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Inner City Law Center

EIN 95-3697572 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

In 2024, Inner City Law Center, ICLC, served over 3,400 people, helping vulnerable Angelenos to remain in their homes and recover nearly $20.5 million in financial benefits.

Income
$21.9 million
Spending
$20.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 79%
Employees
170
Volunteers
780
Highest pay
$425,127, chief executive officer

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    34 of 34 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. $5.5 million spent. Tenant Defense Project: The best way to end homelessness is to avoid it in the first place. In addition to representing families facing eviction from their homes, this work includes recovering relocation and rental benefits and helping hundreds of families challenge horrific conditions or seek healthier, affordable housing.
  2. $4.3 million spent. Lawyers Preventing and Ending Homelessness Project (PEHP): ICLC leads a coalition of five legal services organizations that provide free legal services to homeless or precariously housed clients throughout Los Angeles County. Legal teams assist clients with a wide variety of issues that can be barriers to housing and employment, including citations, criminal records, disability, immigration status, domestic violence, credit problems and more.
  3. $1.6 million spent. Healthy Homes Project: ICLC forces slumlords to repair their buildings and compensate tenants who have suffered as a result of dangerous housing conditions.
  4. $6.1 million spent. Bringing Families Home Project (BFH): BFH helps families involved in the child welfare system overcome housing barriers so they can stay together or reunify. Through legal advocacy and financial assistance, we support stable housing as a foundation for family preservation.HIV Law Project: ICLC helps low-income people living with HIV/AIDS fight discriminatory housing practices, maintain safe and affordable housing, and access public benefits.Benefits Advocacy Project: ICLC provides training, technical assistance, and quality control to benefits specialists working to end homelessness by enrolling people who are homeless because of a severe disability in public benefits programs. ICLC also represents clients who are appealing the denial of their application for social security benefits.Policy Advocacy and Impact Litigation: ICLC advocates for public policies that provide long-term solutions to homelessness. We also use impact litigation to help change systemic practices that are harmful to low-income people living without homes or at risk of homelessness.

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 July 1982.

    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.