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San Diego Friends of Legal Aid

EIN 33-0473843 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SAN DIEGO ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE'S MISSION IS TO EXPAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE POOR THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY.

Income
$96,885
Spending
$140,317
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
1

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

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 45% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $109,598 spent. In 2025, Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) Tenants' Rights Project (TRP) provided self-help and referrals to 1,610 callers and closed 57 cases providing the following levels of assistance: Counsel and advise: 28Limited Services: 14 Negotiated settlement with litigation: 2Negotiated settlement without litigation: 4 Court decisions: 7Client withdrew: 2In the above closed cases, the following benefits were achieved for clients (with households with the following number of members).[No # of Households (Household members); Lump Sum Settlement / Ongoing Monthly Benefit / Elimination of Claimed Amounts / Reduction of Future Monthly Claims]-Prevented loss of housing: 18 (42) $0 / $0 / $1,282 / $0 -Negotiated move out with soft landing: 1 (1) $0 / $0 / $0 / $0-Enforced tenant's rights: 34 (76) $0 / $0 / $1,542 / $3,319-Enforced rights to safe and habitable housing: 10 (27) $0 / $0 / $0 / $0Totals 63 (146) $0 / $0 / $2,824/ $3,319Impact LitigationIn addition to the above individual cases, AHA's TRP along with co-counsel, the National Housing Law Project and the Public Interest Law Project, represent Del Island Tenants, an association of existing and displaced tenants, an affordable housing complex in the City of Coronado. We filed suit against the property owners and City to enforce state Affordable Housing Preservation Laws and ensure the continued affordability of this complex until the required 3-year, 12-month and 6 month notices are provided to all affected tenants, public and qualified entities and the time period for each has elapsed.

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 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 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 October 2001.

    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.