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Legal Assistance for Seniors Inc

EIN 94-2941697 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENSURING THE INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY OF SENIORS BY PROTECTING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS THROUGH EDUCATION, COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
37
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$88,055, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 25

    12 of 12 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 June 30, 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. $1.5 million spent. LEGAL - LAS HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ALAMEDA COUNTY SENIORS FOR OVER 45 YEARS. WE PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING REPRESENTATION IN COURT AND AT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. OUR PRACTICE AREAS INCLUDE ELDER ABUSE, PUBLIC BENEFITS, GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR CHILDREN, NATURALIZATION, HEALTH LAW, LIMITED CONSERVATORSHIPS, AND HOUSING. IN THE HOUSING AREA, LAS ALSO PROVIDES LIMITED CASE MANAGEMENT TO CLIENTS WHO NEED SUPPORT IN OBTAINING AND STABILIZING THEIR HOUSING. WE ARE ALSO COURT APPOINTED TO REPRESENT PROPOSED CONSERVATEES. WE MAKE HOME VISITS TO OUR CLIENTS WHO BECAUSE OF THEIR HEALTH OR ECONOMIC SITUATIONS CANNOT COME TO OUR OFFICE. DURING THE YEAR, OUR ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO 3,102 SENIORS.
  2. $479,662 spent. HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM (HICAP)-THE ALAMEDA COUNTY HICAP OF LAS PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON MEDICARE, SUPPLEMENTAL OPTIONS, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS, LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE, AND SCREENING AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS. THE HICAP DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES THROUGH 7 PAID STAFF PERSONS AND 34 TRAINED AND STATE-REGISTERED VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS AT 24 COUNSELING SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. COMPLEX ISSUES ARE REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR ASSESSMENT AND ACTION. IN FY 2024/25, HICAP COUNSELED 2,214 INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND RECORDED 6,203 SEPARATE CONTACTS WITH THESE CLIENTS. HICAP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2293, COUNSELING HOURS AND AN ADDITIONAL 1,407 HOURS OF TRAINING, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND TRAVEL TIME. THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT REPRESENTED 34 CLIENTS WITH HEALTH LAW CASES.
  3. $276,476 spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION-LAS PROVIDES GROUP EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS AND AGENCY REPRESENTATION AT COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS HEALTH AND SENIOR FAIRS. LEGAL PRESENTATION TOPICS INCLUDE CONSUMER PROTECTION, ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION, GUARDIANSHIP, HOUSING, SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION FOR AGING IN PLACE, NATURALIZATION, AND PUBLIC BENEFITS. IN FY 2024/25, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT PROVIDED 104 PRESENTATIONS, REACHING 2,392 PEOPLE. HICAP PRESENTATION TOPICS INCLUDE MEDICARE COVERAGE AND RIGHTS, OPTIONS FOR SUPPLEMENTING MEDICARE, LOW]INCOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH CARE, MEDICARE AND CONSUMER FRAUD, AND LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE. OUR HICAP PROGRAM PARTICIPATED IN 163 COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS, REACHING 5,118 ATTENDEES. TWO FULL]TIME STAFF PERSONS SCHEDULE AND COORDINATE ALL THE EVENTS AND DELIVER MOST PRESENTATIONS AND TRAINING IN THE COUNTY. ONE FULL TIME STAFF PROVIDES DATA ENTRY SUPPORT.
  4. $132,441 spent. CONSERVATORSHIP -LAS IS APPOINTED BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT TO REPRESENT CONSERVATEES. LAS SERVES THE CONSERVATEE, A PERSON WHOM THE COURT HAS DEEMED IS UNABLE TO HANDLE THEIR PERSONAL AFFAIRS, FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, OR IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO UNDUE INFLUENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 1987.

    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.