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Arch City Defenders Inc

EIN 80-0471494 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ARCHCITY DEFENDERS (ACD) IS A HOLISTIC LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT COMBATS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY AND STATE VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. ACD'S FOUNDATION OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, IMPACT LITIGATION, POLICY AND MEDIA ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION ACHIEVES AND INSPIRES JUSTICE AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION AND BEYOND.

Income
$7.3 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
37
Volunteers
48
Highest pay
$144,132, executive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 (3)
  1. $1.3 million spent. CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION: THESE TYPES OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION/CASES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT SOMETIMES INVOLVE MULTIPLE PLAINTIFFS AND/OR DEFENDANTS IN FEDERAL COURT AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. THE ORGANIZATION IS ENGAGING IN SYSTEMIC CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION CHALLENGING POLICE MISCONDUCT, DEBTORS' PRISONS, CASH BAIL, INHUMANE JAIL CONDITIONS, INADEQUATE SHELTER FOR UNHOUSED RESIDENTS, AND VIOLATIONS OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, DUE PROCESS, AND EQUAL PROTECTION. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS OBTAINED $5M IN MONETARY SETTLEMENTS THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION CLIENTS AND CLASS MEMBERS WHOSE RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. ARCHCITY DEFENDERS FILED 5 NEW LAWSUITS CHALLENGING INHUMANE JAIL CONDITIONS AND LACK OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.
  2. $3.8 million spent. ADVOCACY: THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ELEVATING THE VOICES OF CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION BY SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WHILE EXPOSING INJUSTICE AND MISREPRESENTATION. ADVOCACY INVOLVES HOSTING EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY, CREATING HANDOUTS AND REFERENCES FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS CO-HOSTING A PODCAST THAT EXPLORES THE ISSUES FACING THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE WORKING TO TRANSFORM THEM. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO COLLABORATES WITH ORGANIZERS, ACTIVISTS, AND OTHER ADVOCACY PARTNERS ON LOCAL EVENTS, INITIATIVES, AND CAMPAIGNS TO BUILD COMMUNITY POWER IN FURTHERANCE OF A COMMITMENT TO RACIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN DIGNITY, AND LIBERATION IN ST. LOUIS AND BEYOND... ARCHCITY DEFENDERS IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO SHUT DOWN THE ST. LOUIS CITY'S MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION (THE "WORKHOUSE") THAT CONDEMNS HUNDREDS OF PRESUMPTIVELY INNOCENT PEOPLE TO SUFFER IN UNSPEAKABLY HELLISH AND INHUMANE CONDITIONS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. DIRECT REPRESENTATON CIVIL: ARCHCITY DEFENDERS PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS WITH MATTERS LIKE LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES AND EVICTION DEFENSE, CONSUMER PROTECTION CASES, DIVORCE, CUSTODY AND VISITATION RIGHTS, PUBLIC BENEFITS APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS, IMMIGRATION BOND PROCEEDINGS AND ASSISTANCE WITH ELDER LAW ISSUES LIKE WILLS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, GUARDIANSHIPS, AND CONSERVATORSHIPS. WE INTEGRATE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ALLEVIATE THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES THAT OCCUR WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL ENTERS THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

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 November 6, 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 May 2010.

    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 November 4, 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.