Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1968, MALDEF IS THE NATION'S LEADING LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS LEGAL ORGANIZATION, PROMOTING SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND LITIGATION IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS AND POLITICAL ACCESS.
- Income
- $7.3 million
- Spending
- $9.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 16.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 58%
- Employees
- 75
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $507,336, president and general counsel
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 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 April 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 (4)
- $3.1 million spent. LITIGATION: MALDEF ADVANCES THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LATINOS NATIONWIDE BY PURSUING LITIGATION IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS AND POLITICAL ACCESS.(PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O "LITIGATION DOCKET" FOR DETAILS ON OUR LITIGATION ACTIVITY FOR 2024-2025) FY25 MALDEF LITIGATION DOCKET FOR 990: LITIGATION EDUCATION RIGHTS MALDEF FOCUSES ON UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO SCHOOLS, FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION RESOURCES, IMPROVING QUALITY FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND EXPANDING ACCESS AND SUCCESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR LATINOS. MENDOZA V. TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MARTINEZ V. STATE OF NEW MEXICO CHAVEZ V. PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY MALDEF'S EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY FOCUSES ON EQUAL ACCESS TO HIRING AND PROMOTIONS, SAFE AND FAIR WORKING CONDIDTIONS, AND WORKPLACES FREE TO DISCRIMIANTION AND HARASSMENT. MORENO V. CASTLEROCK REYES LOPEZ V. MARTIN FAMILY FARMS, INC. LOPEZ AMERICAN ALLWATE LLC & WASTEWATER TRANSP. SRVS. ROSALES V. LOS ANGELES COUNTY IMMIGRANT RIGHTS MALDEF'S IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ADVOCACY FOCUSES ON EQUAL TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AND WORKS TO PRESERVE THEIR DUE PROCESS AND CIVIL RIGHTS. ORTEGA MELENDREZ V. ARPAIO TEXAS V. UNITED STATES GARAY V. CITY OF LAS VEGAS PEREZ V. DISCOVER BANK AGUILAR V. ALLY BANK ZAVALA-PADILLA V. ALVAREZ CAMACHO V. ALLIANT CREDIT UNION MALTOS ESCUTIA V. CONTRERAS HERNANDEZ-CASTRO V. ONE NEVADA CREDIT UNION PERAZA V. NOBLE CREDIT UNION AYALA V. SPOKANE TEACHERS CREDIT UNION RODRIGUEZ PEREZ V. FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION CARRANZA AGUILAR V. INNOVATIVE FUNDING SERVICES D/B/A TRESL BURGOS V. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES RENDON LEYVA V. SPACE COAST CREDIT UNION DE GUZMAN V. ALTMAN MANAGEMENT CO. ESQUEDA V. KINECTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ORTIZ V. UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION CARRANZA AGUILAR V. ONEAZ CREDIT UNION ESTRADA AVILA V. ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC PAXTON V. FIEL HOUSTON, INC. BAUTISTA V. NUVISION CREDIT UNION ROCA HERNANDEZ V. KEYBANK N.A. D/B/A GRADFIN PAREJO-YEPEZ V. COMMUNITY CHOICE CREDIT UNION ALONSO V. A.T. STILL UNIVERSITY FONSECA V. FLORIDA CREDIT UNION POLITICAL ACCESS AND VOTING RIGHTS MALDEF'S ADVOCACY IN POLITICAL ACCESS SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN VOTING RIGHTS AND BOLSTER POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. ARKANSAS UNITED V. THURSTON LUPE V. ABBOTT LULAC V. ABBOTT SOTO PALMER V. HOBBS MISSOURI PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES V. ASCHCROFT PROMISE ARIZONA V. HOBBS FREEDOM FROM OPEN AND OBVIOUS BIAS AND RACISM MEDINA V. FRANKIAN PEA RIOS V. DRISCOLL
- $1.9 million spent. PUBLIC POLICY: MALDEF ADVANCES THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LATINOS NATIONWIDE THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY AND ANALYSIS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS AND POLITICAL ACCESS. (PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O "PUBLIC POLICY SUPPLEMENT" FOR MORE DETAIL ON OUR PUBLIC POLICY ACTIVITY FOR 2024-2025) FY25 MALDEF PUBLIC POLICY REPORT FOR 990: THE GOALS OF MALDEF'S EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM INCLUDE ENSURING: EQUAL ACCESS TO HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN KEY SECTORS; SAFE AND FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS FOR LATINO EMPLOYEES; AND FREEDOM FROM WORKPLACE HARASSMENT AND HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. MALDEF'S ACTIVITIES IN THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE MEETING WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR LATINO WORKERS, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICY PROPOSALS THAT ADVANCE THIS PROGRAM'S GOALS. THE GOALS OF MALDEF'S EDUCATION PROGRAM INCLUDE: ENSURING FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION RESOURCES; QUALITY PROGRAMS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS; AND DECREASING LATINO DROP-OUTS/PUSH-OUTS. MALDEF'S ACTIVITIES IN THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE COORDINATING COALITIONS OF EDUCATION ADVOCATES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE EDUCATION REFORM, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATION RIGHTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICY PROPOSALS THAT ADVANCE THIS PROGRAM'S GOALS. THE GOALS OF MALDEF'S POLITICAL ACCESS PROGRAM INCLUDE ENSURING ELECTORAL DISTRICTS THAT ADEQUATELY REFLECT LATINO POPULATION AND VOTING STRENGTH, THE ABANDONMENT OF DISCRIMINATORY PROPOSALS IN JURISDICTIONS WITH ESTABLISHED HISTORIES OF MINORITY EXCLUSION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, UNFETTERED ACCESS TO REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN VOTING, AND INCREASED REPRESENTATION IN CRITICAL APPOINTED POLICY-MAKING POSITIONS. MALDEF'S ACTIVITIES IN THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR FAIR REDISTRICTING PLANS, AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICY PROPOSALS THAT ADVANCE THIS PROGRAM'S GOALS. THE GOALS OF MALDEF'S IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS PROGRAM INCLUDE: MAXIMUM PROTECTION FOR DATA RELATED TO IMMIGRATION STATUS; SEPARATION OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT; AND EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS. MALDEF'S ACTIVITIES IN THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE MEETING WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR LATINO IMMIGRANTS, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS TO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND EDUCATING LEGISLATORS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLICY PROPOSALS THAT ADVANCE THIS PROGRAM'S GOALS.
- $836,972 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: MALDEF ADVANCES THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LATINOS NATIONWIDE THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING A PARENT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP (PSP) PROGRAM, YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (YLP), AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS. (PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O "CELD - COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT" FOR DETAILS ON OUR PROGRAMS FOR 2024-2025) FY25 CELD - COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PARENT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (PSP) THE MALDEF PARENT SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP (PSP), ESTABLISHED IN 1989, IS A 12 WEEK ENGLISH/SPANISH PARENT-ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVIDED INSTRUCTION TO OVER 15,000 PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. PSP PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE, HANDS-ON CURRICULUM TO INFORM PARENTS OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH GUIDING THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, ALONG WITH IN-DEPTH DETAIL AND INSTRUCTION, ON HOW TO OVERCOME POTENTIAL CHALLENGES, AND BECOME LIFE-LONG ADVOCATES. PARENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH WEEKLY WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, AND SEMINARS PRIMARILY IN LOS ANGELES, ATLANTA AND PHOENIX. YOUTH LEADERSHIP (YLP) THE MALDEF YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (YLP), ESTABLISHED IN LOS ANGELES IN 2005, ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LIFE-LONG ADVOCATES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BY USING DIVERSE TACTICS TO PROMOTE ATTAINMENT OF A HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DEGREE, AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF CIVIL RIGHTS. CENTRAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS ITS ABILITY TO INSPIRE STUDENTS' INTEREST IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COMPLETION BY INTEGRATING A MULTIMEDIA, IN-DEPTH SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT THAT ENABLES EACH STUDENT TO REALIZE THEIR STRENGTHS IN CRITICAL THINKING, SELF-DISCIPLINE, AND SELF-ESTEEM.
- $1.7 million spent. FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, 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 April 2025.
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 July 1967.
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.
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