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Bet Tzedek

EIN 23-7304205 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST.

Income
$24.5 million
Spending
$20.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
11.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
139
Volunteers
1,573
Highest pay
$294,672, ceo

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: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    58 of 58 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 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 (1)
  1. $16.7 million spent. BET TZEDEK IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR LEVERAGING STAFF TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND SUPERVISE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF PRO BONO LAWYERS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS THE ORGANIZATION SERVES. BET TZEDEK CLIENTS BENEFIT FROM TWO DISTINCT VOLUNTEER GROUPS. THE FIRST ARE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO PERFORM INTAKE INTERVIEWS AND OTHER CLIENT SERVICES, INCLUDING UP TO 150 LAW STUDENTS A YEAR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THESE VOLUNTEERS DONATED THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF THEIR TIME, THE VALUE OF WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $5 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO THE VALUE THAT IN HOUSE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES, BET TZEDEK ALSO PLACES CLIENTS' CASES WITH HUNDREDS OF PRO BONO ATTORNEY AND PARALEGAL VOLUNTEERS AT LAW (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) FIRMS NATIONWIDE. THESE PRO BONO VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE REPORTED TO THE ORGANIZATION AFTER THE END OF EACH YEAR, AND AS A RESULT THE 2024 AMOUNTS WILL BE DISCLOSED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2026. WHAT IS AVAILABLE IS THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION MADE IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024:27,387 HOURS OF SERVICE BY 1,573 VOLUNTEERS, WITH A VALUE ESTIMATED AT OVER $10 MILLION. BET TZEDEK'S EFFORTS IN MARSHALLING VOLUNTEERS AND PRO BONO LAWYERS IN INNOVATIVE AND IMPACTFUL WAYS HAVE RESULTED IN BET TZEDEK RECEIVING THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S "PRO BONO PUBLICO AWARD" FOR ITS HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR JUSTICE NETWORK, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND SOCIAL WORKERS REPRESENTING SURVIVORS IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR REPARATIONS IN OVER 30 CITIES. BET TZEDEK HAS ALSO RECEIVED THE PRO BONO INSTITUTE'S 2020 CORPORATE PRO BONO "PRO BONO PARTNER AWARD" FOR ITS PRO BONO COLLABORATION WITH THE LAW FIRM OF DAVIS WRIGHT AND TREMAINE, AMAZON AND KIDS IN NEED OF DEFENSE TO SERVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.

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

  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 August 2025.

    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 July 1973.

    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.