First Defense Legal Aid
First Defense Legal Aid shows strong program focus with no reported officer compensation and significant revenue growth.
EIN: 10729555 · Chicago, IL · NTEE: I80 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $853K |
| Total Expenses | $637K |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $853,378. |
| Net Assets | $60K |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
First Defense Legal Aid Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
First Defense Legal Aid is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around First Defense Legal Aid in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
9 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $631K and expenses of $637K.
Revenue and Expenses
First Defense Legal Aid reported $631K in revenue and $637K in expenses, a deficit of $6K.
Executive Compensation
Top officer compensation appears as $853,378. in the stored analysis, with context against revenue and expenses below.
Charity Score and Red Flags
92/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 5 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is First Defense Legal Aid Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $574K (90%) |
Across stored filings, First Defense Legal Aid shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 1 red flag identified |
| Mission spend | 90% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade C | 9 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Shorefront | Illinois and Category I context |
Trust Check
Review legitimacy, deductibility, red flags, and filing consistency.
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Local and Sector Spokes
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Chicago, IL nonprofitsCategory I in Illinois
Human Services in Illinois
Follow the Money
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Keep the Investigation Moving
First Defense Legal Aid directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About First Defense Legal Aid
First Defense Legal Aid (EIN: 10729555) is a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL, classified under NTEE code I80. The organization reported total revenue of $853K and total assets of $328K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of First Defense Legal Aid's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
First Defense Legal Aid is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 1 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2020). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 16.0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $631K |
| Total Expenses | $637K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-6,141 |
| Total Assets | $73K |
| Total Liabilities | $13K |
| Net Assets | $60K |
| Operating Margin | -1.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 17.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 1.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2020, First Defense Legal Aid reported a deficit of $6K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 1.4 months of operating reserves (limited), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 17.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2020), First Defense Legal Aid's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.0%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -12.0% | -11.5% | +4.8% |
| 2019 | +76.4% | +82.2% | -19.6% |
| 2017 | +97.3% | +47.8% | +79.7% |
| 2016 | -5.7% | +22.4% | -66.0% |
| 2015 | +9.0% | +23.5% | +33.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1200 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2025 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates First Defense Legal Aid with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 7%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 3%
According to IRS 990 filings, First Defense Legal Aid allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 7%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 3%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2020)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $6K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 17.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is consistently reported as 0% across all available IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with recent revenues of $853,378. This suggests either a volunteer-led executive team or compensation structures that are not categorized as officer compensation on the 990.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of First Defense Legal Aid's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation may obscure actual leadership compensation if it's categorized differently, warranting further investigation.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for First Defense Legal Aid:
- Strong program spending ratio, indicated by 0% officer compensation across all filings.
- Significant and consistent revenue growth over the past decade, from $166,275 in 2011 to $853,378 currently.
- Healthy asset growth, from $45,933 in 2011 to $328,291 currently, indicating improved financial stability.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s demonstrates good transparency.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, suggesting sound financial management.
Frequently Asked Questions about First Defense Legal Aid
Is First Defense Legal Aid a legitimate charity?
First Defense Legal Aid (EIN: 10729555) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Illinois. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $853K. 1 red flag identified. 5 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does First Defense Legal Aid spend its money?
First Defense Legal Aid directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 3%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to First Defense Legal Aid tax-deductible?
First Defense Legal Aid is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10729555). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the First Defense Legal Aid CEO make?
First Defense Legal Aid's highest-compensated officer earns $853,378. annually. The organization reported $853K in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of First Defense Legal Aid's spending goes to programs?
First Defense Legal Aid directs 90% to programs, 3% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does First Defense Legal Aid compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 92/100 (Excellent), First Defense Legal Aid is above average for NTEE category I80 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is First Defense Legal Aid located?
First Defense Legal Aid is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and files with the IRS under EIN 10729555. It is classified under NTEE code I80.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does First Defense Legal Aid have?
First Defense Legal Aid has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $853K in total revenue.
How does First Defense Legal Aid manage executive leadership without reporting officer compensation?
The consistent 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive leadership may be volunteer-based, compensated through a different category not reported as 'officer compensation' on the 990, or that the organization operates with a very lean, non-salaried executive structure. Further investigation into their operational model would be needed to understand this fully.
What is the primary source of First Defense Legal Aid's significant revenue growth?
While the filings show substantial revenue growth from $166,275 in 2011 to $853,378 most recently, the specific sources (e.g., grants, individual donations, government contracts) are not detailed in the provided summary. A deeper dive into the full 990 forms would be necessary to identify these sources.
Are the liabilities of First Defense Legal Aid manageable given its assets?
In the 202006 period, liabilities were $12,642 against assets of $72,872, and currently, assets are $328,291. This indicates a healthy asset-to-liability ratio, suggesting that the organization's liabilities are well within its capacity to manage.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for First Defense Legal Aid showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2020), First Defense Legal Aid's revenue has grown by 279.6%, moving from $166K to $631K. Total assets increased by 58.6% over the same period, from $46K to $73K. Total functional expenses rose by 275.8%, from $170K to $637K. In its most recent filing year (2020), First Defense Legal Aid reported a deficit of $6K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $13K in liabilities against $73K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 17.3%), resulting in net assets of $60K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $631K | $637K | $73K | $13K | — | — |
| 2019 | $717K | $720K | $70K | $3K | — | — |
| 2017 | $407K | $395K | $86K | $25K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $206K | $267K | $48K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $218K | $218K | $141K | $20K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $200K | $177K | $106K | $0 | — | — |
| 2013 | $172K | $128K | $83K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $148K | $155K | $39K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $166K | $170K | $46K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2020: Revenue of $631K, expenses of $637K, and assets of $73K (revenue -12.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $717K, expenses of $720K, and assets of $70K (revenue +76.4% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $407K, expenses of $395K, and assets of $86K (revenue +97.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $206K, expenses of $267K, and assets of $48K (revenue -5.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $218K, expenses of $218K, and assets of $141K (revenue +9.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $200K, expenses of $177K, and assets of $106K (revenue +16.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $172K, expenses of $128K, and assets of $83K (revenue +16.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $148K, expenses of $155K, and assets of $39K (revenue -11.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $166K, expenses of $170K, and assets of $46K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for First Defense Legal Aid:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for First Defense Legal Aid is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.