Veterans Legal Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VETERANS LEGAL INTITUTE PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS, AT RISK, DISABLED AND LOW INCOME CURRENT AND FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS TO ERADICATE BARRIERS TO HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT AND FOSTER SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 16.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 31
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $90,389, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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 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 (1)
- $1.8 million spent. DURING 2024 VLI DELIVERED STRONG PERFORMANCE AND SCALED UP RESULTS ACROSS EVERY PRACTICE AREA.THE VETERANS BENEFITS & DISCHARGE UPGRADE TEAM WON 92% OF THE CLAIMS IT PURSUED,UNLOCKING $3.02 MILLION IN RETROACTIVE AND MONTHLY VA BENEFITS FOR VETERANS THROUGH 808 ACTIVE CASES AND 45 LEGAL CLINICS.OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT KEPT VETERANS OFF THE STREET,PREVENTING EVICTION FOR 26 HOUSEHOLDS WHILE STEEERING 215 LANDLORD-TENANT MATTERS TOWARD STABILITY.THE FAMILY LAW DEPARTMENT GUIDED FAMILIES THROUGH 407 ACTIVE CASES AND OVER 12 LEGAL CLINICS,KEEPING PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER EVEN AMID SERVICE-RELATED STREESORS.(CONTINUED-SEE SCHEDULE O) ACROSS ESTATE PLANNING,CONSUMER,IMMIGRATION,EXPUNGEMENT,AND SMALL-BUSINESS MATTERS,VLI TACKLED 558 ACTIVE CASES(INCLUDING 223 ESTATE PLANNING MATTERS,SPECIFICALLY)THROUGH 20 LEGAL CLINICS,SAFEGUARDING LONG-TERM FINANCIAL HEALTH FOR VETERAN HOUSEHOLD.IN ALL, 1,766 VETERANS RECEIVED HELP ON 1,988 LEGAL MATTERS;THE TEAM ROLLED OUT 166 LEGAL CLINICS, AND LOGGED OVER 10,000 VOLUNTEERS HOURS.DIRECT MONETARY RESULTS INCLUDED $3,160,345 IN COMPENSATION AWARDED,AND WAIVED APPROXIMATELY $480,746 IN DEBT, DELIVERING IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RELIEF AND STABILITY.THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDERSCORE VLIS ROLE AS A LIFELINE FOR VETERANS, TRANSFORMING LEGAL VICTORIES INTO HOUSING SECURITY.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 2014.
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 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.