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Cair National Legal Defense Fund Inc

EIN 82-0922964 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CORPORATION WAS CREATED TO: (1) ENSURE THAT THE INTERESTS AND POSITIONS OF THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE REPRESENTED, UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED, (2) RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE AMERICAN SOCIETY ABOUT ISLAM AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, (3) ACT AS A LEGAL AND ADVOCACY GROUP TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS, (4) COOPERATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVING SIMILAR OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES, (5) PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO MUSLIMS WHERE THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS WERE BEING VIOLATED. AND (6) PROVIDE GENERAL COUNSEL LEGAL SERVICES TO CAIR-FOUNDATION, INC. INCLUDING ADVICE AND CONSULTATION REGARDING DAY-TO-DAY LEGAL ISSUES AND MATTERS CAIR WILL ENCOUNTER.

Income
$249,901
Spending
$203,133
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
-10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$198,948, director/secretary

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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 308% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 196% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    2 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $197,482 spent. DURING THE TAX YEAR, THE CAIR NATIONAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND ENSURED THAT THE INTERESTS AND POSITIONS OF THE AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE REPRESENTED, UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED; RAISED AWARENESS WITHIN THE AMERICAN SOCIETY ABOUT ISLAM AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY; ACTED AS A LEGAL AND ADVOCACY GROUP TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS; COOPERATED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVING SIMILAR OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES; PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO MUSLIMS WHERE THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS WERE BEING VIOLATED.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 2018.

    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 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.