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Legal Momentum

EIN 23-7085442 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEGAL MOMENTUM'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY FOR WOMEN UNDER THE LAW.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$234,267, president & ceo

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: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $120,351 spent. NATIONAL JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMENSURING FAIRNESS IN THE COURTS THROUGH LEGAL MOMENTUM'S NATIONAL JUDICIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (NJEP): THE AWARD-WINNING NJEP IS THE NATIONAL SOURCE FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE. NJEP PROVIDES TRAINING MATERIALS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES, AND WEBINARS FOR JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, VICTIMS' ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES, AND OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH GENDER BIAS CAN UNDERMINE FAIRNESS IN CRIMINAL, CIVIL, FAMILY, AND JUVENILE LAW. NJEP FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES AND CASES INVOLVING THE INTERSECTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  2. $1.3 million spent. LEGAL PROGRAMS:LEGAL MOMENTUM'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES IMPORTANT TO ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY FOR WOMEN, INCLUDING:WORKPLACE EQUALITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: THROUGH OUR WOMEN VALUED INITIATIVE, LEGAL MOMENTUM IS IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENHANCE ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR WOMEN, WITH A FOCUS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS, INCLUDING WOMEN OF COLOR, WOMEN WORKING IN LOW-WAGE INDUSTRIES, SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III, LINE 4B) BY DEVELOPING A KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS GUIDANCE ON THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND RELATED BENEFITS AND PROVIDING TRAINING AND OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME WOMEN, THE PROJECT AIMS TO PROMOTE EARLY INTERVENTION BY EDUCATING WOMEN ABOUT HOW TO ACTIVELY ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE AND WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. THE PROJECT ALSO RAISES AWARENESS AND ENGAGES IN LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY FOR REFORM AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND ENHANCE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY.COMBATTING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: LEGAL MOMENTUM IS WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THE GOAL OF EMPOWERING SURVIVORS TO ADDRESS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND ENSURING INFORMED COMMUNITY RESPONSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VIOLENCE PERPETRATED AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS INCLUDING: A. RESEARCH AND POLICY ADVOCACY GUIDANCES TO PASS A FEDERAL AND/OR STATE-BASED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDY TO REPLACE THE VAWA CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDY STRUCK DOWN BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN U.S. V. MORRISON (2000);B. LITIGATION ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE WHO HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE ON THE BASIS OF THEIR STATUS AS A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC/SEXUAL VIOLENCE; C. THROUGH OUR NEWLY LAUNCHED ONLINE TRAINING, HELPING SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, LEGAL MOMENTUM PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIM ADVOCATES ON HOW TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO NAVIGATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. D. LEADING EFFORTS TO ENACT BROADER WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS.REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: LEGAL MOMENTUM IS EXPANDING OUR WORK ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, OUTREACH, AND LITIGATION TO CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE OF AND INTRUSION INTO THE LIVES OF PREGNANT PERSONS. ENSURING EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS: LEGAL MOMENTUM, WITH EXPERTISE IN TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TO STUDENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT AND PARENTING, AND ENGAGES IN NATIONWIDE POLICY ADVOCACY ON THESE ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, LEGAL MOMENTUM IS BEGINNING THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF OUR SUCCESSFUL 'RIGHTS NOW!' PROGRAM, UNDER A GRANT FROM THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL YOUNG WOMEN'S INITIATIVE. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, LEGAL MOMENTUM DEVELOPS TRAININGS, PEER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND RESOURCES TO EMPOWER YOUNG, AT-RISK GIRLS (PARTICULARLY GIRLS OF COLOR) IN NEW YORK CITY AND PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AS STUDENTS AND YOUNG WORKERS.HELPLINE - DIRECT SERVICES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:LEGAL MOMENTUM'S HELPLINE RECEIVES SEVERAL HUNDRED CALLS PER YEAR FROM WOMEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR SUCH MATTERS AS EMPLOYMENT ISSUES (SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION, PAY EQUITY, PREGNANCY ACCOMMODATION), CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. CALLERS ARE PROVIDED WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, OR REFERRALS TO OTHER LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS (INCLUDING THE PRIVATE BAR), AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

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 May 1971.

    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.