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Center for Legal Advocacy

EIN 84-0705890 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE IN COLORADO THROUGH DIRECT REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 73%
Employees
26
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$184,573, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 25

    16 of 16 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 September 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 (5)
  1. $550,441 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES PADD IS THE FIRST P&A PROGRAM, CREATED BY THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS (DD) ACT OF 1975. P&A AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED BY THE ACT TO PURSUE LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE REMEDIES TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES UNDER ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. THE DD ACT PROVIDED FOR THE GOVERNOR OF EACH STATE TO DESIGNATE AN AGENCY TO BE THE P&A AND TO ASSURE THAT THE P&A WAS, AND WOULD REMAIN, INDEPENDENT OF ANY SERVICE PROVIDER. MOST ENTITIES DESIGNATED AS P&AS ARE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING THE P&A PROGRAMS. PADD IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (AIDD) LOCATED WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION ON COMMUNITY LIVING (ACL) AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS). PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES PADD IS THE FIRST P&A PROGRAM, CREATED BY THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS (DD) ACT OF 1975. P&A AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED BY THE ACT TO PURSUE LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER APPROPRIATE REMEDIES TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATES FOR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES UNDER ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. THE DD ACT PROVIDED FOR THE GOVERNOR OF EACH STATE TO DESIGNATE AN AGENCY TO BE THE P&A AND TO ASSURE THAT THE P&A WAS, AND WOULD REMAIN, INDEPENDENT OF ANY SERVICE PROVIDER. MOST ENTITIES DESIGNATED AS P&AS ARE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING THE P&A PROGRAMS. PADD IS ADMINISTERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (AIDD) LOCATED WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION ON COMMUNITY LIVING (ACL) AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS).
  2. $488,701 spent. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI) - THE PAIMI GRANT PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROTECT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF ADULTS WITH SIGNIFICANT (SERIOUS) MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) AND CHILDREN WITH SIGNIFICANT (SERIOUS) IMPAIRMENT OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES THROUGH ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, AND FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES.
  3. $417,540 spent. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS ON APRIL 13, 2018, THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE STRENGTHENING PROTECTIONS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES ACT OF 2018 WHICH AUTHORIZES THE NATION'S PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY (P&A) SYSTEM TO MONITOR AND INVESTIGATE HOW SOCIAL SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES ARE ADMINISTERING SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS. THE LAW DIRECTS P&AS TO CONDUCT PERIODIC, ONSITE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE REVIEWS ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY REVIEWS. IN ADDITION, THE P&AS CONDUCT EDUCATIONAL VISITS AND REVIEWS BASED ON ALLEGATIONS THEY RECEIVE OF PAYEE MISCONDUCT. REP PAYEE IS ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
  4. $884,733 spent. CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP) - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABLE SERVICES AND BENEFITS UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT AND TITLE 1 OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN COLORADO, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BY VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. UPON THE REQUEST OF CLIENTS AND CLIENT APPLICANTS FOR SERVICES UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT, CAP WILL ASSIST AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. CAP MAY ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY WITH RESPECT TO SERVICES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL.174,876 . OTHER PROGRAMS - OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE VOTING PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY (PAVA), ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (PAAT), TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (PATBI), AND THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE AND PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY. 709,857.
  5. CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP) - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABLE SERVICES AND BENEFITS UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT AND TITLE 1 OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN COLORADO, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BY VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. UPON THE REQUEST OF CLIENTS AND CLIENT APPLICANTS FOR SERVICES UNDER THE REHABILITATION ACT, CAP WILL ASSIST AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. CAP MAY ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY WITH RESPECT TO SERVICES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL.174,876 . OTHER PROGRAMS - OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE VOTING PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY (PAVA), ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (PAAT), TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (PATBI), AND THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE AND PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY. 709,857.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1976.

    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.