MALDEF - MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

MALDEF - MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND

EIN 74-1563270 · Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy (R220)

What they do

FOUNDED IN 1968, MALDEF is THE NATIONS LEADING LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS LEGAL ORGANIZATION, PROMOTING SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY EDUCATION and LITIGATION IN THE AREAS of EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS and POLITICAL ACCESS.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $81.30 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 leaders31 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

103.86%of revenue went to mission work81.3% of expenses · Program services

5.00%of revenue went to fundraising3.9% of expenses

$127.75spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

18.88%of revenue went to management and office costs14.8% of expenses

$2.30in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

58.2%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 $2,018,960 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $507,336 for THOMAS A SAENZ (PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL). 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$7,275,973

Mission workProgram services$7,556,842103.86% of revenue81.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,373,98118.88% of revenue14.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$364,1105.00% of revenue3.9% of expenses

Total expenses$9,294,933127.75% 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: 81.3% mission · 14.8% management · 3.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 127.75% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 78.6% mission · 17.2% management · 4.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 125.62% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 79.5% mission · 16.2% management · 4.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 80.75% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 80.0% mission · 15.3% management · 4.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 85.63% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 79.6% mission · 15.5% management · 4.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.68% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 81.6% mission · 14.5% management · 3.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.68% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 77.8% mission · 16.9% management · 5.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 54.53% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 78.8% mission · 15.5% management · 5.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.20% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$7,275,973

Expenses$9,294,933

Annual shortfall $2,018,960 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)$7,556,842 · 81.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,373,981 · 14.8% of expenses

Fundraising$364,110 · 3.9% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$7,275,973

Expenses$9,294,933

Assets$21,349,231

Income$27,162,572

Contributions$4,231,022

Mission work (program services)$7,556,842

Fundraising$364,110

Grants given$410,945

Average grant$37,359

Management and general$1,373,981

Executive compensation (total)$562,222

Stocks and bonds$14,128,904

Accounting fees$35,403

Investing fees$140,523

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

THOMAS A SAENZPRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL · 48 hrs/week $507,336Base $459,404 · Other $47,932

NINA PERALESVICE PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION · 50 hrs/week $269,621Base $197,600 · Other $72,021

SHELLEY MALLCHOKVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE/CFO · 38 hrs/week $256,414Base $199,600 · Other $56,814

GINA MONTOYAVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT · 50 hrs/week $247,534Base $199,600 · Other $47,934

SANDRA HERNANDEZVP OF COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA · 50 hrs/week $206,491Base $172,803 · Other $33,688

ANDREA SENTENOREGIONAL COUNSEL: DC · 50 hrs/week $156,765Base $126,542 · Other $30,223

ERNEST HERRERAREGIONAL COUNSEL: WESTERN REGION · 50 hrs/week $147,468Base $126,542 · Other $20,926

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 (31)

THOMAS A SAENZPRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL

NINA PERALESVICE PRESIDENT OF LITIGATION

SHELLEY MALLCHOKVICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE/CFO

GINA MONTOYAVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

SANDRA HERNANDEZVP OF COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA

ANDREA SENTENOREGIONAL COUNSEL: DC

ERNEST HERRERAREGIONAL COUNSEL: WESTERN REGION

RONALD W WONGDIRECTOR

LAURA E GOMEZDIRECTOR

REGINA MONTOYA1ST VICE CHAIR

STELLA M FLORESDIRECTOR

RAUL LOMELI-AZOUBELDIRECTOR

R OMAR RIOJASDIRECTOR

PHIL FUENTESDIRECTOR

NORMA CANTUCHAIR

TOM RESTONDIRECTOR

YOLANDA CAMARENADIRECTOR

MICHAEL WAMPOLDAUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR

LUIS RICARDO FRAGADIRECTOR

JOSE SANCHEZDIRECTOR

JORGE A HERRERA GOVERNANCE& NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR

JEFFREY GARCIA SECRETARYTREASURERFISCAL & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

IRMA RODRIGUEZ-MOISA3RD VICE CHAIR

GABRIELA PACHECO2ND VICE CHAIR

EMILIO GONZALEZDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR

ELIZABETH V LOPEZDIRECTOR

ELISA DE LA VARADIRECTOR

CARLOS R SOLTERODIRECTOR

BILL LANN LEEDIRECTOR

AUGUSTINA REYESDIRECTOR

ANNA MARIA CHAVEZPROGRAM & PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1967
Location: 634 S SPRING ST 11TH, LOS ANGELES, CA 90014-3921
County: Los Angeles
In care of: THOMAS A SAENZ
Primary officer: THOMAS A SAENZ, PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailmedia@MALDEF.org Phone(213) 629-2512

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: May 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
NTEE classification: Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy (R220)
IRS tax category: Human Rights Organizations
Grant-giving organization: Yes