Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Legal Action Chicago LLC

EIN 84-3210537 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LEGAL ACTION CHICAGO SEEKS JUSTICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY THROUGH LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY, OUR TEAM OF LAWYERS AND STAFF FIGHT TO SECURE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BASIC HEALTHCARE, FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS, PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY.

Income
$918,431
Spending
$922,268
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$260,117, manager

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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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. $745,174 spent. LEGAL REPRESENTATION ENTAILS REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN PRE-LITIGATION AND LITIGATION WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE WITHOUT THE MEANS TO SECURE THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS ACROSS A RANGE OF BASIC CONCERNS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FAIR AND SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS.
  2. $67,522 spent. REGARDING POLICY AND SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY, LEGAL ACTION CHICAGO VIEWS SHARING ITS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE ON ISSUES IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN POVERTY AS AN EXTENSION OF ITS LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THESE CLIENTS. LEGAL ACTION CHICAGO ADVOCATES WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALSIN ALL BRANCHES AND LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AFFECTING ITS CLIENTS. AS A PART OF THIS WORK, LEGAL ACTION INTENDS TO PROVIDE WHITE PAPERS AND TESTIMONY TO LAWMAKERS WHO MAY BE CONSIDERING STATUTORY CHANGES THAT WOULD POSITIVELY ORADVERSELY AFFECT THE RIGHTS OR CONDITIONS OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE IN COOK COUNTY.

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 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 April 2020.

    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.