National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Inc
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
SERVE AS A LEADER, ALONGSIDE DIVERSE COALITIONS, IN IDENTIFYING AND REFORMING FLAWS AND INEQUITIES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, AND REDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM, AND ENSURING THAT ITS MEMBERS AND OTHERS IN THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE BAR ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO SERVE ALL ACCUSED PERSONS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
- Income
- $9.0 million
- Spending
- $9.0 million
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $374,220, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (3)
- NACDL, "LIBERTY'S LAST CHAMPION," IS ADVANCING DUE PROCESS AND PURSUING A RATIONAL AND HUMANE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE AGENDA: FORENSICS REFORM, DEATH PENALTY REPEAL, DISCOVERY REFORM, DRUG LAW REFORM; EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION REFORM, PUBLIC DEFENSE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, NATIONAL SECURITY, POST-CONVICTION RIGHTS RESTORATION, PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS, RECORDING INTERROGATIONS, SENTENCING REFORM, PROTECTION OF PRIVACY RIGHTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE, CLEMENCY AND EARLY RELEASE ADVOCACY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND REPORTING AS WELL AS ADVOCACY AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. NACDL ALSO OFFERS A RESOURCE CENTER TO PROVIDE PRACTICE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO TRAINING TO THE MANY SMALL AND SOLO PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
- NACDL'S CLE INSTITUTE OFFERS CUTTING EDGE CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) PROGRAMMING BOTH IN LIVE FORMAT AS WELL AS A WIDE VARIETY OF CONTENT DELIVERY METHODS FOR ACQUIRING SELF-STUDY CLE. UNLIKE ANY OTHER CLE PROVIDERS FOCUSED ON CRIMINAL DEFENSE, NACDL GARNERS ITS QUALITY ADVANTAGE AS A RESULT OF ITS ABILITY TO ATTRACT NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED FACULTIES CONSISTING OF THE NATION'S GREATEST LEGAL MINDS, HIGH-PROFILE FIGURES, AND EXPERTS IN A VARIETY OF SPECIALIZATIONS. THESE FACULTIES TRANSLATE INTO THE PRODUCTION OF PREMIERE CLE PROGRAMMING WHICH ADDRESSES THE MOST CURRENT AND RELEVANT ISSUES IN THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE COMMUNITY.
- "THE CHAMPION MAGAZINE" OFFERS TIMELY, INFORMATIVE ARTICLES WRITTEN FOR THE DEFENSE BAR AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AUTHORED BY CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE FIELD. THE ARTICLES ADDRESS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN ALL AREAS RELATED TO THE NATION'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM ON THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, INCLUDING MYRIAD CUTTING-EDGE ISSUES RELATED TO PRACTICE AND POLICY IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL PROCESS. THE PUBLICATION SEEKS TO ELEVATE STANDARDS OF PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE BAR AND PROMOTE SYSTEMIC REFORMS THAT ADDRESS A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING PROTECTION OF FIRST, FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, PROMOTING A FAIR, RATIONAL, AND HUMANE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, AND REDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)(6) business league.
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? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 September 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 August 1977.
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.
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.