Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society shows consistent growth in operations with recent significant asset and liability expansion.
EIN: 135562265 · New York, NY · NTEE: I800 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $426.5M |
| Total Expenses | $377.2M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $376M |
| Net Assets | $9.2M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Legal Aid Society Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Legal Aid Society directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society (EIN: 135562265) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code I800. The organization reported total revenue of $426.5M and total assets of $425.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Legal Aid Society's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Legal Aid Society is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 83 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 6.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $376.6M |
| Total Expenses | $377.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-573,905 |
| Total Assets | $486.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $476.8M |
| Net Assets | $9.2M |
| Operating Margin | -0.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 98.1% |
| Months of Reserves | 15.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Legal Aid Society reported a deficit of $574K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 15.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 98.1% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Legal Aid Society's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +7.2% | +6.3% | +225.0% |
| 2022 | +7.3% | +6.2% | +13.2% |
| 2021 | -1.0% | +3.7% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | +8.6% | +9.5% | +10.8% |
| 2019 | +5.2% | +8.1% | +12.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1943 |
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 Legal Aid Society with a Mission Score of 85 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Legal Aid Society allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $574K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 98.1%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation across all filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size ($376M+ revenue). This either indicates that executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is reported under different categories within the 990, requiring further detailed review of the full filing.
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 Legal Aid Society's IRS 990 filings:
- 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
The following positive indicators were identified for Legal Aid Society:
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Aid Society
Is Legal Aid Society a legitimate charity?
Legal Aid Society (EIN: 135562265) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $426.5M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: C.
How does Legal Aid Society spend its money?
Legal Aid Society directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Legal Aid Society tax-deductible?
Legal Aid Society is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 135562265). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Legal Aid Society CEO make?
Legal Aid Society's highest-compensated officer earns $376M annually. The organization reported $426.5M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Legal Aid Society's spending goes to programs?
Legal Aid Society directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Legal Aid Society compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Legal Aid Society is above average for NTEE category I800 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Legal Aid Society located?
Legal Aid Society is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 135562265. It is classified under NTEE code I800.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Legal Aid Society have?
Legal Aid Society has 13 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 $426.5M in total revenue.
What caused the significant increase in assets and liabilities in the 202306 filing period?
In 202306, assets jumped to $485,982,308 from $149,533,601 in 202206, with liabilities similarly increasing to $476,770,007 from $143,855,524. This substantial change warrants investigation into potential capital projects, debt financing, or changes in accounting for restricted funds.
How is executive compensation handled if 'Officer Comp' is consistently 0%?
The consistent 0% officer compensation reported across all filings for an organization with over $300 million in annual revenue is highly unusual. It suggests either a volunteer executive leadership model or that executive compensation is reported under other expense categories, such as salaries and wages for key employees, which would require reviewing the full 990 for details.
Is the Legal Aid Society financially sustainable given its tendency for expenses to meet or slightly exceed revenue?
While expenses frequently match or slightly exceed revenue (e.g., $377M expenses vs. $376M revenue in 202306), the organization has substantial assets ($485M in 202306) and a long history of operations. This pattern could indicate a strategy of spending available funds to maximize program delivery rather than accumulating large surpluses, but consistent deficits could pose long-term sustainability questions if not managed with reserves.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Legal Aid Society showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Legal Aid Society's revenue has grown by 114%, moving from $176.0M to $376.6M. Total assets increased by 922% over the same period, from $47.6M to $486.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 115.1%, from $175.4M to $377.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Legal Aid Society reported a deficit of $574K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $476.8M in liabilities against $486.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 98.1%), resulting in net assets of $9.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $376.6M | $377.2M | $486.0M | $476.8M | — | — |
| 2022 | $351.4M | $354.9M | $149.5M | $143.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $327.4M | $334.2M | $132.1M | $143.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $330.8M | $322.2M | $130.7M | $150.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $304.6M | $294.2M | $117.9M | $128.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $289.6M | $272.1M | $104.9M | $119.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $265.6M | $269.4M | $91.2M | $127.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $258.0M | $246.7M | $78.1M | $125.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $241.2M | $236.0M | $68.4M | $107.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $224.7M | $224.0M | $66.1M | $105.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $217.8M | $209.2M | $66.9M | $104.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $189.1M | $189.0M | $54.7M | $112.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $176.0M | $175.4M | $47.6M | $85.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $376.6M, expenses of $377.2M, and assets of $486.0M (revenue +7.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $351.4M, expenses of $354.9M, and assets of $149.5M (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $327.4M, expenses of $334.2M, and assets of $132.1M (revenue -1.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $330.8M, expenses of $322.2M, and assets of $130.7M (revenue +8.6% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $304.6M, expenses of $294.2M, and assets of $117.9M (revenue +5.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $289.6M, expenses of $272.1M, and assets of $104.9M (revenue +9.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $265.6M, expenses of $269.4M, and assets of $91.2M (revenue +3.0% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $258.0M, expenses of $246.7M, and assets of $78.1M (revenue +7.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $241.2M, expenses of $236.0M, and assets of $68.4M (revenue +7.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $224.7M, expenses of $224.0M, and assets of $66.1M (revenue +3.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $217.8M, expenses of $209.2M, and assets of $66.9M (revenue +15.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $189.1M, expenses of $189.0M, and assets of $54.7M (revenue +7.5% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $176.0M, expenses of $175.4M, and assets of $47.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Legal Aid Society:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Legal Aid Society 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.