California Changelawyers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD A BETTER JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR ALL CALIFORNIANS.
- Income
- $2.9 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 16.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 47%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $244,155, executive director
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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 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 (4)
- $776,246 spent. CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS RUNS TWO GRANT PROGRAMS, THE LEGAL EMPOWERMENT FUND AND THE LEGAL AID FUND. THE LEGAL EMPOWERMENT FUND HARNESSES THE POWER OF LAWYERS FOR GOOD. THE LEGAL AID FUND SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE CLOSING THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE GAP BY PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE CALIFORNIANS WHO CANNOT AFFORD ATTORNEYS. IN 2024, CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS DISTRIBUTED $675,850 IN GRANTS THROUGH THESE TWO FUNDS.
- $459,474 spent. CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS AWARDS NEXT GEN SCHOLARSHIPS TO FIRST- AND THIRD-YEAR LAW STUDENTS WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL. BY SUPPORTING THE BRIGHTEST CHANGE MAKERS OF TOMORROW AS THEY BEGIN THEIR PURSUIT OF A LEGAL CAREER, WE ELIMINATE THE ROADBLOCKS THAT EXIST IN ACHIEVING SUCCESS. IN 2024, CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS DISTRIBUTED $359,352 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND SIMILAR AID.
- $231,699 spent. THE CALIFORNIA IMMIGRATION LEGAL FELLOWSHIP IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND PROGRAM IN STATE HISTORY WHICH EXPANDS ACCESS TO COUNSEL IN THE MOST UNDERSERVED RURAL REGIONS OF THE STATE. THE LEGAL FELLOWSHIP IS A THREE-YEAR CAPACITY BUILDING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR RECENT LAW GRADUATES TO BECOME DEPORTATION DEFENSE PRACTITIONERS. THE CURRENT COHORT OF SEVEN FELLOWS ARE PLACED ACROSS 6 HOST ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE NEVER PROVIDED DEPORTATION DEFENSE SERVICES TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS DEFENDING CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS AGAINST FAMILY SEPARATION.
- $2,041 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE ALUMNI LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH ASSISTS CALIFORNIA CHANGELAWYERS IN ITS WORK BY PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON INITIATIVES.
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
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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 April 2015.
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 November 4, 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.