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Legal Aid for New Entrepreneurs Inc

EIN 33-4235336 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LANE'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER LOW INCOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL LEGAL SERVICES. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THESE ENTREPRENEURS ESTABLISH AND GROW THEIR BUSINESSES WITH CONFIDENCE, ENSURING THEY HAVE THE LEGAL FOUNDATION THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

Income
$152,475
Spending
$104,058
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$75,833, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $52,679 spent. FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND INDIVIDUAL LEGAL SERVICES: LANE'S PRIMARY PROGRAM IS PROVIDING FREE, INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO OTHERWISE LACK ACCESS TO LEGAL COUNSEL. LANE CONDUCTS INTAKE AND ELIGIBILITY SCREENING, IDENTIFIES CLIENTS' LEGAL NEEDS, AND COORDINATES THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES, AND ONGOING REPRESENTATION.LANE'S LEGAL SERVICES FOCUS ON MATTERS ESSENTIAL TO STARTING, OPERATING, AND GROWING A SMALL BUSINESS, INCLUDING BUSINESS FORMATION, CONTRACTS, EMPLOYMENT COMPLIANCE, COMMERCIAL LEASING, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER SMALL BUSINESS RELATED LEGAL ISSUES. LEGAL SERVICES ARE DELIVERED BY EXPERIENCED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS FROM LAW FIRMS AND CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN LANE'S VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY NETWORK, WITH PROGRAM OVERSIGHT AND COORDINATION PROVIDED BY LANE.DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, LANE PROVIDED FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 40 ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, SUPPORTING BUSINESS FORMATION, STABILITY, AND GROWTH. THROUGH THIS REPRESENTATION, CLIENTS WERE BETTER ABLE TO OPERATE LEGALLY COMPLIANT BUSINESSES, AVOID COSTLY DISPUTES, AND ACCESS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
  2. $11,288 spent. LEGAL CLINICS AND BRIEF ADVICE SERVICES: LANE OPERATES LEGAL CLINICS THAT PROVIDE ENTREPRENEURS WITH ONE TIME LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND BRIEF LEGAL ADVICE. CLINICS ARE STAFFED BY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND ARE FREQUENTLY CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.PRIOR TO EACH CLINIC, ENTREPRENEURS SUBMIT LEGAL QUESTIONS OR ISSUE DESCRIPTIONS AND ARE SCREENED BY LANE. DURING CLINIC SESSIONS, PARTICIPANTS MEET ONE ON ONE WITH AN ATTORNEY FOR A TARGETED LEGAL CONSULTATION ADDRESSING THEIR BUSINESS CONCERNS, IDENTIFYING LEGAL RISKS, AND OUTLINING NEXT STEPS.THESE CLINICS ALLOW LANE TO EFFICIENTLY REACH A LARGER NUMBER OF EARLY STAGE ENTREPRENEURS WHILE LOWERING LEGAL BARRIERS TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, LANE HOSTED 4 LEGAL CLINICS, SERVING 12 ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS A VARIETY OF LEGAL ISSUE AREAS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF 12 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS.
  3. $11,288 spent. LEGAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS: LANE PROVIDES FREE LEGAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS DESIGNED TO EQUIP EARLY STAGE ENTREPRENEURS WITH FOUNDATIONAL LEGAL KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO RUN A BUSINESS. WORKSHOPS ARE LED BY LANE STAFF OR VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND ARE OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS.EDUCATIONAL TOPICS INCLUDE ENTITY SELECTION, CONTRACTS, WORKER CLASSIFICATION, LICENSING AND PERMITS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER AREAS OF LAW AFFECTING SMALL BUSINESSES.DURING THE REPORTING YEAR, LANE'S LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING REACHED APPROXIMATELY 200 ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCREASING AWARENESS OF LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND HELPING PARTICIPANTS PROACTIVELY ADDRESS LEGAL RISKS BEFORE THEY ESCALATE INTO DISPUTES.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.