Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY, INC. (ABLE) IS A NON-PROFIT LAW FIRM THAT PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CIVIL MATTERS TO HELP ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN WESTERN OHIO ACHIEVE SELF-RELIANCE, AND EQUAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
- Income
- $14.3 million
- Spending
- $11.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 10.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 103
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $174,464, deputy director
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: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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.
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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 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 (1)
- $10.1 million spent. HOUSING JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION, RACIAL JUSTICE, BUSINESS TRANSACTIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, ENTREPRENEUR LEGAL SUPPORT, COOPERATIVE LAW, LAND TRUST LAW, SHARED EQUITY DEVELOPMENT MODELS, FOOD EQUITY, FAIR HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, TENANTS RIGHTS, EVICTION DEFENSE, HOUSING SUBSIDY PRESERVATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION AND LOCATION, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE, LEAD POISONING PREVENTION, RETURNING CITIZENS, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING, CONSUMER RIGHTS.AGRICULTURAL WORKER AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS: PROTECTING AND EXPANDING THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES BY ADDRESSING UNFAIR OR DISCRIMINATORY EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING RACIAL OR ETHNIC PROFILING; DISCRIMINATION; UNPAID WAGES & MINIMUM WAGE CLAIMS; IMMIGRATION; NATURALIZATION; CIVIL RIGHTS; KNOW YOUR RIGHTS; IMMIGRANT DETENTION REPRESENTATION; HOUSING CONDITIONS; EDUCATION; HEALTHCARE; SNAP AND OTHER GOVERNMENT BENEFITS; PRESERVE FAMILY UNITY & STABILITY; SAFETY FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OTHER CRIMES, PERSECUTION, TORTURE & HUMAN TRAFFICKING; COMBAT UNFAIR OR DISCRIMINATORY WORKPLACE PRACTICES; IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES & THEIR FAMILIES.FAIRNESS IN EDUCATION: EDUCATION ADVOCACY PROJECT PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND PROVIDING TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ELIMINATE THE DISPROPORTIONATE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES EXPERIENCED BY BIPOC AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS; DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION; LEGAL ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS, AND DUE PROCESS PROCEEDINGS; INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN; LEGAL ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS IN NEED OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER SERVICES. HEALTHCARE AND ECONOMIC STABILITY: PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR DEBT COLLECTION, OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FOR PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS, SECURING MEDICAID BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, SECURING ACCESS TO CRITICAL FOOD ASSISTANCE (SNAP), EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS, REMOVING BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES SO PEOPLE CAN LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITY WITH MEDICAID WAIVER FUNDING, CASH ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR FAMILIES, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. ABLE REPRESENTS CLIENTS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF LAW, INCLUDING HOUSING, (PUBLIC HOUSING, EVICTION, FORECLOSURE AND HOUSING CONDITIONS); COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, EDUCATION, IMMIGRATION, AND THE LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS AND SENIOR CITIZENS FACE. EACH YEAR ABLE'S EXPERIENCED STAFF OF ATTORNEYS, PARALEGALS, AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGHOUT 32 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL OHIO AND TO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT OHIO. WE HAVE OFFICES LOCATED IN DAYTON, TOLEDO AND DEFIANCE. WE MEET THE LEGAL NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS WORKING IN CONJUCTION WITH OUR PARTNER LAW FIRM, LEGAL AID OF WESTERN OHIO, INC. (LAWO). THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE BENEFIT CHILDREN, SENIORS, VETERANS, IMMIGRANTS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PERSONS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE, FAMILIES FACING EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE, HOMELESS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, CHILDREN STRUGGLING TO SECURE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS, AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS, AMONG OTHERS. OUR ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES WORK IN AREAS THAT PRIVATE ATTORNEYS USUALLY DO NOT, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION OF TENANTS, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS, AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, IMMIGRANTS, VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITES AND PEOPLE SEEKING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. TOGETHER ABLE AND LAWO CONSTITUTE THE LARGEST PROVIDERS OF FREE, COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME PERSONS IN OHIO. NEARLY 25% OF OHIO'S POVERTY POPULATION LIVES IN OUR 32 COUNTY SERVICE AREA. OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED IN TOLEDO AT THE CENTER FOR EQUAL JUSTICE. IN 2024, ABLE AND LAWO RECEIVED 17,581 REQUESTS FOR HELP, WORKED ON 8,527 CASES, AND CLOSED 6,427 CASES BENEFITTING 27,652 PEOPLE. ABLE AND LAWO ALSO SECURED $7,505,427 IN MONETARY BENEFITS FOR THEIR CLIENTS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 1974.
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.