Legal Aid Bureau Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE ADVOCATE WITH AND FOR MARYLANDERS EXPERIENCING POVERTY TO ACHIEVE EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND SYSTEMS CHANGE.
- Income
- $24.5 million
- Spending
- $26.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 8.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 159
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
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 39% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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.
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 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 (1)
- $22.4 million spent. MARYLAND LEGAL AID (LEGAL AID BUREAU, INC.) IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IN THE STATE. IN 2025, MARYLAND LEGAL AID TRANSITIONED FROM A CALENDAR-BASED FISCAL YEAR TO A JULY 1 TO JUNE 30 FISCAL YEAR TO ALIGN WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDERS. THUS, THE NARRATIVE IN THIS SCHEDULE REFLECTS MARYLAND LEGAL AID'S WORK FOR SIX MONTHS, FROM JANUARY TO JUNE IN 2025. IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2025, WE CLOSED 7,631 CASES, BENEFITING 17,025 LOW-INCOME AND VULNERABLE MARYLANDERS. FROM OUR 11 REGIONAL OFFICES AND NUMEROUS COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS, OUR ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES PROVIDED ESSENTIAL LEGAL SUPPORT THAT HELPED CLIENTS STAY SAFELY HOUSED, MAINTAIN CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND ESCAPE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE INCREASED ECONOMIC SECURITY BY DEFENDING AGAINST CONSUMER DEBT, FORECLOSURES, AND TAX SALES, REMOVING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, AND ASSISTING CLIENTS IN ACCESSING VITAL INCOME SUPPORTS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE. OUR ADVOCATES REPRESENTED VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING VETERANS, SENIORS, CHILDREN IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, VICTIMS OF CRIME, MIGRANT FARMWORKERS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS. MARYLAND LEGAL AID RESOLVES FUNDAMENTAL LEGAL PROBLEMS THAT BRING STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO CLIENTS' LIVES. WHILE MANY CLIENTS RECOGNIZE THEIR CRISIS, THEY OFTEN DO NOT REALIZE THE LEGAL PROBLEMS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING OR HOW THEY CAN BE RESOLVED. OUR DEDICATED LEGAL STAFF CAREFULLY IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THESE LEGAL NEEDS, PROVIDING RESPECTFUL AND ACCESSIBLE ASSISTANCE WHETHER CLIENTS FIND US ONLINE, BY PHONE, OR IN PERSON. WE ARE BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE. MARYLAND LEGAL AID LAUNCHED ITS BOLD NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IN 2024 THAT RENEWED OUR MISSION, VISION, AND CORE VALUES, AND WILL GUIDE THE ORGANIZATION INTO THE FUTURE. THE PLAN FOCUSES ON HOLISTIC LAWYERING, EMPOWERING CLIENTS AND COMMUNITIES, CHALLENGING SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE INEQUITY, FOSTERING A HIGH-PERFORMING AND DIVERSE STAFF, AND BUILDING AN INNOVATIVE, DATA-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION WITH THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION. WE'RE TAKING CASES THAT ADVANCE OUR PRIORITIES. OUR LEGAL PRACTICE INTEGRATES A HOLISTIC APPROACH, RECOGNIZING THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUE THOSE EXPERIENCING POVERTY. UNDERSTANDING THAT UNJUST SYSTEMS PERPETUATE INEQUALITY, MARYLAND LEGAL AID IS COMMITTED TO CHALLENGING THOSE SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE. TO ALIGN WITH THIS VISION, WE REVISED OUR CASE ACCEPTANCE PRIORITIES TO ADDRESS FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS CONSISTENTLY ACROSS OUR OFFICES, EMPHASIZING CASES THAT WILL IMPACT INDIVIDUALS AND SYSTEMS, AND PRIORITIZING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF CHILD WELFARE AND SENIORS OR DISABLED PERSONS AT RISK OF WRONGFUL DISCHARGE FROM NURSING HOMES. THE PRIORITIES ALSO HAVE LED TO THE EXPANSION OF REPRESENTATION FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS, ADDRESSING A CRITICAL SERVICE GAP. WE TACKLED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. MARYLAND LEGAL AID HELPED 2,082 PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENTS, ELIMINATING THAT BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT. WE ADVOCATED FOR THE REMOVAL OF STRINGENT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS THAT UNNECESSARILY BAR OUR CLIENTS FROM CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS. WE ARE ENGAGED IN ONGOING ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE THE BROKEN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM. WE FILED CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS WHOSE DRIVER'S LICENSES WERE UNLAWFULLY SUSPENDED DUE TO CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS, WITHOUT CRITICAL DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS AND PRESSING FOR SYSTEMIC REFORM. WE STOOD UP FOR TENANTS' RIGHTS. MARYLAND LEGAL AID SUED AN EASTERN SHORE LANDLORD FOR VIOLATIONS OF LANDLORD TENANT AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS. WE REFERRED THIS CASE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, WHICH BROUGHT A SEX DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST THE LANDLORD FOR A PAY-TO-PLAY SEX SCHEME PERPETRATED AGAINST VULNERABLE LOW-INCOME WOMEN TENANTS. MARYLAND LEGAL AID FURTHERED THE TENANT RIGHT TO COUNSEL PROJECT (TRCP) AS PART OF MARYLAND'S STATEWIDE ACCESS TO COUNSEL IN EVICTIONS (ACE) PROGRAM. BEING THAT MARYLAND IS ONE OF ONLY THREE STATES THAT PROVIDE A RIGHT TO FREE COUNSEL FOR ITS LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS FACING EVICTION, WE HELPED CLIENTS EXERCISE THIS RIGHT, CLOSING NEARLY 2106 CASES AND EXPANDING OUR REACH ACROSS THE STATE. MARYLAND LEGAL AID WAS PRESENT IN EVERY JURISDICTION THAT OFFERS SAME-DAY COURT ASSISTANCE FOR TENANTS, INCLUDING BALTIMORE CITY, WASHINGTON COUNTY, CARROLL COUNTY, CHARLES COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY AND FREDERICK COUNTY. MARYLAND LEGAL AID'S STAFF AND ITS EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS HOUSING JUSTICE FELLOWS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY-BASED OUTREACH EFFORTS TO INFORM TENANTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS. WE ALSO LAUNCHED A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE MARYLANDERS USING BUS ADS, BILLBOARDS, AND DIGITAL MARKETING. OUR ROBUST BANKRUPTCY PRACTICE, FOCUSED ON HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION, CONTINUED TO HELP CLIENTS ESTABLISH VIABLE REPAYMENT PLANS AND LITIGATE THEIR CLAIMS. RECENTLY, MARYLAND LEGAL AID HAD SUCCESS IN GETTING STUDENT LOAN RELIEF AS PERMITTED BY FEDERAL REGULATIONS. WE KEPT WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAFE. WORKING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROVIDERS, MARYLAND LEGAL AID REPRESENTED 45 SURVIVORS IN OBTAINING PROTECTIVE ORDERS. WE HELPED CLIENTS FILE FOR DIVORCE AND CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES FREE FROM ABUSE. IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND LEGAL AID JOINED THE COLLABORATIVE JUSTICE LAW CENTER AND THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY IN A CREATIVE CHILD CUSTODY DETERMINATION PROGRAM. CASES IN WHICH BOTH PARENTS ARE UNREPRESENTED WILL BE REFERRED TO THE COLLABORATIVE LAW PILOT PROJECT WHICH OFFERS NON-ADVERSARIAL APPROACH TO CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES FOSTERING HEALTHIER CO-PARENTING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH MEDIATED AGREEMENTS FORMALIZED BY THE COURT. WE HELPED SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS THEIR BENEFTS. MARYLAND LEGAL AID, AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON THE PREVENTION OF ELDER ABUSE, CONTRIBUTED TO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 1945.
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 November 4, 2026.
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