PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

EIN 94-2197343 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)

What they do

Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) Litigates Nationwide to Secure All Americans Inalienable Rights to Live Responsibly and Productively In Their Pursuit of Happiness. See Schedule O for Full Mission.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $81.50 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 leaders30 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

91.62%of revenue went to mission work81.5% of expenses · Program services

7.98%of revenue went to fundraising7.1% of expenses

$112.47spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

12.87%of revenue went to management and office costs11.4% of expenses

$3.35in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

83.2%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 $3,941,334 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $755,869 for STEVEN ANDERSON (PRESIDENT & CEO). 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$31,598,514

Mission workProgram services$28,949,85891.62% of revenue81.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$4,067,52712.87% of revenue11.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$2,522,4637.98% of revenue7.1% of expenses

Total expenses$35,539,848112.47% 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: 81.5% mission · 11.4% management · 7.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 112.47% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 81.0% mission · 11.1% management · 7.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 56.38% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 81.7% mission · 10.4% management · 7.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.97% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 82.5% mission · 9.8% management · 7.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 71.53% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 77.7% mission · 11.5% management · 10.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 92.94% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 76.7% mission · 10.9% management · 12.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.54% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 75.5% mission · 10.9% management · 13.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.80% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 73.6% mission · 14.4% management · 12.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.23% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$31,598,514

Expenses$35,539,848

Annual shortfall $3,941,334 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)$28,949,858 · 81.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$4,067,527 · 11.4% of expenses

Fundraising$2,522,463 · 7.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$31,598,514

Expenses$35,539,848

Assets$118,927,949

Income$58,631,400

Contributions$26,278,130

Mission work (program services)$28,949,858

Fundraising$2,522,463

Grants given$305,000

Average grant$16,053

Management and general$4,067,527

Executive compensation (total)$1,177,550

Stocks and bonds$104,998,459

Accounting fees$95,430

Investing fees$298,912

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

STEVEN ANDERSONPRESIDENT & CEO · 38 hrs/week $755,869Base $672,716 · Other $83,153

JOHN GROENEXEC. VP & GENERAL COUNSEL · 38 hrs/week $435,647Base $360,447 · Other $75,200

LARRY SALZMANSECRETARY/VP FOR LIT. & STRATEGY · 38 hrs/week $377,725Base $300,987 · Other $76,738

STEVE SIMPSONDIRECTOR OF SOP · 38 hrs/week $317,544Base $279,018 · Other $38,526

CHARLES WILCOX IVTREASURER (TO 10/24)/VP OF OPP. · 38 hrs/week $313,953Base $288,069 · Other $25,884

JOSHUA THOMPSONDIR.OF EQU & OPP LIT. · 38 hrs/week $309,624Base $238,608 · Other $71,016

AUSTIN RAYNORSENIOR ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $304,456Base $278,545 · Other $25,911

JAMES BURLINGSENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL · 38 hrs/week $301,815Base $249,192 · Other $52,623

SCOTT BARTONVP OF COMM & MARKETING · 38 hrs/week $291,805Base $234,428 · Other $57,377

DAMIEN SCHIFFSENIOR ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $272,250Base $225,275 · Other $46,975

ROBERT THOMASDIR.OF PROP RIGHTS LIT. · 38 hrs/week $268,628Base $236,676 · Other $31,952

JAN BREEMERSENIOR ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $256,316Base $217,028 · Other $39,288

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 (30)

STEVEN ANDERSONPRESIDENT & CEO

JOHN GROENEXEC. VP & GENERAL COUNSEL

LARRY SALZMANSECRETARY/VP FOR LIT. & STRATEGY

STEVE SIMPSONDIRECTOR OF SOP

CHARLES WILCOX IVTREASURER (TO 10/24)/VP OF OPP.

JOSHUA THOMPSONDIR.OF EQU & OPP LIT.

AUSTIN RAYNORSENIOR ATTORNEY

JAMES BURLINGSENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL

SCOTT BARTONVP OF COMM & MARKETING

DAMIEN SCHIFFSENIOR ATTORNEY

ROBERT THOMASDIR.OF PROP RIGHTS LIT.

JAN BREEMERSENIOR ATTORNEY

MARK MILLERSENIOR ATTORNEY

BRITANY SKIPPERTREASURER, CFO (AS OF 11/24)

ROSS BORBA JRTRUSTEE

RONALD E VAN BUSKIRKTRUSTEE

ROBERT K BESTTRUSTEE (TO 09/24)

ROBERT D CONNORSCHAIR OF THE BOARD

JEFFREY E WARRENTRUSTEE

JOHN C HARRISTRUSTEE

JOHN YOOTRUSTEE

AMY BRIGHAM BOULRISTRUSTEE

GREG M EVANSTRUSTEE

GEORGE KIMBALLVICE CHAIR

DAVID GERSONTRUSTEE

CHARLES W TRAINORTRUSTEE

CAROL PLATT LIEBAUTRUSTEE

BRUCE C SMITHTRUSTEE

BRIAN G CARTWRIGHTTRUSTEE

APRIL J MORRISTRUSTEE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1973
Location: 555 CAPITOL MALL STE 1290, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814-4605
County: Sacramento
In care of: Steven D Anderson
Primary officer: Steven D Anderson, President/CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(916) 419-7111

Filing and classification

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