Legal Aid of Sonoma County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LEGAL AID'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ADVANCE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $4.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 71%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $197,861, 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: 38 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 (5)
- $1.6 million spent. HOME - HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION HELPS LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AVOID HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO PREVENT UNLAWFUL EVICTIONS, ASSISTING CLIENTS WITH REMOVING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENTS WITH LANDLORDS, AND PROVIDING FORECLOSURE PREVENTION SERVICES. A FULL RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDING PREPARATION OF PLEADINGS, IN COURT REPRESENTATION AND SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 693 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR.VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 865 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR.
- $577,264 spent. SAFE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES: THE ORGANIZATION HELPS ADULT AND ELDER VICTIMS AND CHILDREN OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CIVIL HARASSMENT BY PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE AND PROTECTIVE ORDERS WHICH HELP KEEP THEM SAFE AND SHELTERED. ASSISTANCE INCLUDES LEGAL FORMS PREPARATION, COUNSEL AND ADVICE, COURT REPRESENTATION, AND REFERRALS TO OTHER LEGAL AND NON-LEGAL RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. SAFE SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ATTORNEY AND CASEWORKER WHO ASSIST CLIENTS OFF-SITE AT THE SONOMA COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 491 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR.VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 43 HOURS OF SERVICE, AND VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 326 HOURS OF SERVICE.
- $420,460 spent. ELDER - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ADULTS, AGE 60 AND OVER, INCLUDING MOBILE LEGAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS WHO ARE ISOLATED AND LIVE IN RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY. THE ELDER PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 TO ENSURE LEGAL ACCESS TO THESE MORE VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS. SERVICES INCLUDE HOUSING, ELDER ABUSE, SIMPLE ESTATE PLANNING, BANKRUPTCY, AND A RANGE OF OTHER LEGAL ISSUES.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 165 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR.VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 168 HOURS OF SERVICE.
- $1.2 million spent. DISASTER RELIEF: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THE 2017, 2019, AND 2020 WILDFIRES, AND THROUGH OUR ARPA FUNDED SMALL BUSINESS EQUITY AND RECOVERY PROGRAM (SBER) TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS OPERATIONS.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 27 CLIENTS IN-HOUSE AND TO HUNDREDS OF OTHERS AT COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND THROUGH ONGOING DISASTER RECOVERY POLICY ADVOCACY AT LOCAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVELS.VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 289 HOURS OF SERVICE, AND VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 28 HOURS OF SERVICE.EHP - EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS TO EMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH AND TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN REFERRED BY THE COUNTY OF SONOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 155 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR.VOLUNTEER PARALEGALS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 46 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR, AND VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 94 HOURS OF SERVICE.VETERAN'S BENEFITS PROGRAM: THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS VETERANS, TARGETING THOSE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, WITH ACCESSING BENEFITS BY ESTABLISHING SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY, WITH DISCHARGE UPGRADES, AND WITH APPLICATIONS FOR VA PENSIONS AND BENEFITS, INCLUDING VA MEDICAL AND HOUSING BENEFITS.THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 120 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR. VOLUNTEER PARALEGALS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 102 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR.MLP MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP: THE ORGANIZATION HAS A MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL HOSPITAL, PROVIDENCE ST. JOSEPH HEALTHCARE. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS DIRECTLY WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKERS THROUGH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO HELP THEIR PATIENTS OVERCOME LEGAL BARRIERS THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH THEIR HEALTH. SERVICES INCLUDE HELP WITH ACCESSING PUBLIC BENEFITS, HOUSING, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, AND A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 65 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR.CAPP/REACH - CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO CARE FOR AND PROTECT ABANDONED AND/OR ABUSED CHILDREN BY OBTAINING LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP OF THOSE CHILDREN AND TO CLIENTS WHO ARE REFERRED BY COUNTY OF SONOMA CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH FAMILY LAW AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES IMPACTING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME AND SPANISH SPEAKING INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN SONOMA VALLEY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES HELP WITH LEGAL PLEADINGS, NOTICE PROCEDURES, AND COUNSEL AND ADVICE.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 66 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING THE YEAR. VOLUNTEER LAW STUDENTS/LEGAL CASEWORKERS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 144 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR.IMMIGRATION - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO UNDOCUMENTED MINOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT TO ASSIST WITH OBTAINING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS (SIJS) DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2024. THIS PROGRAM ENDED ON 3/31/2024.THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SERVICES TO 22 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM DURING Q1.
- DURING THE PREPARATION OF SCHEDULE A FOR THE CURRENT TAX YEAR, WE IDENTIFIED INADVERTENT CLERICAL ERRORS IN THE AMOUNTS REPORTED ON THE FOLLOWING LINES AND COLUMNS: LINE 1, COLUMN D LINE 7B, COLUMNS C AND D LINE 10A, COLUMN C AND D
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 October 13, 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 May 1984.
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 October 21, 2026.
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