Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Volunteer Legal Advocates

EIN 26-1089584 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVOCATE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, AT-RISK CHILDREN, AND OTHER VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS BY PROVIDING OVER $22.8M IN PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AND ON-GOING SUPPORT; TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT A STRONG NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
58
Volunteers
610
Highest pay
$208,644, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 December 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)
  1. $1.7 million spent. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM:LEGAL ASSISTANCE: VOLUNTEER AND STAFF LAWYERS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN PROTECTION ORDER AND FAMILY LAW CASES AND ADVOCATE FOR VICTIM RIGHTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ABUSERS. WALK-IN LEGAL CLINICS: OUR LAWYERS PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AT COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS AND AT A COURT-BASED CLINIC. SUPPORT SERVICES: OUR ADVOCATES PROVIDE SAFETY PLANNING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CRISIS INTERVENTION, ONGOING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICES. LEGAL HELP LINE: OUR ADVOCATES RESPOND TO HUNDREDS OF CALLERS' REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON VICTIM RIGHTS, LEGAL SERVICES, AND PROVIDE REFERRALS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $1.0 million spent. IMMIGRATION PROGRAM:VOLUNTEER AND STAFF LAWYERS ASSIST LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER FORMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN WITH VAWA SELF-PETITIONS, BATTERED SPOUSE WAIVERS, U AND T VISAS, AFFIRMATIVE AND DEFENSIVE ASYLUM CLAIMS, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS, TPS, DACA, WORK AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER FORMS OF IMMIGRATION RELIEF. THE GOAL IS TO HELP IMMIGRANT VICTIMS, A MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEGALLY WORK IN THE U.S., IN ACHIEVING SAFETY, STABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
  3. $862,623 spent. CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM:OUR COURT-APPOINTED VOLUNTEER AND STAFF ATTORNEYS ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN GROWING UP IN HOMES WITH ABUSE, NEGLECT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONNECT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH CRUCIAL SOCIAL SERVICES. IN OVER 95% OF THE CASES, JUDGES ACCEPT OUR ATTORNEYS' RECOMMENDATIONS.
  4. $515,649 spent. MARYLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM:LEGAL ASSISTANCE: VOLUNTEER AND STAFF LAWYERS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 220 LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND. WITH AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF ACCESS POINTS, COLLABORATIONS WITH CROSS-REFERRAL PARTNERS, AND TARGETED OUTREACH, WE REACH THE MOST UNDERSERVED VICTIMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 November 6, 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 December 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 March 2008.

    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 November 4, 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.