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Legal Aid of East Tennessee Inc

EIN 58-9132803 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEGAL AID OF EAST TENNESSEE PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION, LEGAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE LOW-INCOME POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ADVOCACY OF ALL TYPES.

Income
$8.4 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 90%
Employees
98
Volunteers
166
Highest pay
$236,278, 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: 40 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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)
  1. $8.4 million spent. LEGAL AID OF EAST TENNESSEE (LAET) PROVIDES LEGAL HELP TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF EAST TENNESSEE FREE OF CHARGE TO OUR CLIENTS WITH A MISSION TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES AND CHANGE LIVES THROUGH HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES. DURING 2024, LAET CLOSED OVER 6,600 CASES HELPING MORE THAN 14,300 PEOPLE INCLUDING 5,822 CHILDREN UNDER 18, 1,703 SENIORS, 251 VETERANS, AND 1,092 SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. LAET'S SERVICES HAD A GREAT ECONOMIC IMPACT AS WELL. OUR SERVICES GENERATED $99,677,033 IN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR LOCAL EAST TENNESSEE ECONOMY LAST YEAR ALONE. LAET ALSO SUPPORTS A ROBUST VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM. DURING 2024, 166 VOLUNTEER LAWYERS WORKED ON 776 PRO BONO CASES FOR ELIGIBLE LAET CLIENTS.LAET STAFF ENGAGE IN EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO ENSURE ALL ARE AWARE OF OUR SERVICES AND LEGAL ISSUES THEY MAY BE FACING. OUR VAST COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS ENSURE HOLISTIC SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS SO THE FULL RANGE OF THEIR NEEDS MAY BE MET. OTHER COLLABORATIONS ALLOW US TO PARTNER ON A NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT ENHANCE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO VARIOUS POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. OUR STATEWIDE COLLABORATIONS CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THOSE FACING CRISIS CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS.

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 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 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 January 1982.

    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.