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National Legal Aid and Defender Association at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

National Legal Aid and Defender Association

The national legal aid & defender association (nlada) works to promote and develop high quality, effective civil legal aid and public defense services.

$1.3M
Granted FY2024still arriving
28
Grants FY2024still arriving
24
States reached
$72k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2022 to 2024.

Crime & Legal$1.4M
02FY2024 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 28 grants below total $1,249,906, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,307,629 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $57,723 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k21 grants · $817k
  • $50k–250k7 grants · $433k
$41,964
Median grant
24
States reached
$3.6M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
603 LEGAL AID$72,086
BAY AREA LEGAL AID$70,905
REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES$66,641
TULALIP FOUNDATION$59,087
MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCORPORATED$57,201
LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MISSOURI$53,769
CAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INC$52,962
PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC$49,315
NORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER$48,497
APPALACHIAN RESEARCH AND DEFENSE FUND OF KENTUCKY$46,775
INDIANA LEGAL SERVICES INC$45,300
IDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES$45,080
LEGAL SERVICES FOR MAINE ELDERS INC$42,149
MONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION$41,964
LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER$41,472
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–24, $48k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%NORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER: $48k → 8%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
NH
WA
ID
MT
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
IN
PA
CA
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
AZ
TN
NC
OK
MS
GA
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Legal aid of east tennessee provides legal representation, legal education, and other civil legal services for the low-income population in our community through advocacy of all types.

—
2
South Carolina Legal Services

South carolina legal services is a statewide law firm that provides civil legal services to protect the rights and represent the interests of low income south carolinians.

Crime & Legal
3
Legal Aid Chicago

At legal aid chicago, we work together to provide high quality civil legal aid to people living in poverty and other vulnerable groups.through advocacy, education, collaboration, and litigation we empower individuals, protect fundamental…

Crime & Legal
4
Legal Aid Services of Oregon

The primary purpose of legal aid services of oregon shall be to achieve justice for the low-income communities of oregon by providing a full range of the highest quality civil legal services.

Crime & Legal
5
Legal Assistance of Western New York Inc

Lawny increases access to justice through excellent legal representation, advocacy and service.

Crime & Legal
6
Legal Services Alabama Inc

Legal services alabama is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to providing access to justice and quality civil legal assistance to educate and empower alabama's low-income community.

Crime & Legal
7
The Toledo Legal Aid Society

Toledo Legal Aid Society provides legal representation for indigent clients that are charged with criminal, traffic, or juvenile offenses for which the penalty or any possible adjudication includes the potential loss of liberty.

—
8
Texas Legal Services Center Inc

Texas Legal Services Center is a nonprofit legal aid organization whose mission is to serve the undeserved by making civil justice accessible to every Texan--no matter their ability to earn. We're a coalition of attorneys, paralegals, pro…

Crime & Legal
9
Legal Services of Northern California

To empower the poor to identify and defeat the causes and effects of poverty within their communities by providing high quality civil legal services to the poor, seniors, and persons with disabilities in over twenty three counties in n.…

Crime & Legal
10
Legal Aid of Manasota Inc

Legal aid of manasota provides legal services at no or low cost to those in need by partnering with local lawyers.

Crime & Legal
11
Legal Services of Long Island

To provide free legal assistance in non-criminal matters to persons meeting financial eligibility requirements or having other special needs.

—
12
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center Inc C/O the Organization

Enforcing and protecting the rights of individuals and families by providing accessible, creative, and high quality legal assistance and working collaboratively for systemic change.

Crime & Legal
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Legal Services Inc; the most unlike its peers is Bay Area Legal Aid. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

30 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 30 of the 31 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/30
Grantees still filing
9/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

603 LEGAL AID: $72,086 · Crime & Legal603 LEGAL AIDREGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES: $66,641 · Crime & LegalREGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICESLegal Aid of Western Missouri: $53,769 · Crime & LegalLegal Aid of Western MissouriCAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INC: $52,962 · Crime & LegalCAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INCPRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC: $49,315 · Crime & LegalPRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INCAppalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc: $46,775 · Crime & LegalAppalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky IncIndiana Legal Services Inc: $45,300 · Crime & LegalIndiana Legal Services IncIDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INC IDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INC: $45,080 · Crime & LegalIDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INC IDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INCLEGAL SERVICES FOR MAINE ELDERS INC: $42,149 · Crime & LegalLEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER: $41,472 · Crime & LegalCOMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES INC: $40,298 · Crime & LegalMOUNTAIN STATE JUSTICE INC: $39,982 · Crime & LegalLEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA INC: $39,392 · Crime & LegalLEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN INC: $37,422 · Crime & LegalLEGAL AID OF NEBRASKA: $37,422 · Crime & LegalWestern New York Law Center Inc: $35,452 · Crime & LegalLakeshore Legal Aid: $34,911 · Crime & Legal+3 more: $63,375 · Crime & Legal+3 moreBAY AREA LEGAL AID: $70,905 · OtherBAY AREA LEGAL AIDMississippi Center For Legal Services Corporation: $67,500 · OtherMississippi Center For Legal Serv…DNA PEOPLE LEGAL SERVICES: $67,500 · OtherDNA PEOPLE LEGAL SERVICESMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE: $57,201 · OtherMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCEMONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION: $41,964 · OtherMONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATIO…JACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID INC: $40,817 · OtherJACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID INCNeighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County: $36,280 · OtherNeighborhood Legal Services of Lo…LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND THE CUMBERLANDS: $33,778 · OtherLEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MIDDLE TENNE…TULALIP FOUNDATION: $59,087 · Arts & CultureNORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER: $48,497 · Human ServicesPRESIDENT-BOARD OF TRUSTEES SANTA CLARA COLLEGE: $27,574 · Education
Crime & Legal$843,803Other$415,945Arts & Culture$59,087Human Services$48,497Education$27,574

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budget603 LEGAL AID: $72,086 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetBAY AREA LEGAL AID: $70,905 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMississippi Center For Legal Services Corporation: $67,500 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetREGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES: $66,641 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetTULALIP FOUNDATION: $59,087 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE: $57,201 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetLegal Aid of Western Missouri: $53,769 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INC: $52,962 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetPRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC: $49,315 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER: $48,497 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetAppalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky Inc: $46,775 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetIndiana Legal Services Inc: $45,300 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetIDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INC IDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES INC: $45,080 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetLEGAL SERVICES FOR MAINE ELDERS INC: $42,149 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetMONTANA LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION: $41,964 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER: $41,472 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetJACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID INC: $40,817 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCOMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES INC: $40,298 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMOUNTAIN STATE JUSTICE INC: $39,982 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetLEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA INC: $39,392 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLEGAL ACTION OF WISCONSIN INC: $37,422 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetLEGAL AID OF NEBRASKA: $37,422 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNeighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County: $36,280 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWestern New York Law Center Inc: $35,452 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetLakeshore Legal Aid: $34,911 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetLEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE AND THE CUMBERLANDS: $33,778 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetATLANTA LEGAL AID SOCIETY INC: $27,771 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetPRESIDENT-BOARD OF TRUSTEES SANTA CLARA COLLEGE: $27,574 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE: $25,604 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetUNITED JUSTICE COALITION CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Legal Services Corpor…Equal Justice WorksAmerican College of B…The Skadden FoundationWest Tennessee Legal …National Health Law P…The Impact FundCenter on Budget and …MAZON A Jewish Respon…Littler Mendelson Fou…The Chicago Community…Vanguard Charitable E…
Legal Services CorporationDC36.7× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Legal Services Corporation · Equal Justice Works · American College of Bankruptcy Foundation · The Skadden Foundation · West Tennessee Legal Services INC · National Health Law Program Inc · The Impact Fund · Center on Budget and Policy Priorities · MAZON A Jewish Response to Hunger · Littler Mendelson Foundation Inc Attn Tax Manager · The Chicago Community Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization National Legal Aid and Defender Association funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from National Legal Aid and Defender Association. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 13%
  • Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc: 13% of income from government
  • Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Inc: 13% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 31 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home