Columbia Legal Services

Analysis

Columbia Legal Services is a registered charity in United States, based in Seattle, WA. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in December 1976, 50 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 December 2023, Columbia Legal Services reported income of $16.3m and spending of $6.9m, leaving 58% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $4.5m to $16.3m (+266%), an average of +38% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2023, when income rose by 87%. Over the whole period it spent 71% of the income it received.

Among 9,611 United States charities whose main cause is human rights and equality and that reported income, Columbia Legal Services 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 WA. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Womens Business Enterprise National Council ($16.3m), New York Center for Interpersonal Development Inc ($16.4m) and Prison Law Office ($16.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 98% and program service revenue 1.4% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $171k (2.5% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $3.4m. At year end it held assets of $20.9m against liabilities of $4.4m, net assets of $16.5m. It reported 50 employees.