LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO

EIN 95-1869806 · Education (B)

What they do

to PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES to INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET ESTABLISHED ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES. THE SOCIETY OPERATES LAW PROGRAMS, SUBJECT to INDIVIDUAL GRANT RESTRICTIONS, IN THE FOLLOWING GENERAL PRIORITY and SUBSTANTIVE AREAS: HOUSING, HEALTH/INCOME MAINTENANCE, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, FAMILY, CONSUMER/FINANCE, EDUCATION and JUVENILE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $86.50 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

85.75%of revenue went to mission work86.5% of expenses · Program services

0.52%of revenue went to fundraising0.5% of expenses

$99.08spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

12.81%of revenue went to management and office costs12.9% of expenses

$0.66in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

98.2%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.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $256,110 for JOANNE L FRANCISCUS (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$30,112,453

Mission workProgram services$25,821,07885.75% of revenue86.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,858,23512.81% of revenue12.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$155,9840.52% of revenue0.5% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$277,1560.92% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$29,835,29799.08% 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: 86.5% mission · 12.9% management · 0.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.08% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 87.8% mission · 11.6% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.22% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 87.9% mission · 11.4% management · 0.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.28% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 86.4% mission · 13.0% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.87% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 87.7% mission · 11.5% management · 0.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.61% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 87.8% mission · 11.4% management · 0.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.18% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 89.3% mission · 10.0% management · 0.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.69% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 90.3% mission · 9.7% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.80% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$30,112,453

Expenses$29,835,297

Annual surplus $277,156 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)$25,821,078 · 86.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,858,235 · 12.9% of expenses

Fundraising$155,984 · 0.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$30,112,453

Expenses$29,835,297

Assets$19,576,599

Income$30,252,776

Contributions$29,570,547

Mission work (program services)$25,821,078

Fundraising$155,984

Management and general$3,858,235

Accounting fees$149,767

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

JOANNE L FRANCISCUSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $256,110Base $234,135 · Other $21,975

GERARDO SERGIO VALENZUELACHIEF FISCAL OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $233,600Base $198,723 · Other $34,877

DANIEL LEE BENSON ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $201,668Base $176,324 · Other $25,344

KRISTIN JACOBS ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $190,981Base $157,688 · Other $33,293

JACK DAILEY ESQDIRECTOR OF POLICY AND TRAINING · 35 hrs/week $154,928Base $127,355 · Other $27,573

CAROL MCBIRNEY ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR · 35 hrs/week $154,537Base $136,265 · Other $18,272

GILBERTO VERADIRECTOR OF HOUSING JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE · 35 hrs/week $150,471Base $133,187 · Other $17,284

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)

JOANNE L FRANCISCUSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GERARDO SERGIO VALENZUELACHIEF FISCAL OFFICER

DANIEL LEE BENSON ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR

KRISTIN JACOBS ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR

JACK DAILEY ESQDIRECTOR OF POLICY AND TRAINING

CAROL MCBIRNEY ESQDEPUTY DIRECTOR

GILBERTO VERADIRECTOR OF HOUSING JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE

MICHAEL W BATTIN ESQTREASURER

LINA L LANEBOARD MEMBER

LINDA TOSTADOBOARD MEMBER

LINDSAY MERTENSBOARD MEMBER (THRU 1/27/25)

MARK G RACKERS ESQBOARD MEMBER

JAMES CEKOLA ESQBOARD MEMBER

PETER ADAMS ESQCHAIRPERSON ELECT

PHYLLIS JONESBOARD MEMBER

RYAN C CAPPLAN ESQBOARD MEMBER

STANLEY J PANIKOWSKI ESQBOARD MEMBER

THOMAS WARWICKBOARD MEMBER (THRU 6/26/25)

WILLIA B SAILOR ESQVICE CHAIRMAN

JOANNA FOX ESQCHAIRPERSON

AMINA A DAUOODBOARD MEMBER

HON MARGARET M MANNBOARD MEMBER

GWEN HEANLEY-PAMPLINBOARD MEMBER

FRANCES D BUMPUSSECRETARY

DAVID HACKATHORNBOARD MEMBER (THRU 6/26/25)

CRAIG SINGLETONBOARD MEMBER (THRU 6/26/25)

CORRIE TAYLORBOARD MEMBER

BRIAN M KRAMERBOARD MEMBER

BARRY J TUCKER ESQBOARD MEMBER

ANTHONY M STIEGLER ESQBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1957
Location: 1764 SAN DIEGO AVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92110-1987
County: San Diego
In care of: % JOANNE L FRANCISCUS
Primary officer: SERGIO VALENZUELA, CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(877) 534-2524

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
NTEE classification: Education (B)
IRS tax category: Education