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Legal Services Corporation

EIN 52-1039060 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC) TO HELP ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES AND TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION. CONSISTENT WITH THIS CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE, LSC'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY FUNDING AND SUPPORTING HIGH-QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS TERRITORIES.

Income
$572.8 million
Spending
$585.4 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 98%
Employees
205
Volunteers
435
Highest pay
$327,696, vp, grants management

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 42 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 September 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 (6)
  1. $534.1 million spent. BASIC FIELD GRANTS: LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION PROMOTES EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY PROVIDING $516 MILLION IN BASIC FIELD GRANTS TO 132 INDEPENDENT LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS SERVING EVERY STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND U.S. TERRITORIES. THROUGH THESE GRANTS, LSC STRENGTHENS CIVIL LEGAL AID AND EXPANDS ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS, LSC FUNDS A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF NONPROFIT LEGAL AID PROVIDERS THAT DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD LEGAL REPRESENTATION. LSC-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS HELP CLIENTS ADDRESS CRITICAL LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR SAFETY, STABILITY, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, INCLUDING HOUSING AND EVICTION PREVENTION, FAMILY LAW AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MATTERS, CONSUMER PROTECTION, ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS, VETERANS' SERVICES, DISASTER RECOVERY, EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, AND SUPPORT FOR OLDER AMERICANS.
  2. $15.9 million spent. EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS:PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO LSC GRANTEES SERVING COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS, ENABLING LEGAL AID PROVIDERS TO RESPOND TO DISASTER RELATED CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS.
  3. $5.9 million spent. PRO BONO INNOVATIVE FUNDS:LSC AWARDS PRO BONO INNOVATIVE FUNDS TO LSC GRANTEES ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS ANNUALLY TO DEVELOP, TEST AND REPLICATE INNOVATIVE PRO BONO EFFORTS THAT ENABLE GRANTEES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE USING PRIVATE, VOLUNTEER LAWYERS.
  4. $5.8 million spent. TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE GRANTS:LSC AWARDS TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE GRANTS TO LSC GRANTEES TO FUND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF CIVIL LEGAL AID, AUTOMATE FUNCTIONS, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO LEGAL RESOURCES FOR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS.
  5. $2.5 million spent. LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:LSC AWARDS LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LRAP) GRANTS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS TO HELP GRANTEES RECRUIT AND RETAIN ATTORNEYS BY REDUCING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF LAW SCHOOL DEBT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS A STRONG AND STABLE LEGAL AID WORKFORCE BY HELPING GRANTEES ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE CRITICAL CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
  6. $3.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES:LSC ENGAGES IN SEVERAL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO HELP IMPROVE THE CIVIL LEGAL AID PROBLEM IN AMERICA SUCH AS THE RURAL SUMMER LEGAL CORPS PROGRAM A PRIVATELY FUNDED INITIATIVE TO CONNECT LAW STUDENTS WITH LEGAL AID PROGRAMS IN THE COMMON PURSUIT OF BETTER ADDRESSING THE CIVILLEGAL NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE ITC CONFERENCE WHICH IS THE ONLY NATIONAL EVENT FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE LEGAL AID COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 2025.

    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 1975.

    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.