The Center for Computer Assisted Legal Instruction
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED LEGAL INSTRUCTION (CALI) IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE LAW TEACHINGS AND RESEARCH THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED MATERIALS. CALI IS SUPPORTED BY LAW SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOOK PUBLISHERS, LAW FIRMS, AND COMPUTER COMPANIES. CALI HAS OFFICES IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND AT THE CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $176,423, dir. of internet develop
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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 77% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 70% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 (3)
- $812,748 spent. CALI PUBLISHED OVER 1,200 WEB-BASED TUTORIALS TO 110,000 LAW STUDENTS AT OVER 200 US LAW SCHOOLS AND LEGAL AFFILIATES. THE WEB-BASED TUTORIALS WERE USED OVER 500,000 TIMES DURING THE YEAR. CALI PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE CLASSCASTER BLOGGING AND PODCASTING SERVICE, WHICH USED BY LAW FACULTY CLOSE TO 600,000 TIMES. CALI'S ELANGDELL PROJECTS PUBLISHED AND UPDATED OVER 50 ELECTRONIC BOOKS (CASEBOOKS AND REFERENCE TITLES) UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE FOR ALL LAW SCHOOLS AND LAW STUDENTS. CALI PRINTED, HOSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 20,000 CALI EXCELLENCE FOR THE FUTURE AWARDS. THERE ARE OVER 120 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND TO DATE, OVER 350,000 AWARDS HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM.
- $238,810 spent. THE A2J PROJECT IS AN AUTHORING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS COURT ASSISTANCE OFFICERS AND OTHERS TO CREATE WEB-BASED GUIDED INTERVIEW THAT ASSIST PRO SE USERS IN DETERMINING IF THEY QUALIFY FOR LEGAL SERVICES, COLLECTING INFORMATION FOR LEGAL FORMS AND EXPLAINING OPTIONS WHEN FILLING OUT FORMS.
- $117,625 spent. CALICON (CALI CONFERENCE) WAS A HYBRID CONFERENCE IN 2025. IT TOOK PLACE ON JUNE 5TH-6TH AT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, ATLANTA GA, AND VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM WEBINAR. WITH A SINGLE TRACK, VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ATTENDEES AND PRESENTERS SHARED THE SAME CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE. WE BROUGHT TOGETHER LAW SCHOOL FACULTY, LIBRARIANS, AND TECHNOLOGISTS WITH STRONG OPINIONS, GREAT IDEAS, INNOVATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND BEST PRACTICES FOR APPLICATION OF TECH IN LEGAL EDUCATION.
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 September 1982.
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.