Cabrini-Green Legal Aid Clinic Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CGLA PROVIDES HOLISTIC LEGAL SERVICES THAT INCLUDE SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $186,892, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 92% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
- $3.2 million spent. CGLA'S CRIMINAL RECORDS, EMERGING ADULTS, AND PRO BONO TEAMS PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE CLEAR ADULT AND JUVENILE RECORDS THROUGH EXPUNGEMENT, SEALING, CERTIFICATES, WAIVERS, CLEMENCY AND REPRESENTATION OF JUVENILES IN AFTERCARE REVOCATION HEARINGS. WE ALSO ASSIST THE PUBLIC AT OUR HELP DESKS LOCATED AT THE DALEY CENTER AND MARKHAM COURTHOUSES AND THE COOK COUNTY JUVENILE TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER. RECORDS CLEARANCE AND MITIGATION ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT SPECIALIZE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION.CIVIL LAW PROGRAM INCLUDES FAMILY LAW AND HOUSING LAW SERVICES. OUR FAMILY LAW PROGRAM SERVES THE UNMET NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED IN COUNTY JAILS OR STATE PRISONS AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL SERVING SENTENCES IMPOSED AFTER CONVICTION. IN 2024, CGLA HANDLED 141 FAMILY LAW CASES FOR 131 CLIENTS. HOUSING LAW FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, DUE TO THREATS OF EVICTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSIDIZED VOUCHERS DUE TO ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY THE LEASEHOLDER, A MEMBER OF HOUSEHOLD, OR A GUEST.OUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE TEAM PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO DEFEND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FACING CURRENT CRIMINAL CHARGES AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON BUT ARE CHARGED WIH VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THEIR PAROLE.OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE CLIENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND POLICY SERVICES AND PSYROLL EXPENSES. ALL CGLA'S PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR CLIENT SUPPORT SERVICES GROUP. SOCIAL WORKERS HELP TO SRENGTHEN LEGAL OUTCOMES BY PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS NON-LEGAL ISSUES AND THE UNDERLYING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CLIENT'S LEGAL TROUBLES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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)(3) charitable organization.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
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 December 1975.
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 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.