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Acacia Center for Justice

EIN 87-4099467 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACACIA COORDINATES LARGE-SCALE IMMIGRANT LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND DEFENSE NETWORKS, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AND EXPANDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO ENSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND FREEDOM FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS.

Income
$354.0 million
Spending
$326.8 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 98%
Employees
170
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$256,108, executive director

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 304% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 28% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $260.0 million spent. LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROGRAMS (LR) PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN VARIOUS CONTEXTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF:- NATIONAL QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM, PROVIDING QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES (ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS ACCREDITED TO PROVIDE LEGAL DEFENSE) IN IMMIGRATION COURT TO UNREPRESENTED DETAINED ADULTS WHO ARE FOUND BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE TO BE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS;- CHILDREN'S COUNSEL INITIATIVE, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN WHO ARE IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS IN DESIGNATED IMMIGRATION COURT LOCATIONS; - UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PROGRAM, PROVIDING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS AND LEGAL SCREENINGS TO ALL CHILDREN IN ORR CUSTODY, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN IN AND RELEASED FROM ORR CUSTODY; AND- LITIGATION SUPPORT FUND, PROVIDING A SOURCE OF FUNDING TO THE LEGAL CASES OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WHO ARE PLACED IN FACILITIES AND LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE EXISTING NETWORK OF LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND TO CHALLENGE CUSTODY DETERMINATIONS AND OTHER STRATEGIC LITIGATION ADVOCACY.
  2. $33.2 million spent. THE LEGAL ACCESS & ORIENTATION PROGRAMS (LAO) DELIVER LEGAL ORIENTATIONS AND SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS ABOUT IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEDURES TO ADULTS, ADULT CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IN DHS CUSTODY AND IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT IN COURT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF:- LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM, DELIVERING LEGAL ORIENTATIONS AND SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS ABOUT IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEDURES TO ADULT INDIVIDUALS IN DHS CUSTODY TO HELP THEM PREPARE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION COURT;- LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR CUSTODIANS OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, PROVIDING LEGAL ORIENTATION PRESENTATIONS TO ADULT CAREGIVERS (CUSTODIANS/SPONSORS) OF NON-DETAINED UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN IN EOIR REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS;- IMMIGRATION COURT HELPDESK, DELIVERING LEGAL ORIENTATIONS AND SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS TO NON-DETAINED INDIVIDUALS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT IN IMMIGRATION COURT AND PREPARE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES; AND- FAMILY GROUP LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM, PROVIDING LEGAL ORIENTATION PRESENTATIONS AND SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS TO FAMILY GROUPS IN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS TO HELP THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT TO EXPECT IN COURT AND PREPARE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES.
  3. $26.6 million spent. THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS, ACACIA WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO EXPAND ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES TO MEET DEMAND FOR LEGAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THE PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF: -ATTORNEY RECRUITMENT PROJECT PLACES EXPERIENCED AND NEW ATTORNEYS IN LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BOLSTER THE CAPACITY OF THESE CRITICAL SERVICES.- POLICY AND OUTREACH ENCOMPASS POLICY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, LOBBYING, AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TO ADVANCE AND GROW PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ACACIA'S WORK.

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 July 2022.

    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.