National Center for Lgbtq Rights
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR LGBTQ RIGHTS (NCLR) IS A NATIONAL LEGAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING FULL CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUEER (LGBTQ) PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, PUBLIC POLICY WORK, DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
- Income
- $9.7 million
- Spending
- $6.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $293,247, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 119% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% 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.
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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 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)
- $2.6 million spent. LEGAL: NCLR RESPONDED RAPIDLY TO SEVERAL DISCRIMINATORY EXECUTIVE ORDERS IMPACTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY SINCE THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION IN JANUARY OF 2025. NCLR FILED TALBOTT V. UNITED STATES ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL PLAINTIFFS CHALLENGING EXECUTIVE ORDER 14183: PRIORITIZING MILITARY EXCELLENCE AND READINESS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO RETAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN THE ARMED SERVICES. NCLR ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF THREE TRANSGENDER WOMEN IN DOE V. BONDI, A CHALLENGE TO A FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS POLICY WHICH WOULD OVERRIDE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING TRANSGENDER WOMEN, AND WOULD TERMINATE ALL MEDICAL CARE FOR GENDER DYSPHORIA FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. BOTH SUITS SECURED PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS IN OUR FAVOR. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN ADDITIONAL TO DIRECT LITIGATION, NCLR SUBMITTED AMICUS BRIEFS IN SHILLING V. UNITED STATES, A SECOND CHALLENGE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14183, UNITED STATES V. SKRMETTI, A CASE CHALLENGING TENNESSEE'S LAW BANNING MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND CHILES V. SALAZAR, A CASE CHALLENGING COLORADO'S CURRENT BAN ON THE HARMFUL PRACTICE OF CONVERSION THERAPY.
- $348,032 spent. IMMIGRATION: NCLR IMMIGRATION PROJECT HOGAR {HOME} IS A LEADER ON LGBTQ IMMIGRATION ISSUES, BOTH WORKING DIRECTLY WITH IMMIGRANT CLIENTS AND ENGAGING AROUND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICY. OUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS ARE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND HELP TO BUILD A SOLID BODY OF CASE LAW, MAKING IT EASIER FOR OTHER ATTORNEYS TO SUCCESSFULLY REPRESENT LGBTQ IMMIGRATION CASES. WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SERVING IMMIGRANTS AND PARTICIPATE IN LEGAL CLINICS. IN ADDITION, WE ARE PART OF A NETWORK OF LGBTQ IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMMUNICATE REGULARLY TO SHARE STRATEGIES AND STAY UPDATED ON ONGOING POLICY CHANGES. NCLR REMAINS COMMITTED TO OUR CLIENTS (80-100 CLIENTS SERVED ANNUALLY) AND THE LARGER LGBTQ IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)RESPONDING TO 300-500 REQUESTS FOR LGBTQ IMMIGRATION RELATED INFORMATION EACH YEAR. THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION SEEKS TO DEPORT 3,000 PEOPLE A DAY AND A TOTAL OF ONE MILLION PEOPLE PER YEAR. FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 288,000 UNDOCUMENTED LGBTQ IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY, THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS FLEE COUNTRIES WHERE BEING LGBTQ IS CRIMINALIZED AND SOMETIMES PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. DEPORTATION CAN BE A DEATH SENTENCE.
- $296,742 spent. BORN PERFECT: IN MARCH OF 2025, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES DECIDED TO TAKE UP A CHALLENGE TO THE TENTH CIRCUIT'S RULING UPHOLDING COLORADO'S LAW PROHIBITING CONVERSION THERAPY FOR MINORS. NCLR HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS CASE, ALONGSIDE THE STATE OF COLORADO, ORGANIZING EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE COURT HEARS FROM A ROBUST ARRAY OF AMICUS CURIAE PARTIES TO UNDERSCORE THE CRITICAL ROLE THESE LAWS PLAY IN PROTECTING MINORS FROM DRAMATICALLY INCREASED RISKS OF SUICIDALITY, DEPRESSION AND FAMILIAL DISRUPTION THIS "THERAPY" CAUSES. NCLR ENGAGED IN A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN CENTERED AROUND THE SUPREME COURT CASE TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS AND POLICYMAKERS ALSO UNDERSTAND THESE HARMS, AND EMPHASIZING THAT 22 STATES AND MORE THAN 150 CITIES HAVE PASSED LAWS OR ORDINANCES BANNING (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THESE PRACTICES FOR MINORS. THE CAMPAIGN DEVELOPED AND COORDINATED A MESSAGING STRATEGY ACROSS A COALITION OF MOVEMENT PARTNERS THAT INCLUDED EARNED MEDIA, SOCIAL NETWORKING CAMPAIGNS, AND EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS TO BROADEN SUPPORT FOR BANNING THE PRACTICE NATIONWIDE.
- $1.1 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS
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
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 June 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 May 1993.
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.
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.