Legal Aid Society Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1921, LEGAL AID SOCIETY'S MISSION IS TO MAKE JUSTICE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL STATUS. WE PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL HELP ON ISSUES RELATED TO INCOME, FAMILY, HOUSING, SAFETY, AND HEALTH.
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $6.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 78
- Volunteers
- 104
- Highest pay
- $181,514, 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
Fair: 59 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2525 of 25 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 (4)
- $940,478 spent. PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS ON CIVIL PROBLEMS THAT STRENGTHEN FAMILY SUPPORTS AND PERSONAL SAFETY. IN 2023, WE SERVED 4,776 INDIVIDUALS ON ISSUES SUCH AS DIVORCE, CUSTODY, CHILD SUPPORT, AND PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
- $716,978 spent. PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES T0 INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS ON CIVIL LEGAL; PROBLEMS THAT PRESERVE THE HOME OF & MAINTAIN ECONOMIC STABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IN 2023, WE SERVED 4,531 INDIVIDUALS ON ISSUES INVOLVING EVICTIONS, OTHER HOUSING ISSUES, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, OR HOMELESSNESS.
- $847,060 spent. ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE MEMBERS OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE SERVICES OF LEGAL AID SOCIETY BY IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS FACING ENHANCED BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES DUE TO FACTORS SUCH AS AGE, SEX, DISABILITY, VETERAN STATUS, INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, IMMIGRATION STATUS, GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS, OR COMMUNICATION LIMITATIONS.IN 2023, WE SERVED 2,044 INDIVIDUALS ON COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ISSUES.
- $2.4 million spent. THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY ALSO PROVIDES A VARIETY OF DIRECT PROGRAM LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION THROUGH THE FOLLOWING UNITS;ECONOMIC STABILITY; INTAKE AND BRIEF SERVICES; VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM. IN 2023, 15,271 CLIENTS WERE PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.
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 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 December 2024.
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 January 1972.
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.
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.