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Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

EIN 34-0866026 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$19.9 million
Spending
$20.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
174
Volunteers
713
Highest pay
$280,725, 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

Fair: 69 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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 (3)
  1. $5.8 million spent. LEGAL AID PROMOTES ECONOMIC SECURITY AND EDUCATION: INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, INCREASE INCOME AND ASSETS, REDUCE DEBT, AND REDUCE DISPARITIES IN INCOME AND WEALTH. LEGAL AID'S STRATEGIES IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL INCLUDE: REMOVING EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS, PROVIDING CONSUMER PROTECTION, INCREASING ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS, AND IMPROVING CLIENTS' ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION. IN 2024, LEGAL AID REMOVED EDUCATION BARRIERS FOR CLIENTS IN 97% OF RELEVANT CASES. WE ALSO REDUCED DEBT, INCREASED INCOME, AND INCREASED ASSETS FOR OUR CLIENTS BY $11.9 MILLION.
  2. $4.6 million spent. LEGAL AID IMPROVES SAFETY AND HEALTH: SECURES SAFETY FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER CRIMES, INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, IMPROVE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HOMES, AND MITIGATE THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. LEGAL AID'S STRATEGIES IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL INCLUDE: SECURING SAFETY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND OTHER VICTIMS OF CRIME; INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE; AND IMPROVING HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 2024, LEGAL AID INCREASED SAFETY FOR 98% OF CLIENTS FOR WHOM SAFETY WAS AN ISSUE AND EXPANDED OUR MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
  3. $6.6 million spent. LEGAL AID SECURES STABLE AND DECENT HOUSING: INCREASE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY, AND IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS. LEGAL AID'S STRATEGIES IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO RENT ASSISTANCE, IMPROVING HOUSING STABILITY, AND IMPROVING HOUSING CONDITIONS. IN 2024, LEGAL AID PREVENTED 81% OF EVICTIONS/INVOLUNTARY MOVES, OF CLIENTS FOR WHOM THIS WAS AN ISSUE.

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 December 1951.

    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.

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