Public Counsel

Analysis

Public Counsel is a registered charity in United States, based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in June 1971, 55 years ago. Its declared purposes cover crime and legal-related, which this site groups under human rights and equality. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending August 2023, Public Counsel reported income of $17.3m and spending of $18.7m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from August 2019 to August 2023, income grew from $14.4m to $17.3m (+20%), an average of +4.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to August 2021, when income rose by 61%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 9,611 United States charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, Public Counsel sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile, and in the 97th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Legal Aid of West Virginia Inc ($17.2m), Indiana Legal Services Inc ($17.3m) and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation ($17.0m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending August 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 88% and program service revenue 11% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $1.2m (6.6% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $12.1m. It paid $124k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $28.8m against liabilities of $5.4m, net assets of $23.4m. It reported 184 employees.