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East Bay Community Law Center

EIN 94-3042565 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND BUILD A MORE HEALTHY, SECURE, PRODUCTIVE AND HOPEFUL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING: 1) LEGAL SERVICES AND POLICY ADVOCACY THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND 2) LAW TRAINING THAT PREPARES FUTURE ATTORNEYS TO BE SKILLED AND PRINCIPLED ADVOCATES COMMITTED TO FINDING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF PROVERTY.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 47%
Employees
101
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$222,759, 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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (2)
  1. $5.9 million spent. PROGRAM #1: THE EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER PROVIDED 4,217 LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH 5,415 LEGAL SERVICES ADDRESSING PROBLEMS RELATED TO HOUSING, HEALTH, IMMIGRATION, PUBLIC BENEFITS, CRIMINAL RECORDS, EDUCATION RIGHTS, JUVENILE DEFENSE, CONSUMER DEBT, HOMELESSNESS, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND OTHER GENERAL CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES, AS WELL AS POLICY ADVOCACY ON THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL ADDRESSING ISSUES IMPACTING EBCLC'S CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY. EBCLC RECOVERED OVER $4.8 MILLION FOR ITS CLIENTS IN FY25, THROUGH FAVORABLE SETTLEMENTS IN EVICTION CASES, AND SECURING DISCHARGE OF DEBTS AND ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS. ADDITIONALLY, 149 CLIENTS WERE PROVIDED WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRATION APPLICATION FEES AND DEBT RELIEF.
  2. $2.0 million spent. PROGRAM #2: THE EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER PROVIDED CLINICAL TRAINING TO 66 LAW AND SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS DURING FY25. STUDENTS WORK DIRECTLY WITH CLIENTS TO PROVIDE LEGAL AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ATTORNEYS AND/OR SOCIAL WORKERS IN ALL OF EBCLC PRACTICE AREAS.

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 August 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.

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