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Lee County Legal Aid Society

EIN 59-1163686 · Fort Myers, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA WHO MEET OUR FINANCIAL GUIDELINES. WE PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREA OF FAMILY LAW, INCLUDING DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, PATERNITY, ESTABLISHING PARENTING PLANS, AND STEP-PARENT ADOPTION.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
22.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
12
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$124,277, executive di

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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)
  1. $1.1 million spent. 1.FAMILY LAW - SINCE 1967, LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY HAS FOUNDED ITS LEGAL REPUTATION ON THE REPRESENTATION OF FAMILIES WITH MINOR CHILDREN INVOLVED. PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN DURING AND AFTER DIVORCE HAS BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL CAUSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, OUR ORGANIZATION SERVED 226 PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW ISSUES AND RECOVERED 436,177.07 IN 26 CASES WITH OUTCOMES THAT AFFECTED FAMILIES. THERE WERE 47 FAMILY LAW CASES REMAINING OPEN AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. 2.IMMIGRATION LAW - ARPA GRANT-FUNDED 30-MONTH PROGRAM CONTINUATION. THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY, TO DATE. INITIATED TO HELP IMMIGRANT YOUTH WHO HAVE SUFFERED NEGLECT, ABUSE, OR ABANDONMENT TO BECOME LEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES, THROUGH THE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18 ARE THEN PROTECTED FROM DEPORTATION FROM THE UNITED STATES. AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AT 18, THOSE YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED SIJS ARE ABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT, RENT A PLACE TO LIVE, AND CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK THEIR WAY TOWARD FULL CITIZENSHIP. IN FISCAL 2024, LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY SERVED 239 PEOPLE WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THERE WERE 40 IMMIGRATION CASES REMAINING OPEN AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. 3.HOUSING LAW - AS A RESULT OF CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE IAN, THE HOUSING LAW PROGRAM SOUGHT TO ADVISE AND REPRESENT THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE DESTROYED OR SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT INSURANCE AND CONTRACTOR ISSUES WERE DEEMED PREDATORY AND OFTEN FRAUDULENT. LANDLORD/TENANT ISSUES ALSO AROSE IN GREAT NUMBER, DUE TO THE UNSCRUPULOUS AVARICE OF LANDLORDS WHO WERE READY TO EVICT GOOD TENANTS SO THE LANDLORD COULD INCREASE RENT IN A SCARCE HOUSING MARKET. PROBLEMS CLIENTS FACED WITH UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROPERTY LOSS CONTINUE TO NEED LEGAL ADVICE, TO DATE. 44 PEOPLE WITH HOUSING ISSUES WERE SERVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, EXCLUSIVE OF THOOSE WHO WERE GIVEN LEGAL ADVICE AND COUNSEL THROUGH THE SELF HELP PROGRAMS IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES. 4.SELF HELP CENTERS OUR ORGANIZATION RUNS VIA ZOOM FOR LEE CLERK OF COURT AND CHARLOTTE CLERK OF COURT CONTINUE TO BE A VERY POPULAR OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY BUT NEED BRIEF LEGAL ADVICE. THIS FREE SERVICE SERVED A TOTAL OF 680 PEOPLE IN FISCAL 2024, 192 WITH FAMILY LAW ISSUES (118 IN LEE COUNTY, 74 IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY) AND 123 WITH HOUSING ISSUES (79 IN LEE COUNTY, 42 IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.) THERE WERE 365 OTHERS SERVED IN THE SELF HELP CENTER PROGRAMS WHO HAD VARIOUS LEGAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING PROBATE, BANKRUPTCY, SMALL CLAIMS, AND MORE. 1.FAMILY LAW - SINCE 1967, LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY HAS FOUNDED ITS LEGAL REPUTATION ON THE REPRESENTATION OF FAMILIES WITH MINOR CHILDREN INVOLVED. PROTECTING THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN DURING AND AFTER DIVORCE HAS BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL CAUSE OF THE ORGANIZATION. IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, OUR ORGANIZATION SERVED 226 PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW ISSUES AND RECOVERED 436,177.07 IN 26 CASES WITH OUTCOMES THAT AFFECTED FAMILIES. THERE WERE 47 FAMILY LAW CASES REMAINING OPEN AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. 2.IMMIGRATION LAW - ARPA GRANT-FUNDED 30-MONTH PROGRAM CONTINUATION. THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY, TO DATE. INITIATED TO HELP IMMIGRANT YOUTH WHO HAVE SUFFERED NEGLECT, ABUSE, OR ABANDONMENT TO BECOME LEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES, THROUGH THE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP, CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18 ARE THEN PROTECTED FROM DEPORTATION FROM THE UNITED STATES. AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE AT 18, THOSE YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED SIJS ARE ABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT, RENT A PLACE TO LIVE, AND CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WORK THEIR WAY TOWARD FULL CITIZENSHIP. IN FISCAL 2024, LEE COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY SERVED 239 PEOPLE WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THERE WERE 40 IMMIGRATION CASES REMAINING OPEN AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. 3.HOUSING LAW - AS A RESULT OF CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE IAN, THE HOUSING LAW PROGRAM SOUGHT TO ADVISE AND REPRESENT THOSE WHOSE HOMES WERE DESTROYED OR SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT INSURANCE AND CONTRACTOR ISSUES WERE DEEMED PREDATORY AND OFTEN FRAUDULENT. LANDLORD/TENANT ISSUES ALSO AROSE IN GREAT NUMBER, DUE TO THE UNSCRUPULOUS AVARICE OF LANDLORDS WHO WERE READY TO EVICT GOOD TENANTS SO THE LANDLORD COULD INCREASE RENT IN A SCARCE HOUSING MARKET. PROBLEMS CLIENTS FACED WITH UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROPERTY LOSS CONTINUE TO NEED LEGAL ADVICE, TO DATE. 44 PEOPLE WITH HOUSING ISSUES WERE SERVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, EXCLUSIVE OF THOOSE WHO WERE GIVEN LEGAL ADVICE AND COUNSEL THROUGH THE SELF HELP PROGRAMS IN LEE AND CHARLOTTE COUNTIES. 4.SELF HELP CENTERS OUR ORGANIZATION RUNS VIA ZOOM FOR LEE CLERK OF COURT AND CHARLOTTE CLERK OF COURT CONTINUE TO BE A VERY POPULAR OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY BUT NEED BRIEF LEGAL ADVICE. THIS FREE SERVICE SERVED A TOTAL OF 680 PEOPLE IN FISCAL 2024, 192 WITH FAMILY LAW ISSUES (118 IN LEE COUNTY, 74 IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY) AND 123 WITH HOUSING ISSUES (79 IN LEE COUNTY, 42 IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.) THERE WERE 365 OTHERS SERVED IN THE SELF HELP CENTER PROGRAMS WHO HAD VARIOUS LEGAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING PROBATE, BANKRUPTCY, SMALL CLAIMS, AND MORE.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 1967.

    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 October 21, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Legal Aid Society (New York, NY), EIN 13-5562265. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.