Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Southern Arizona Legal Aid Inc

EIN 86-0143449 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair57 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE, IN WAYS WHICH AFFIRM THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, AND POWER.

Income
$6.6 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 51%
Employees
76
Highest pay
$107,245, executive di

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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 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

    19 of 19 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 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. $4.9 million spent. SOUTHERN ARIZONA LEGAL AID, INC. (SALA) WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECT CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE FUNDAMENTAL UNMET CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF MORE THAN 10,900 INDIVIDUALS; 83% RECEIVED COUNSEL, ADVICE OR LIMITED ACTION SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING CONCERNING LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, HELP IN A PRO SE CLINIC, OR PREPARATION OF COURT OR OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS; 17% WERE ASSISTED WITH EXTENDED SERVICES SUCH AS OBTAINING A COURT DECISION, NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT ON MORE COMPLEX CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS, REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OR COURT PROCEEDINGS. SALA RAISED COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGH OUTREACH, BY TEACHING PREVENTION AND SELF-HELP METHODS, MAKING PRESENTATIONS AND DISTRIBUTING LEGAL INFORMATION BROCHURES AND SELF-HELP MATERIALS TO OVER 4,400 INDIVIDUALS. THE IMPACT OF SERVICES PROVIDED RESULTED IN RECOVERY OF 858,948 IN THE VALUE OF HOMES SAVED, CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT AWARDS, LUMP SUM BENEFIT PAYMENTS AND MONEY JUDGEMENTS. SALA AVOIDED 250,654 IN GARNISHMENTS AND COURT JUDGEMENTS FOR CLIENTS. FOR EVERY 1 INVESTED IN SALA, 6.42 OF ACTUAL VALUE IS RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY BASED UPON A 2019 SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY COMMUNITY SERVICES ANALYSIS, LLC THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM (VLP) SALA ACCEPTED 680 NEW CASES, CONDUCTED 437 CLINICS AND CLASSES AND COMPLETED 542 CASES AND MATTERS BENEFITTING OVER 1,653 PERSONS. THE VLP PROGRAM PROVIDED 1,261 HOURS OF FREE LEGAL AID VALUED AT 315,275. SOUTHERN ARIZONA LEGAL AID, INC. (SALA) WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE DIRECT CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MEET THE FUNDAMENTAL UNMET CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF MORE THAN 10,900 INDIVIDUALS; 83% RECEIVED COUNSEL, ADVICE OR LIMITED ACTION SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING CONCERNING LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, HELP IN A PRO SE CLINIC, OR PREPARATION OF COURT OR OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS; 17% WERE ASSISTED WITH EXTENDED SERVICES SUCH AS OBTAINING A COURT DECISION, NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT ON MORE COMPLEX CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS, REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS OR COURT PROCEEDINGS. SALA RAISED COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGH OUTREACH, BY TEACHING PREVENTION AND SELF-HELP METHODS, MAKING PRESENTATIONS AND DISTRIBUTING LEGAL INFORMATION BROCHURES AND SELF-HELP MATERIALS TO OVER 4,400 INDIVIDUALS. THE IMPACT OF SERVICES PROVIDED RESULTED IN RECOVERY OF 858,948 IN THE VALUE OF HOMES SAVED, CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT AWARDS, LUMP SUM BENEFIT PAYMENTS AND MONEY JUDGEMENTS. SALA AVOIDED 250,654 IN GARNISHMENTS AND COURT JUDGEMENTS FOR CLIENTS. FOR EVERY 1 INVESTED IN SALA, 6.42 OF ACTUAL VALUE IS RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY BASED UPON A 2019 SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY COMMUNITY SERVICES ANALYSIS, LLC THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM (VLP) SALA ACCEPTED 680 NEW CASES, CONDUCTED 437 CLINICS AND CLASSES AND COMPLETED 542 CASES AND MATTERS BENEFITTING OVER 1,653 PERSONS. THE VLP PROGRAM PROVIDED 1,261 HOURS OF FREE LEGAL AID VALUED AT 315,275.
  2. N/A

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.