Public Counsel
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PUBLIC COUNSEL IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS AND RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AS WELL AS TO AMPLIFYING THE POWER OF OUR CLIENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL ADVOCACY. (SEE SCH O FOR CONTINUATION)FOUNDED ON AND STRENGTHENED BY A PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICE MODEL, OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS SEEK JUSTICE THROUGH DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, PROMOTE HEALTHY AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY-LED EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM UNJUST SYSTEMS THROUGH LITIGATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY IN AND BEYOND LOS ANGELES.
- Income
- $23.8 million
- Spending
- $23.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 196
- Volunteers
- 4,000
- Highest pay
- $287,607, sr. special counsel for strat. lit.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 2589 of 89 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 August 31, 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 (4)
- $3.9 million spent. THE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS TEAM PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUALS FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES BEFORE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE LOS ANGELES IMMIGRATION COURT, THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS, AND THE FEDERAL COURTS. THE TEAM ASSISTS NUMEROUS VULNERABLE IMMIGRANT GROUPS, INCLUDING VICTIMS OF PERSECUTION SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, VIOLENT CRIME AND TRAFFICKING VICTIMS SEEKING RELIEF UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT AND THE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE PROTECTION ACT; AND IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED AND CANNOT SAFELY RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)
- $3.1 million spent. THE CHILD, YOUTH & FAMILY ADVOCACY TEAM USES A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO LEGAL ADVOCACY WITH THE TRAUMA-INFORMED AND RESILIENCY-FOCUSED TOOLS OF SOCIAL WORKERS SUPPORTING THE WORK OF LEGAL ADVOCATES TO REMOVE LEGAL BARRIERS FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE. THE TEAM FIGHTS FOR THE DIGNITY OF OUR CLIENTS THROUGH DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY-LED LOCAL POLICY WORK, IMPACT LITIGATION, AND STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE TRANSFORMATION. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)
- $3.0 million spent. THE CONSUMER RIGHTS & ECONOMIC JUSTICE TEAM ADVANCES ECONOMIC JUSTICE BY PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL FOR, AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF, LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES, ADDRESSING INEQUALITIES IN BARGAINING POWER, OPPOSING THOSE WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VULNERABLE, AND HOLDING WRONGDOERS ACCOUNTABLE. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)
- $8.6 million spent. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM BUILDS STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR HEALTHY, VIBRANT, AND ECONOMICALLY STABLE COMMUNITIES THROUGH ITS LEGAL AND CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, LOW-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS, AND NONPROFITS SERVING LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS AND ADDRESSING ISSUES OF POVERTY IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE CLINICS AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THROUGH ITS HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, PRESERVATION AND ENFORCEMENT UNIT, THE TEAM SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION TEAM WORKS WITH HOMELESS YOUTH, ADULTS, AND FAMILIES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS BY HELPING THEM ACCESS SHELTER, CLOTHING, FOOD, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED. THE TEAM ALSO ASSISTS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL BARRIERS THEY FACE IN GAINING EMPLOYMENT, SECURING AND PRESERVING HOUSING, AND ACHIEVING STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)THE OPPORTUNITY UNDER LAW TEAM BRINGS COMMUNITY-BASED IMPACT LITIGATION TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY. THE TEAM REPRESENTS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES CONFRONTING STRUCTURAL INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION IN AREAS LIKE EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND IMMIGRATION. BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S DIRECT SERVICES PROGRAMS AND ACROSS ITS SUBJECT AREAS,THE TEAM IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BRING MEANINGFUL IMPACT CASES IN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND, WORK CLOSELY WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, AND COMMUNICATE BROADLY TO ADVANCE PUBLIC DISCOURSE. THESE CASES STRATEGICALLY PURSUE NOVEL CLAIMS TO ADDRESS INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES AND SECURE LANDMARK VICTORIES IN DOCTRINAL AREAS COMMONLY REGARDED AS OFF-LIMITS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)THE EDUCATION EQUITY TEAM WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE DESERVES THE CHANCE TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE WITH SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND RESPECT. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, POLICY ADVOCACY, IMPACT LITIGATION, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THE TEAM FOCUSES ON CREATING MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST CONDITIONS AT SCHOOL AND IN THE WORKPLACE, AND ADVANCE EQUALITY, ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, GIRLS, AND PEOPLE OF ALL GENDER IDENTITIES. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)THE CENTER FOR VETERANS' ADVANCEMENT TEAM ENSURES THAT VETERANS HAVE ACCESS TO AN APPROPRIATE VA BENEFITS RATE AND OTHER NEEDED SERVICES TO IMPROVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THIS SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME VETERANS IN GENERAL, THE TEAM SERVES SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS OF VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, MILITARY CAREGIVERS, AND INCARCERATED FEMALE VETERANS. (THE REVENUE REPORTED HERE IS THE AMOUNT OF EXEMPT FUNCTION REVENUE FROM FORM 990, PART VIII, COLUMN (B) ALLOCATED TO THIS PROGRAM.)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.