Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT, THROUGH LITIGATION AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION, THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF PERSONS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN SUBJECT TO DISCRIMINATION AND POVERTY. THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES PRO BONO SERVICES BY MOBILIZING THE RESOURCES OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMS IN THE DC METRO AREA.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 227
- Highest pay
- $210,982, 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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2561 of 61 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)
- $3.2 million spent. WLC engages in litigation, public policy advocacy, client counseling and community education to address racial and other forms of discrimination. The Committee works on matters that affect the District of Columbia and the surrounding region and on cases outside of the region that may have an impact on local residents. We work closely with the private bar to expand the capacity of our staff and rely heavily on firm pro bono partners. Our project priorities include:(1) Creating Equal Opportunity to Economic Stability for Individuals and Families; People of color, women, children and persons with disabilities who are disproportionately forced to live in poverty. The inequities in the social and legal systems have created circumstances in which social mobility is extremely limited and the gap between rich and poor is expanding. Inequality and immobility is significantly worse in communities of color. Poverty has become as much an inheritance as wealth. Work has become a key element of reducing poverty since welfare "reform," making access to employment, fair wages and stability in work critical.(2) Challenging the Conditions that Force Racial and Economic Segregation and that Limit Options for Safe, Decent and Affordable Housing Based on Race and National Origin; Housing segregation is itself inherently unequal and contributes to diminished opportunities for education, work and recreation. Racial segregation in housing is increasing in the District and the region driven by economic development, the effects of discrimination in the criminal legal system and other structural and economic factors. The forces of segregation in the District have deprived low income and many communities of color access to safe, decent and affordable housing.(3) Reducing Barriers to Public Services and Public Accommodations; The ability to access public services or participate in the economy are essential to be full members of society. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, disability or language should be free from discrimination in civic participation, economic activity and social engagement.(4) Creating Equal Opportunity for an Education; One of the great unfinished projects of the civil rights movement is addressing inequality in education. Schools are increasingly segregated, separate and unequal. Children of color, with disabilities and English language learners are much more frequently denied the opportunity to thrive and achieve their aspirations. Education reform in the District and in the region, has had some effect, but it is limited.(5) Reducing the Impact of an Unfair Criminal System; The criminal system is a prime driver of inequality. Work to address these issues will include:(A) A continued strong emphasis on addressing conditions of incarceration. Persons confined to prisons, jails, immigration detention and other criminal system institutions are confronted with a unique and particularly cruel form of state power. As long as mass incarceration is a fact, the need for prisoners rights advocacy will be essential.(B) Strategies to reduce unnecessary and discriminatory contact with the criminal justice system and that reduces the effects of such contact. Race bias is deeply imbedded in each criminal system component, including the writing of laws, police, prosecutors, courts, prisons and the effects of collateral consequences. These effects are significant whether they result in long-term incarceration, crushing court imposed financial obligations (debtors prisons) or barriers to employment, education or housing after a period of incarceration.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.