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Neighborhood Legal Services Association

EIN 25-1157129 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION STATEMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION IS TO MEET THE CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EFFECTIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND EDUCATION.

Income
$9.7 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
115
Volunteers
236
Highest pay
$169,794, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 37 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $8.8 million spent. NLS HANDLED 11,373 CASES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. PRO BONO ATTORNEYS HANDLED 1,464 CASES. APPROXIMATELY 7% OF THE TOTAL CASES INVOLVED CONSUMER ISSUES, 35% INVOLVED FAMILY ISSUES (75% OF THESE WERE PFAS), 44% INVOLVED HOUSING ISSUES, 7% INVOLVED INCOME MAINTENANCE ISSUES (SSI, FOOD STAMPS, TANF, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION), 5% INVOLVED EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, AND THE REMAINING 2% INVOLVED SUCH ISSUES AS HEALTH, DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS, PROPERTY TAXES, AND ADVANCED DIRECTIVES. OF THE CASES HANDLED, 74% WERE FOR INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN 18 AND 54, 26% FOR INDIVIDUALS AGED 60 AND OVER, AND LESS THAN 1% FOR THOSE UNDER 18. MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE FEMALE (74%). FORTY-SIX PERCENT (46%) OF THE CLIENTS WERE WHITE, 45% WERE BLACK, AND 11% WERE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS SUCH AS ASIAN, HISPANIC, AND NATIVE AMERICAN. NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS COMPRISED 2% OF OUR CLIENTS.

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 September 1967.

    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.