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Snohomish County Legal Services

EIN 91-1215739 · Everett, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SNOHOMISH COUNTY LEGAL SERVICES (SCLS) IS A FREE LEGAL AID PROGRAM SERVING SNOHOMISH COUNTY RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING POVERTY. OUR STAFF, PRO-BONO ATTORNEYS AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE INFORMATION, ADVICE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ENSURE MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO JUSTICE REGARDLESS OF INDIVIDUAL BARRIERS AND NEEDS. EACH YEAR, OVER 1,000 LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY RECEIVE HELP FROM THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF SCLS. ANNUALLY, VOLUNTEERS GIVE A TOTAL OF OVER 2,000 HOURS OF ADVICE, PRO SE ASSISTANCE AND FULL LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
21
Volunteers
100

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 69 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $471,259 spent. LEGAL CLINICS - LEGAL CLINICS ARE HELD REGULARLY (WEEKLY, BI-WEEKLY, OR MONTHLY) TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS WITH AN ATTORNEY. LEGAL ADVICE, ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES, WHERE APPROPRIATE, ARE OFFERED DURING THESE APPOINTMENTS AND BY TELEPHONE.
  2. $621,224 spent. DIRECT REPRESENTATION AND SUPPORT - QUALIFYING CLIENTS OF THE AGENCY CAN OBTAIN DIRECT REPRESENTATION BY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS BEFORE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. THE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR OWN STAFF PROVIDE OVERALL CASE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARATION. AGENCY STAFF PROVIDE QUALITY CONTROL. FULL-TIMEAGENCY STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE BOTH LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FAMILY LAW, AND EMERGENCY EVICTION DEFENSE.
  3. $445,952 spent. PRO SE ASSISTANCE - PARTICIPANTS IN THE DIVORCE CLINIC RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING A NON-CONTESTED MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION. THE AGENCY OFFERS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, A FORMS MANUAL, ATTORNEY SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE WHERE NECESSARY. PARTICIPANTS IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES LEGAL CLINIC RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH PROTECTION ORDERS AND PROTECTIVE PARENTING PLANS FOR MINOR CHILDREN. A BANKRUPTCY CLINIC HAS ALSO BEEN PROVIDED FOR CLIENTS NEEDING THOSE SERVICES.

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 January 1985.

    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.