LEGAL AID CHICAGO Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

LEGAL AID CHICAGO

EIN 36-2754650 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)

What they do

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 RIGHTS, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, and ACHIEVE JUSTICE.IN CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION, WE TREAT EVERYONE WITH COMPASSION and RESPECT.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $80.40 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 leaders57 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

67.66%of revenue went to mission work80.4% of expenses · Program services

3.57%of revenue went to fundraising4.2% of expenses

$84.12spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

12.89%of revenue went to management and office costs15.3% of expenses

$0.79in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

96.8%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.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $260,117 for KATHERINE SHANK (CEO/EXEC. 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$30,608,311

Mission workProgram services$20,710,54267.66% of revenue80.4% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,946,81912.89% of revenue15.3% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,091,2163.57% of revenue4.2% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$4,859,73415.88% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$25,748,57784.12% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

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: 80.4% mission · 15.3% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.12% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 81.6% mission · 14.2% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.73% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 81.3% mission · 14.4% management · 4.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.80% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 91.8% mission · 4.4% management · 3.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 85.77% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 90.3% mission · 6.0% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.20% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 91.6% mission · 3.9% management · 4.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 92.67% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 91.7% mission · 4.0% management · 4.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.37% of revenue

2016Expense mix: 92.4% mission · 3.9% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.75% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$30,608,311

Expenses$25,748,577

Annual surplus $4,859,734 Revenue was higher than expenses 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)$20,710,542 · 80.4% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,946,819 · 15.3% of expenses

Fundraising$1,091,216 · 4.2% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$30,608,311

Expenses$25,748,577

Assets$20,393,710

Income$33,471,238

Contributions$29,615,425

Mission work (program services)$20,710,542

Fundraising$1,091,216

Grants given$350,000

Average grant$350,000

Management and general$3,946,819

Executive compensation (total)$985,575

Stocks and bonds$7,053,592

Investing fees$33,211

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

KATHERINE SHANKCEO/EXEC. DIRECTOR · 37 hrs/week $260,117Base $212,667 · Other $47,450

JEN MILLERCHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS O · 38 hrs/week $196,298Base $155,122 · Other $41,176

VIVIAN HESSELCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER · 38 hrs/week $179,241Base $139,827 · Other $39,414

DANIEL LINDSEYDIRECTOR OF LITIGATION · 38 hrs/week $178,890Base $139,463 · Other $39,427

CYNTHIA SADKINCHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER · 38 hrs/week $178,429Base $146,362 · Other $32,067

MARK KENNEDYCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 38 hrs/week $174,536Base $153,094 · Other $21,442

LISA PALUMBODIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION & WORKERS RIGHTS · 38 hrs/week $163,263Base $142,366 · Other $20,897

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 (57)

KATHERINE SHANKCEO/EXEC. DIRECTOR

JEN MILLERCHIEF EXTERNAL RELATIONS O

VIVIAN HESSELCHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

DANIEL LINDSEYDIRECTOR OF LITIGATION

CYNTHIA SADKINCHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

MARK KENNEDYCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

LISA PALUMBODIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION & WORKERS RIGHTS

RYAN HEDGESDIRECTOR

LEDEIDRE TURNERDIRECTOR

MARILYN ROSSSECRETARY

MEGAN POETZELDIRECTOR

MICHELLE CARRDIRECTOR

MIKE ANDOLINADIRECTOR

MONIQUE HOWERYDIRECTOR

NADER BOULOSDIRECTOR

NADINE CHESTDIRECTOR

NANCY TEMPLEDIRECTOR

PATRICK SALVI IIDIRECTOR

ROBERT KRISSDIRECTOR

KEVIN BROWNDIRECTOR

STACY LOCKHARTDIRECTOR

TANIA GOMEZDIRECTOR

TED CHUNGDIRECTOR

TERRA REYNOLDSDIRECTOR

TIM KINCAIDDIRECTOR

TOM MARRINSONDIRECTOR

TRACY MCLELLANDIRECTOR

UMA AMULURUDIRECTOR

VERONICA GONZALEZTREASURER

VIRXHINI GJONZENELICO-CHAIR

AISHA LAVINIERDIRECTOR

ELAINA MOHEADDIRECTOR

AMI WYNNEDIRECTOR

ANNE MITCHELLDIRECTOR

ANNIE TERRYDIRECTOR

AVIS REYNOLDSDIRECTOR

BARRY HORWITZDIRECTOR

BOBBI ANDERSONDIRECTOR

BRIAN HAUSSMANNDIRECTOR

CATHERINE MASTERSDIRECTOR

CHRIS OHARADIRECTOR

DANIEL CAMPBELLDIRECTOR

DANIEL MCELROYDIRECTOR

DYMOND ANDERSONDIRECTOR

KEVIN LORICKDIRECTOR

GREG DEISDIRECTOR

HOLLY SNOWCO-CHAIR

HOWARD SPILLERDIRECTOR

JAIME JONESDIRECTOR

JAN PETERSDIRECTOR

JARED HECKVICE CHAIR

ALYX PATTISONDIRECTOR

JOANNE CACERESDIRECTOR

JULIA JOHNSONDIRECTOR

ALICE SCOTTDIRECTOR

KATHERINE JAHNKE DALEDIRECTOR

AMANDA BROWNDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1973
Location: 200 N LA SALLE ST STE 1400, CHICAGO, IL 60601-1035
County: Cook
In care of: % LAF
Primary officer: KATHERINE SHANK, CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(312) 341-1070

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
NTEE classification: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)
IRS tax category: All Other Legal Services
Grant-giving organization: Yes