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Abolitionist Law Center

EIN 46-2132412 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEGAL SERVICES & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
11.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
25
Volunteers
403
Highest pay
$115,812, 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 108% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% 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. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (8)
  1. $131,837 spent. SOLITARY CONFINEMENT - THIS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT HOLDING PRISON OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ILLEGAL AND INHUMANE ABUSE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, AND ULTIMATELY ABOLISHING THE PRACTICE ENTIRELY. OUR WORK HERE IS CONCENTRATED ON LITIGATING CIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUITS FOR PRISONERS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY BEING HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. WE HAD SEVEN CASES DURING 2024.
  2. $379,481 spent. RELEASE FROM PRISON PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT FREEING PRISONERS THROUGH THE USE OF POST CONVICTION PETITIONS AND RESENTENCING. THE PUBLIC HAS AN INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT HELD IN PRISON, ESPECIALLY WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD THEIR RIGHTS SEVERELY VIOLATED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. WE HAD EIGHT CASES CURRENTLY BEING LITIGATED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
  3. $30,934 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH RIGHTS - THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO EXPOSE THE DANGEROUSLY POOR HEALTHCARE IN THE PRISONS, AND TO FORCE PRISON AUTHORITIES TO IMPROVE IT. IT ALSO AIMS TO SHUTDOWN PRISONS THAT ARE BUILT IN AREAS THAT EXPOSE PRISONERS TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR HEALTH. OUR WORK HERE IS FOCUSED ON AN INVESTIGATION OF A PRISON BUILT NEXT TO A COAL ASH DUMP, CONTESTING THE SUFFICIENCY OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR A PROPOSED PRISON IN KENTUCKY, WORKING TO GET HEPATITIS C POSITIVE PRISONERS CURED, AND WORKING TO IMPROVE HEALTH CONDITIONS AT THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL. WE HAD NINE CASES LITIGATED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
  4. $169,585 spent. POLITICAL RIGHTS - THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO PROTECT AND BROADEN THE SPEECH RIGHTS OF PRISONERS AND THE MOVEMENT TO END MASS INCARCERATION. NO CASES WERE LITIGATED IN THIS PROGRAM DURING 2024.
  5. $436,566 spent. MOVEMENT SUPPORT & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS - THIS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT TO END MASS INCARCERATION BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PRESENTATIONS, AND BY ASSISTING AND DEFENDING ORGANIZERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF THAT MOVEMENT. WE HAVE FOUR CASES CURRENTLY BEING LITIGATED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
  6. $519,013 spent. COURT WATCH PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS AIMED AT OBSERVING AND EVALUATING THE JUSTICE FOR DIFFERENT TRENDS AND PATTERNS. IT ALSO IS USED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROBLEMS DEMOGRAPHICS AND OVERPOPULATION PLAY IN THE ROLE OF MASS INCARCERATION. REPORTS THAT ARE SUPPLIED INCLUDE VARIOUS DATA SUCH AS BAIL, PROBATION, STIPULATIONS, SERVICES, CHARGING DECISIONS AND DEMOGRAPCHICS.
  7. $299,052 spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS PROGRAMS - SPONSORING PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING FIDUCIARY AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICS TOP HELP THEM BUILD CAPACITY.
  8. $12,431 spent. HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM - BUILDS INNOVATIVE CHALLENGES TO U.S. STATE VIOLENCE DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD THROUGH LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY. UTILIZING AN ABOLITIONIST FRAMEWORK DEDICATED TO BUILDING THE STRENGTH OF POPULAR MOVEMENTS TO REDISTRIBUTE POWER IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN NEEDS INSTEAD OF STATE VIOLENCE AND CORPORATE PROFIT, WE LINK THE LOCAL TO THE GLOBAL IN CONCEPT AND PRACTICE, INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF MOVEMENT PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COLLECTIVE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE, RESPONSE, AND REACH.

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 2024.

    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 July 2013.

    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.