Legal Action Center
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Legal Action Center meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
The Legal Action Center (LAC) uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS.
Year, State Incorporated:
1973, NY
Since our founding in 1973, the Legal Action Center has employed a multifaceted approach to achieving our mission, including direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and education and training. Through these various tactics, we can guard the civil rights and civil liberties of our constituents and dismantle the discriminatory barriers that systematically deny them these rights and liberties.
Direct Legal Services
Our free legal services are offered to New York residents facing discrimination based on their arrest or conviction records, drug use and/or substance use disorder, or HIV or AIDS status.
Impact Litigation
Our impact litigation establishes important legal precedents to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity.
Policy Advocacy
We work with policymakers and advocacy partners in Washington, DC, New York, and other states across the country to advance laws and regulations that eliminate discriminatory policies, protect access to health care, and promote opportunity.
Coalitions and Collaboration
We believe in the power of partnerships, and by leading and working in coalition with diverse advocacy partners, we magnify our voices and amplify our impact.
Training and Technical Assistance
We provide training and resources to educate directly-affected individuals, providers, attorneys, policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders about current laws, best practices and much-needed policy reforms.
Language Matters. Words Have Power. People First.
LAC is committed to using person-first, asset-based, humanizing language when discussing the individuals we work with and the systemic challenges and barriers they face. Below, you can download a brief guide we created that offers suggested language and terminology related to our constituents and issue areas. We encourage all stakeholders to use this resource to avoid the use of stigmatizing language, which can significantly impact peoples wellbeing and their ability to access and understand information and services.
For the year ended March 31, 2025, Legal Action Center's program expenses were:
| Program services | $8,223,502 |
| Total Program Expenses | $8,223,502 |
Chair of the Board
Brad Karp
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Board Size
19
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Legal Action Center's audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Government contracts | $2,941,174 |
| Grants | $1,942,850 |
| Donated services | $1,631,079 |
| Contributions and special events, net | $1,087,092 |
| Member fees and miscellaneous | $110,649 |
| Publications and consultations | $3,750 |
| Total Income | $7,716,594 |
Programs: 77% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 16%
| Total Income | $7,716,594 |
| Total expenses: | $10,612,672 |
| Program expenses | $8,223,502 |
| Fundraising expenses | $663,563 |
| Administrative expenses | $1,725,607 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-2,896,078 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $14,199,341 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $637,298 |
| Ending Net Assets | $11,940,561 |
| Total Liabilities | $1,941,701 |
| Total Assets | $13,882,262 |
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Review in Progress
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Report completed by:
BBB Foundation of Metropolitan New York