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Community Legal Aid Services Inc

EIN 34-0753560 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, WE TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THOSE IN POVERTY TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES, FAIRNESS, AND STABILITY, FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$9.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
89
Volunteers
153
Highest pay
$182,744, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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, 2024, 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. $2.5 million spent. FAMILYWHEN FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH THEIR INTERNAL DYNAMICS, IT CAN AFFECT STABILITY IN THE REST OF THEIR LIVES - FROM WHERE THEY LIVE, TO WHOM THEIR CHILDREN LIVE WITH, TO HOW MUCH THEY'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THEIR JOBS AND MAINTAIN AN INCOME. LEGAL AID ADVOCATES WORK WITH COUPLES WHO HAVE DECIDED THAT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM IS A CLEAN BREAK AND A FRESH START, AND WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE WHO NEED TO PERMANENTLY SEPARATE FROM THEIR ABUSER. BY HELPING RESOLVE THESE INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS WITH LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LEGAL AID RELEASES THE STRESS THEY FEEL IN THEIR HOME LIFE AND ALLOWS THEM TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES AND FOCUS ON BEING HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE, AND MEANINGFUL MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
  2. $2.4 million spent. HOUSINGFEW THINGS ROCK THE FOUNDATION OF SOMEONE'S LIFE LIKE NOT HAVING A SAFE, SECURE, AND STABLE HOME. NOT HAVING A HOME AFFECTS EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE - FROM THEIR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, TO CONSISTENCY IN THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION, TO WHETHER THEY HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDED TO MAKE IT TO THEIR JOBS. MANY OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES STRUGGLE WITH THESE ISSUES, AND WHEN LEGAL AID HELPS RESOLVE THEM, THE RESULT IS TRANSFORMATIVE. ADULTS STABILIZE, CHILDREN LEARN, AND FAMILIES GROW AND PROSPER. BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SEES LESS TRANSIENCY, BLIGHT IS REDUCED, AND HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES CAN BEGIN TO REJUVENATE.
  3. $936,784 spent. CONSUMERDEBT CAN OVERWHELM SOMEONE'S LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT PERSON IS IMPOVERISHED. LEGAL AID IS COMMITTED TO GIVING CLIENTS A FRESH START THROUGH BANKRUPTCY, TAX DEBT RELIEF, AND MORE. ADVOCATES HELP CLIENTS THROUGH THE PROCESS TO RELIEVE DEBT, REDUCE CREDITOR HARASSMENT, SAVE IMPORTANT ASSETS LIKE THEIR HOMES, AND REVERSE SHUT-OFFS OF NECESSARY THINGS LIKE UTILITIES. THIS ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO BE FINANCIALLY WELL, REDUCING STRESS, AND HELPING THEM GET BACK TO BEING CONTRIBUTING CONSUMERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
  4. $2.2 million spent. COMMUNITY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 March 1954.

    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.