Quick charity verification for Legal Aid Society (EIN: 135562265)
Verdict: Legal Aid Society appears trustworthy
85/100Mission Score
$426.5MRevenue
$425.7MAssets
2Red Flags
4Strengths
Red Flags
Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which is atypical for an organization of this scale and warrants further investigation into how executive pay is disclosed.
Significant and sudden increase in both assets and liabilities in the latest filing (202306) without clear context, suggesting a major financial event or structural change.
Strengths
Consistent revenue growth over the past decade, indicating strong fundraising and operational expansion.
Long operational history with 13 filings, suggesting stability and established presence.
Large asset base ($485,982,308 in 202306) providing a strong financial foundation.
Mission-aligned NTEE code (I800 - Legal Services) with a clear public benefit focus.
Spending Breakdown
How Legal Aid Society allocates its funds across programs, administration, and fundraising.
85%
Program Spending
Healthy — majority goes to mission
10%
Admin Costs
Reasonable — admin costs in check
5%
Fundraising
Within typical range
How to read this: Well-run charities typically spend 75% or more on programs, keep admin under 25%, and fundraising under 15%. A high program ratio means more of every dollar goes directly to the mission.
How to Interpret This Report
What Red Flags Mean
Red flags are potential warning signs identified by AI analysis of IRS 990 filings. They may indicate issues like declining revenue, high executive pay relative to program spending, lack of transparency, or governance concerns. A single red flag does not necessarily mean an organization is untrustworthy, but multiple flags warrant further investigation before donating.
What Mission Score Measures
The Mission Score (0-100) evaluates how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated purpose. It combines multiple factors: program spending efficiency (how much goes to programs vs. overhead), financial health and sustainability, governance quality, transparency in reporting, and consistency of operations over time. A score of 70+ indicates strong alignment with the organization’s mission.
Using This Data for Donation Decisions
Use this report as one input in your decision. Look at the overall Mission Score for a quick assessment, review red flags and strengths for specific concerns, check the spending breakdown to see where money goes, and compare executive compensation to the organization’s size. Consider viewing the full transparency report for deeper analysis, and always verify tax-exempt status with the IRS before making large donations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Aid Society
Is Legal Aid Society a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Legal Aid Society (EIN: 135562265) appears trustworthy. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
Is Legal Aid Society a good charity to donate to?
Legal Aid Society has a Mission Score of 85/100. Revenue: $426.5M. Assets: $425.7M. Review the full transparency report for detailed spending breakdown and executive compensation analysis.
What is the EIN for Legal Aid Society?
The Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Legal Aid Society is 135562265. This is the unique tax ID assigned by the IRS.
What is a Mission Score?
The Mission Score is a 0-100 rating that measures how effectively a nonprofit fulfills its stated mission. It factors in program spending efficiency, financial transparency, governance practices, and outcome reporting. Scores above 70 indicate strong mission alignment, 40-69 suggest mixed performance, and below 40 signals potential concerns.
How does Legal Aid Society spend its money?
Legal Aid Society allocates 85% to programs, 10% to administration, and 5% to fundraising. Healthy nonprofits typically spend 75%+ on programs.
How can I verify Legal Aid Society's tax-exempt status?
You can verify Legal Aid Society's tax-exempt status using EIN 135562265 on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) at apps.irs.gov/app/eos. You can also request copies of their Form 990 directly from the organization, as they are required by law to provide them upon request.
AI Transparency Report
The Legal Aid Society demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues and expenses generally increasing over the past decade, indicating a growing operational scale. In the most recent period (202306), the organization reported revenues of $376,584,946 against expenses of $377,158,851, showing a slight operational deficit. However, its assets significantly increased to $485,982,308, largely offset by liabilities of $476,770,007. The organization's consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings suggests a high degree of transparency regarding executive pay, or that executive compensation is not reported in this specific field, which warrants further investigation. The substantial increase in assets and liabilities in 202306 compared to previous years (e.g., $149,533,601 assets in 202206) is a notable shift that could indicate significant capital investments or changes in financial structure.
While the organization's revenue growth is positive, the consistent pattern of expenses closely matching or slightly exceeding revenue in several periods (e.g., 202306, 202206, 202106, 201706) suggests tight financial management or a strategy to spend down available funds to meet program needs. The significant jump in assets and liabilities in the latest filing period requires closer examination to understand its nature and implications for long-term financial stability. The absence of reported officer compensation in the provided data is a key transparency indicator, suggesting either volunteer leadership or that compensation is categorized differently.