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Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute

EIN 83-2989543 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HAMILTON LINCOLN LAW INSTITUTE (HLLI) IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT WAS FORMED TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION THAT ADVANCES THE PUBLIC INTEREST. HLLI COMPLETES ITS MISSION BY CHALLENGING ADMINSTRATIVE AND REGULATORY ACTIONS OR ABUSES OF THE CLASS ACTION AND CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT EXCEED CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS, PROMOTE RENTSEEKING, OR OTHERWISE IMPROPERLY CREATE DEADWEIGHT LOSS; AND CHALLENGING IMPROPER RESTRICTIONS ON SPEECH AND OTHER ACTIONS BEYOND CONSTITUTIONAL BOUNDS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$307,659, treasurer

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    3 of 6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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 (2)
  1. $891,115 spent. HLLI CHALLENGES ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY ACTIONS OR ABUSES OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT EXCEED CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS, PROMOTES RENTSEEKING, OR OTHERWISE IMPROPERLY CREATES DEADWEIGHT LOSS, AND CHALLENGES IMPROPER RESTRICTIONS ON SPEECH AND OTHER ACTIONS BEYOND CONSTITUTIONAL BOUNDS.
  2. $346,545 spent. THE CENTER FOR CLASS ACTION FAIRNESS (CCAF) IS A PROGRAM RUN BY HLLI IN WHICH HLLI REPRESENTS CONSUMERS AND SHAREHOLDERS PRO BONO AGAINST ABUSIVE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENTS, WINNING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FOR THOSE CONSUMERS AND SHAREHOLDERS, AND SETTING PRECEDENTS THAT SAFEGUARD CONSUMERS, INVESTORS, COURTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

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 August 2019.

    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.