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Human and Civil Rights : Advocacy and Education

Western Center on Law & Poverty

Fighting for justice for all Californians

three stars

87.78

3701 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 208
Los Angeles, CA 90010
tel: (213) 487-7211   Web Site
EIN: 95-2897721

Board Leadership
Grace A. Carter & David Elson
Co-Chairs

CEO
Paul Tepper
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 87.78 three stars
  Financial 82.73 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 02/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Western Center on Law & Poverty leads the fight in the court, counties and capital to secure housing, healthcare and a strong safety net for low-income Californians. Western Center on Law & Poverty was formed in 1967 by a passionate group of attorneys and legal scholars from USC, UCLA and Loyola law schools who sought to create a unique organization, driven by the belief that low-income Californians deserve the finest possible legal representation before every institution that shapes their lives.

For over five decades, Western Center has advocated on behalf of Californians experiencing poverty in every branch of government. Today Western Center's cutting edge advocacy, litigation and educational work are supported by private donations, foundation grants, and attorney fee awards. Western Center receives no federal funding.

Western Center on Law & Poverty leads the fight in the court, counties and capital to secure housing, healthcare and a strong safety net for low-income Californians. Western Center on Law & Poverty was formed in 1967 by a passionate group of attorneys and legal scholars from USC, UCLA and Loyola law schools who sought to create a unique organization, driven by the belief that low-income Californians deserve the finest possible legal representation before every institution that shapes their lives.

For over five decades, Western Center has advocated on behalf of Californians experiencing poverty in every branch of government. Today Western Center's cutting edge advocacy, litigation and educational work are supported by private donations, foundation grants, and attorney fee awards. Western Center receives no federal funding.

Impact Information

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GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Total in 2018
Number of community events or trainings held and attendance
83
Number of research or policy analysis products developed, e.g., reports, briefs
94
Number of civil litigation matters handled
35
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of March 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

82.73

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 02/01/2020 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 79.9%
  Administrative Expenses 8.8%
  Fundraising Expenses 11.2%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.13
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.60
  Program Expenses Growth 4.2%
  Liabilities to Assets 15.4%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Western Center on Law & Poverty on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Western Center on Law & Poverty on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Western Center on Law & Poverty (CA) 87.78 three stars
Administer Justice (IL) 86.67 three stars
Legal Action Center of the City of New York (NY) 85.21 three stars
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (WA) 92.21 four stars
Institute for Free Speech (DC) 97.23 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,961,506
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $934,892
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $728,938
Total Contributions $3,625,336
   Program Service Revenue $798,493
Total Primary Revenue $4,423,829
   Other Revenue $25,666
TOTAL REVENUE $4,449,495
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $3,175,477
   Administrative Expenses $348,784
   Fundraising Expenses $465,042
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $3,989,303
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $460,192
   
Net Assets $2,403,148

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Health Care $1,079,662 34.0%
Housing $1,079,662 34.0%
Public Benefits and Economic Justice $1,016,153 32.0%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-12 02/01/2020 87.78 three stars
2017-12 03/01/2019 88.05 three stars
2016-12 04/01/2018 89.44 three stars
2015-12 06/01/2017 90.84 four stars
2014-12 11/01/2016 87.04 three stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 86.74 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-12 12/22/2015 87.29 three stars
2013-12 10/01/2015 89.38 three stars
2013-12 04/01/2015 89.73 three stars
2012-12 12/20/2013 82.07 three stars
2012-12 12/01/2013 81.85 three stars
2011-12 04/01/2013 75.47 two stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 95-2897721
Name in IRS Master File WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY
NTEE Code I80
NTEE Classification Legal Services
NTEE Type Crime, Legal-Related
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (460) Public interest litigation activities
(462) Legal aid to indigents
(560) Supplying money, goods or services to the poor
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date October, 1974
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$161,219 4.04% Paul Tepper President, Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Western Center on Law & Poverty (CA) 87.78 three stars
Chicago Legal Clinic (IL) 88.29 three stars
Volunteer Lawyers Network (MN) 87.74 three stars
Lawyers Committee for Better Housing (IL) 87.69 three stars
Justice in Aging (DC) 98.14 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Western Center on Law & Poverty
3701 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 208
Los Angeles, CA 90010
tel: (213) 487-7211
EIN: 95-2897721

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Grace A. Carter & David Elson
Co-Chairs

CEO

Paul Tepper
Executive Director

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