Legal Aid Society of San Mateo Co
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We use the law to make the social safety net work for everyone in San Mateo County. We represent clients, empower people to advocate for themselves, and fix broken systems through policy change.
- Income
- $5.0 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 67%
- Employees
- 48
- Volunteers
- 310
- Highest pay
- $209,083, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, 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 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 (4)
- $1.9 million spent. The LIBRE (Linking Immigrants to Benefits, Resources & Education) Project's goal is to educate our immigrant communities about the safety net services available, link them to specific agencies in their communities that can assist them with the enrollment process, and provide legal advice and representation to those seeking immigration relief or safety net benefits.
- $933,610 spent. HomeSavers provides legal assistance to people threatened with losing their homes or living in substandard conditions with the goals of keeping people in their homes; preventing homelessness through the enforcement of legal rights, in and out of court; and remedying substandard living conditions through advocacy.
- $517,791 spent. The Health Consumer Center helps low income San Mateo residents navigate a flawed healthcare system with the ultimate goal of improving access to quality healthcare and health insurance coverage.
- $1.9 million spent. Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County uses the law to make the social safety net work by representing clients when they can't break through the bureaucracy, advocating to fix broken systems, and empowering clients to advocate for themselves.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1960.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Legal Aid Society (New York, NY), EIN 13-5562265. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.