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Los Angeles Center for Community Law and Action

EIN 47-1909862 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported a significant diversion of its assets during the year.

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

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION INCLUDING AND SURROUNDING LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND ORGANIZE SUCH RESIDENTS FOR PURPOSES OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$894,774
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
13.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 63%
Employees
6
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$171,332, treasurer

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: 96 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 286% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $856,352 spent. LEGAL SERVICES: OVER THE FISCAL YEAR 1/1/24 - 12/31/24, THE LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LAW AND ACTION ("LACCLA") WAS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON REPRESENTATION OF LOW-INCOME CLIENTS IN CASES RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING, TENANTS' RIGHTS AND EVICTION DEFENSE. LACCLA REPRESENTED DOZENS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN HOUSING-RELATED PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING CASES RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING, RETALIATORY EVICTION, AND BREACH OF THE WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY. LACCLA ALSO TRIED CASES IN SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL TENANTS AND TENANT ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. LACCLA'S GOAL IS TO LEVERAGE LEGAL SERVICES TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY FOR VERY LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, IN AND AROUND LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
  2. ORGANIZING: THE LOS ANGELES CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LAW AND ACTION ("LACCLA") ENGAGES IN COMMUNITY CANVASSING AND HOSTS WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND LEGAL CLINICS TO GROW ITS BASE AND ORGANIZE AROUND PARTICULAR ISSUES RELATED TO TENANTS RIGHTS. LACCLA'S WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS WERE HELD WEDNESDAY AT 6:30PM AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROUPS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 WEEKLY ATTENDEES TO CONSIDER ISSUES, AND PARTICULARLY HOUSING ISSUES, IMPACTING LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND TO DEVISE COHERENT STRATEGIES TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THEIR COMMUNITY.
  3. PROGRAMMING: LACCLA'S PRIMARY WORK INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES AND ISSUE-AREA OR CASE-SPECIFIC ORGANIZING. BEYOND THESE TWO AREAS OF FOCUS, ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS ARE MEMBER COMMITTEES AND THE PROVISION OF PRO-BONO LEGAL SERVICES. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, LACCLA SUPPORTS ITS CONSTITUENTS IN ACCOMPLISHING COMMUNITY ORGANIZING GOALS, SUCH AS SUPPORTING THEIR FELLOW MEMBERS WITH DIRECT ACTIONS, OR CAMPAIGNS TO RESIST DISPLACEMENT AND COMBAT GENTRIFICATION.

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 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 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 April 2015.

    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.