Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Legal Aid Chicago

EIN 36-2754650 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT LEGAL AID CHICAGO, WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL AID TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS.THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND LITIGATION WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACHIEVE JUSTICE.IN CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION, WE TREAT EVERYONE WITH COMPASSION AND RESPECT.

Income
$30.6 million
Spending
$25.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 68%
Employees
270
Volunteers
863
Highest pay
$260,117, ceo/exec. 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 30% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    50 of 50 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. $3.3 million spent. THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PRACTICE GROUP HANDLES OUR FAMILY LAW WORK (ALMOST ALL OF WHICH INVOLVES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) WHICH INCLUDES ORDERS OF PROTECTION, ELDER ABUSE, DIVORCE, CHILD CUSTODY, AND CHILD SUPPORT. ITS ATTORNEYS ALSO WORK ON BEHALF OF RELATIVE CARETAKERS AND FOSTER PARENTS IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES, AND DO SPECIAL EDUCATION WORK FOR YOUTH WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE.
  2. $3.1 million spent. LEGAL AID CHICAGO'S HOUSING PRACTICE GROUP (HPG) ENSURES THAT TENANTS LIVE IN DECENT, SAFE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION BY PROVIDING BRIEF SERVICES, NEGOTIATION, MEDIATION, AND EXTENDED REPRESENTATION. HPG DEFENDS RESIDENTS AGAINST UNFAIR OR UNWARRANTED EVICTION AND SUBSIDY TERMINATIONS, ENFORCES TENANTS' RIGHTS, AND ENGAGES IN ACTIVITIES THAT FURTHER THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.
  3. $3.5 million spent. THE IMMIGRANTS AND WORKERS' RIGHTS PRACTICE GROUP IS A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT FOCUSES ON FOUR AREAS OF LEGAL EXPERTISE: EMPLOYMENT LAW, IMMIGRATION LAW, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MIGRANT FARMWORKER LAW. IWR CLIENTS ARE OFTEN LOW-WAGE WORKERS, AND IMMIGRANTS, BOTH NEWLY-ARRIVED AND LONGSTANDING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE. WE REPRESENT CLIENTS SEEKING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS, CLIENTS WITH WAGE CLAIMS, AND CLAIMS OF EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION INCLUDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT, RACIAL AND NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION, DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION, AND CLAIMS OF WRONGFUL TERMINATION. THE TEAM ALSO REPRESENTS IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF CRIME AND MENTAL CRUELTY TO OBTAIN LEGAL STATUS UNDER THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THE U.S. VISA PROCESS, ASYLUM, AND OTHER IMMIGRATION REMEDIES. THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROJECT PROVIDES VICTIM ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION TO CITIZEN AND IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF LABOR AND/OR SEX TRAFFICKING. OUR MIGRANT PROJECT PROVIDES DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH TO MIGRANT FARMWORKERS, BOTH DOMESTIC WORKERS TRAVELING IN THE MIGRANT STREAM FROM TEXAS AND OTHER STATES, AND THOSE HERE ON SPECIAL, SHORT-TERM AGRICULTURAL WORK VISAS. OUR IMMIGRATION, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND MIGRANT PROJECTS EXTEND THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS.

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 November 6, 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 February 1973.

    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 November 4, 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.