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California Rural Legal Assistance Inc

EIN 95-2428657 · Modesto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH COMMUNITY LAWYERING, SEEKING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD.

Income
$33.1 million
Spending
$31.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
279
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$246,400, exceutive 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 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)
  1. $12.6 million spent. OUR RURAL JUSTICE UNIT SUPPORTS THE DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN 16 RURAL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. IN 2024, CRLA CLOSED 3,926 CASES THAT IMPACTED 10,608 PEOPLE. PROGRAM REVENUE IS DERIVED FROM THE COLLECTION OF ATTORNEY FEES AND COST RECOVERIES.
  2. $4.3 million spent. STRATEGIC INITIATIVE AND STATEWIDE SUPPORT - THESE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LANGUAGE JUSTICE AND SUPPORTING SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. CRLA CLOSED 1,163 CASES FOCUSING ON THE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM.
  3. $3.8 million spent. OUR AGRICULTURAL WORKER PROGRAM ADDRESS THE LEGAL NEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. IN 2024, CRLA CLOSED 647 CASES THAT IMPACTED 1,915 PEOPLE. PROGRAM REVENUE IS DERIVED FROM THE COLLECTION OF ATTORNEY FEES AND COST RECOVERIES.
  4. $2.7 million spent. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES WITH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: LGBTQ+; COMMUNITY EQUITY INITIATIVE; FAIR HOUSING; AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, CRLA CLOSED 164 CASES FOCUSING ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES THAT IMPACTED 376 PEOPLE. PROGRAM REVENUE IS DERIVED FROM THE COLLECTION OF ATTORNEY FEES AND COST RECOVERIES.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 May 1967.

    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.