Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Analysis

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a registered charity in United States, based in Los Angeles, CA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in July 1967, 59 years ago. Its declared purposes cover civil rights, social action and advocacy, 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 April 2023, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund reported income of $11.6m and spending of $9.4m, spending 81% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from April 2019 to April 2023, income fell from $14.3m to $11.6m (-19%), an average of -5.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to April 2020, when income dropped by 37%. Over the whole period it spent 78% of the income it received.

Among 9,611 United States charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile, and in the 96th percentile within CA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Housing Collective Inc ($11.6m), Pisgah Legal Services ($11.6m) and Capital Area Immigrants Rights Coalition ($11.6m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending April 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 59% and program service revenue 36% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $660k (7.0% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $4.2m. At year end it held assets of $24.7m against liabilities of $2.5m, net assets of $22.2m. It reported 85 employees.