Community Legal Aid Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CLASI PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES; VICTIMS OF HOUSING DISCRIMINATION; OLDER CITIZENS (60 AND OVER); VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF CRIME, ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
- Income
- $13.4 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 88
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $272,193, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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, 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 (4)
- $3.9 million spent. CLASI PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED 125% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDLINES, INDIVIDUALS OVER 60, AND VICTIMS OF CRIME. WORK IN THE POVERTY LAW PROGRAM FOCUSES ON HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION; MAINTAINENCE OF INCOME BENEFITS, FOOD BENEFITS, AND HEALTHCARE BENEFITS; FAMILY LAW, ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND ASSITANCE FOR IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF CRIME, ESPECIALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSULT, ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
- $3.7 million spent. AS DELAWARE'S PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEM, CLASI PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR AND ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN DELAWARE. DISABILITES LAW PROGRAM PROJECTS INCLUDE HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, MENTAL ILLNESS, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES AND THOSE WHO ARE BENFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY. OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND VOTER ACCESS.
- $1.8 million spent. CLASI'S FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE STATEWIDE REPRESENTATION TO DELAWAREANS WHOSE RIGHT TO FAIR HOUSING AS GUARANTEED BY STATE AND/OR FEDERAL LAW HAS BEEN VIOLATED. CLASI'S SERVICES INCLUDE INTAKE, INVESTIGATION, PROCESSING AND REPRESENTATION. CLASI ALSO CONDUCTS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
- $626,715 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDES CLASI'S CONTRIBUTIONS OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF THEIR MAIN PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 December 1959.
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.