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Louisville & Jefferson County Public Defender Corporation

EIN 23-7129726 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 1% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT, EFFECTIVE, HIGH QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S CREDO AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT. TO WORK INTERDEPENDENTLY WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE COURTS AND LEADERS IN EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES, ALONG WITH THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF OUR INDIGENT CLIENTS AND IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Income
$-28,348
Spending
$602,732
Spent on programs
1%
Reserves
102.5 months of spending
Employees
105
Volunteers
0

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 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 102.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 100% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    1% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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. $7,000 spent. THE SOLE ACTIVITY OF THE LOUISVILLE & JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER CORPORATION WAS RENDERING LEGAL SERVICES PURSUANT TO COURT APPOINTMENT IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, TO INDIGENT ADULTS AND JUVENILES ACCUSED OF CRIMES AND STATUS OFFENSES, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE SUBJECTED TO INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION DUE TO MENTAL ILLNESS. WITH THE PASSAGE OF HB 568 BY THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE ON MARCH 16, 2023, THE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOUISVILLE & JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER CORPORATION WERE TERMINATED AS OF JUNE 30, 2024. THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF ADVOCACY ("DPA") PROVIDES THOSE LEGAL SERVICES BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 2024.

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 January 1972.

    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.