COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES INC

EIN 23-1671562 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)

What they do

THE MISSION of COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES of PHILADELPHIA is to FIGHT POVERTY, CHALLENGE SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE INJUSTICE, and CHANGE LIVES THROUGH CUTTING-EDGE ADVOCACY and EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $90.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders34 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

90.95%of revenue went to mission work90.0% of expenses · Program services

3.88%of revenue went to fundraising3.8% of expenses

$101.03spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

6.21%of revenue went to management and office costs6.1% of expenses

$1.06in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

98.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $294,413 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $218,164 for DEBORAH FREEDMAN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$28,485,723

Mission workProgram services$25,906,67290.95% of revenue90.0% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,768,9166.21% of revenue6.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,104,5483.88% of revenue3.8% of expenses

Total expenses$28,780,136101.03% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 90.0% mission · 6.1% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.03% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 91.6% mission · 4.6% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.99% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 92.2% mission · 5.1% management · 2.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.50% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 89.3% mission · 7.7% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.96% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 91.3% mission · 6.5% management · 2.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.38% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 90.5% mission · 7.3% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.85% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 88.4% mission · 8.1% management · 3.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.88% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 88.5% mission · 7.5% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.31% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$28,485,723

Expenses$28,780,136

Annual shortfall $294,413 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$25,906,672 · 90.0% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,768,916 · 6.1% of expenses

Fundraising$1,104,548 · 3.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$28,485,723

Expenses$28,780,136

Assets$30,496,561

Income$28,485,723

Contributions$28,025,280

Mission work (program services)$25,906,672

Fundraising$1,104,548

Management and general$1,768,916

Executive compensation (total)$418,353

Stocks and bonds$995,088

Accounting fees$89,627

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

DEBORAH FREEDMANEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $218,164Base $185,750 · Other $32,414

BRENDA MARREROCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $200,922Base $169,458 · Other $31,464

KATHERINE GOMEZSENIOR ATTORNEY · 35 hrs/week $197,558Base $166,458 · Other $31,100

WILLIAM E GIBBONSSENIOR ATTORNEY · 35 hrs/week $194,131Base $162,933 · Other $31,198

RICHARD WEISHAUPTSENIOR ATTORNEY · 35 hrs/week $193,956Base $162,433 · Other $31,523

LIBARDO CLAVIJOCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $193,562Base $161,458 · Other $32,104

SHARON DIETRICHLITIGATION DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $175,060Base $162,042 · Other $13,018

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (34)

DEBORAH FREEDMANEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BRENDA MARREROCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

KATHERINE GOMEZSENIOR ATTORNEY

WILLIAM E GIBBONSSENIOR ATTORNEY

RICHARD WEISHAUPTSENIOR ATTORNEY

LIBARDO CLAVIJOCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

SHARON DIETRICHLITIGATION DIRECTOR

LARRY BENDESKYBOARD MEMBER

ADRIANNE GUNTERBOARD MEMBER

VALENTINE BROWNTREASURER

STEVE LEEBOARD MEMBER

SHERRITA REID ELAMBOARD MEMBER

SHELLY SOLOMONSECRETARY

SARA RICHMANBOARD MEMBER

RONALD LEWISBOARD MEMBER

PATRINA ANDERSONBOARD MEMBER

PATRICK DEVINEVICE PRESIDENT

MELANIE FOREMANBOARD MEMBER

MARISA TILGHMANBOARD MEMBER

CARLTON JOHNSONBOARD MEMBER

KIMBERLY TAKACSPRESIDENT

KEIR BRADFORD-GREYBOARD MEMBER

CAITLIN G COSLETTBOARD MEMBER

JUDY LEONEBOARD MEMBER

JOSIE PICKENSBOARD MEMBER

JOSEPH TRAUBBOARD MEMBER

JOHN P LAVELLE JRBOARD MEMBER

JANICE LEEBOARD MEMBER

JAMES P FAUNESBOARD MEMBER

GEORGE DONNELLYBOARD MEMBER

ERIC YOONBOARD MEMBER

EMILIA MCKEE VASSALLOBOARD MEMBER

DINA SCHLOSSBERGBOARD MEMBER

DIANA CORTESBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1967
Location: 1424 CHESTNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102-2556
County: Philadelphia
In care of: DEBORAH FREEDMAN
Primary officer: DEBORAH FREEDMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailcbrown@clsphila.org Phone(215) 981-3700

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: MAHER DUESSEL CPAS
NTEE classification: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)
IRS tax category: All Other Legal Services