICIES THAT CENTER RACIAL EQUITY, INCREASE INVESTMENT, PREVENT HARMFUL CUTS, AND STREAMLINE ACCESS ACROSS PUBLIC PROGRAMS.WE WORK TO MAKE PUBLIC BENEFITS LIKE SNAP, WIC, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND MEDICAID MORE EQUITABLE AND EFFECTIVE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CALL FOR POLICIES LIKE GUARANTEED INCOME AND AN EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHICH HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON POVERTY IN RECENT YEARS.WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE BASIC NEEDS ARE ABUNDANTLY MET; EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES TO FLOURISH; AND A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC BENEFITS IS ACCESSIBLE, EQUITABLE, REPARATIVE, RESPONSIVE, EASY TO NAVIGATE, AND CO-CREATED WITH DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE.
  3. $1.1 million spent. CHILDREN IN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES MAKE UP ONE-QUARTER OF ALL CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES AND REPRESENT THE FASTEST-GROWING SEGMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S INCREASINGLY DIVERSE CHILD POPULATION. YET IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE LOW INCOME AND FACE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO HEALTH AND NUTRITION SUPPORTS.HARSH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT POLICIES ALSO THREATEN THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN MIXED-STATUS FAMILIES. CLASP ADVOCATES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY REFORMS TO PROMOTE HEALTH, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND OVERALL SUCCESS FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES.

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 April 1969.

    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.