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Legal Aid Association of California

EIN 33-0042690 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Legal Aid Association of California, the statewide membership of legal services nonprofits, serves its members through advocacy and other support in efforts to provide legal assistance to low-income Californians and ensure access to justice.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
18
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$184,265, executive dir.

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: 58 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.0 million spent. LAAC Core Programs: During FY2425, LAAC provided many meetings and online trainings for the legal services community, including the third annual California Legal Aid Executive Director Retreat. LAAC also provided summer fellowships for law students through LAACs Dan Bradley Fellowship program. LAAC undertook several advocacy efforts to protect funding for civil legal services in California's state budget, including a successful campaign to fund civil legal aid in the Governor's Special Session. LAAC also supported a statewide resource and referral website at www.LawHelpCA.org. LAAC staff trained front-line helpers across the state on using LawHelpCA.org to help people in crisis access legal resources. Staff also recruited volunteer law students to help site users find the information they needed, as people in legal crisis often want a real person (not a bot) to help them.
  2. $338,073 spent. Legal Services Funders Network: In 2022, LAAC became the fiscal sponsor of LSFN. LSFN is comprised of many types of foundations, law firms, law schools, individuals, government staff, and bar associations. For some, funding legal services is a primary focus. For others, funding legal services is a strategy used to help amplify the impact of grants in specific focus areas. Network members provide support to a range of organizations, including community-based direct legal services providers, those involved with public policy, advocacy and impact litigation, and those that provide infrastructure support to the legal aid field. LAACs fiscal sponsorship of LSFN involves processing fellowship stipends for LSFNs robust post-graduate fellowship program, placing law school graduates in legal aid organizations prior to their passing the California Bar Exam.
  3. $125,550 spent. Self-Represented Litigation Network (SRLN): In January 2023, LAAC became the temporary fiscal sponsor of the Self Represented Litigation Network. SRLN is a collaborative project of court staff, academics, judges, and other stakeholders dedicated to making the justice system more accessible to people who are self-represented in court. In 2025, SRLN's major projects transitioned to Stanford Law School, but LAAC continued to perform transition-related services this fiscal year.
  4. $19,938 spent. California Access to Justice Commission (CalATJ): During FY2425, the Legal Aid Association of California continued the partnership with the California Access to Justice Commission (CalATJ). CalATJ is a separate, independent nonprofit made up of lawyers, judges, academics, and other stakeholders dedicated to making the civil justice system accessible to all. CalATJ is a small organization without its own staff, so they contract with LAAC through an MOU for staffing needs. For more information on CalATJ and our partnership, please visit www.CalATJ.org.

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 1987.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: California Apt Association (Sacramento, CA), EIN 95-2829075. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.