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Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity

EIN 45-2980014 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PLSE seeks a more equitable social environment for those with criminal records through individual representation strategic litigation community education research and advocacy. PLSE does this by seeking expungements in criminal court and pardons from the Governor educating elected business and community leaders; empowering and organizing under-resourced communities; and leading legislative administrative and systemic reform.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
30
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$91,090, 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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 109% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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)
  1. $304,970 spent. Criminal Records Expungement Project - Employers landlords financial and academic institutions professional associations licensing boards and others frequently use past criminal record histories to deny opportunities to qualified applicants. This happens even when the event occurred decades earlier or did not result in a conviction. This prevents many qualified individuals from achieving financial and social stability and negatively affects their families and communities. This is especially true for low-income individuals. In Pennsylvania only judges can expunge delete or seal remove from the public record criminal record information and many individuals cannot afford an attorney to assist with a process to which they are legally entitled. The Criminal Record Expungement Project addresses this inequality by providing pro bono legal assistance to low-income Philadelphians with criminal records. In FY2025 PLSE assisted 1,851 low-income individuals from all 47 residential zip codes in Philadelphia. We primarily use a community-based clinic model to engage new clients. We provided brief service information or referral and for those not income eligible for 416 people. And of the 1,851 individuals who came to us 1,435 became new clients. We filed a total of 6,973 expungement petitions. Approximately 96% of all such petitions are granted by the court.
  2. $464,348 spent. Pardon Project - With few exceptions expunging a conviction first requires a pardon from the Governor. PLSE began the Pardon Project in 2018 when the process cost money and resulted in failure for over 90% of all applicants . Today thanks to reforms driven by PLSE the application is free online and written mostly in Plain English. PLSE accepted 310 new clients for pardon services in FY25. Its Pardon Project Steering Committee all with lived experience in the criminal justice system continues to thrive and serve as a source of community support for pardon applicants both PLSE clients and others. All participants completing an intake for the Criminal Record Expungement Project are also screened for pardon eligibility.
  3. $268,295 spent. Community Education - PLSE conducted 15 training sessions for individuals interested in volunteering as Pardon Coaches. PLSE manages the website www.PardonMePA.org offering information to individuals and community groups statewide. The organization also expanded its Video Library to assist individuals seeking record-clearing volunteers and communities looking to establish Pardon Projects.

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

  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 June 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 April 2012.

    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.