California Employment Lawyers Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
CELA EXISTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ALL CALIFORNIA WORKERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT THEM. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR WORKER JUSTICE.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Employees
- 7
- Highest pay
- $129,783, admin director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (2)
- CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION ("CELA") HAS APPROXIMATELY 1,340 MEMBERS. CELA EXISTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF ALL CALIFORNIA WORKERS AND TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY OF LAWYERS WHO REPRESENT THEM. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR WORKER JUSTICE.CELA'S COMMITTEES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ORGANIZATION AND FURTHER SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE COMMITTEES ARE COMPRISED OF MEMBER VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE MEMBERSHIP TO NETWORK, SEEK ADVICE, AND DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN IN THEIR LAW PRACTICES. CELA CURRENTLY HAS 22 ACTIVE PRACTICE AREA AND WORKING COMMITTEES: AMICUS; ARBITRATION; BARRISTERS; CIVIL RIGHTS COUNCIL REGULATIONS; CIVIL RIGHTS DEPARTMENT; DIVERSITY OUTREACH; EDUCATION; ELIMINATION OF BIAS IN THE JUDICIARY; EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTICE; IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEE RIGHTS; CACI JURY INSTRUCTIONS; LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT; LEGISLATIVE; LISTSERV MONITORING; MENTOR; NOMINATING; POLITICAL/JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS; PUBLIC EMPLOYEES; RACIAL JUSTICE; WAGE AND HOUR; WOMEN; AND WORKER OUTREACH. MANY OF THESE COMMITTEES ORGANIZE SPECIFIC PRACTICE AREA EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, SUCH AS WEBINARS, SEMINARS AND PANELS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY AND BI-MONTHLY.OTHER MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: (1) A MEMBERS ONLY BRIEF BANK, WITH OVER 2,000 EMPLOYMENT LAW RELATED BRIEFS, SUCH AS MEMORANDA OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES, COMPLAINTS, DISCOVERY AND TRIAL MATERIALS; (2) THE CELA LISTSERV, AN ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUM, WHERE MEMBERS CAN ASK OTHER CELA MEMBERS FOR BRIEFS AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ABOUT THEIR CASES; (3) A CELA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY WHICH LISTS ALL CURRENT MEMBERS AND THEIR PRACTICE AREAS; (4) A MENTOR PROGRAM, WHICH MATCHES SEASONED PRACTITIONERS WHO WILL GENEROUSLY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE WITH NEWER LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS.
- CELA HAS ADVANCED THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS MEMBERS BY CONDUCTING WEBINARS, SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES ON A WIDE RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT LAW AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, CELA CONDUCTED NINE WEBINARS; AN ALL DAY WAGE AND HOUR SEMINAR; A 3-DAY TRIAL COLLEGE; AND AN IN PERSON ANNUAL CONFERENCE, WHICH CONSISTED OF TWO AND ONE-HALF DAYS OF PANELS FULL OF PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEE ADVOCATES ON TOPICS SUCH AS GETTING THE BEST CLIENTS: DIFFERENT MARKETING STRATEGIES; HOW TO BE FIRM YET CIVIL IN THE FACE OF INCIVILITY; WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT REPRESENTING IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEES; THE IMPACT OF RAINES V. U.S. HEALTHWORKS ON YOUR CASES; 998s IN FEHA AND WAGE & HOUR CONTEXTS; INSIDE OUT: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS; AND AN ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE (LEGISLATION, FEHA, WHISTLEBLOWER AND WAGE AND HOUR). CELA'S DIVERSITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE ALSO CO-SPONSORED EDUCATIONAL EVENTS FOR LAW CLERKS AND LEADERSHIP SUMMITS FOR LAW STUDENTS AND NEW LAWYERS WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LAW SCHOOLS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending November 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending November 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.