Public Counsel

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Public Counsel is a nonprofit Public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. (see sch o for continuation)founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond los angeles.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-7105149) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 4,000 volunteers and 196 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.9M a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
79% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.2M
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
3.4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $18.9M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
3.4 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $48K
5 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.5M
15% of total assets
Liabilities are 15% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
89
of 89 voting members
89 of 89 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$23.8M
-8% vs prior year
Spent
$23.6M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$30.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$23.8M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$14.1M
FY2021$22.6M
FY2022$17.5M
FY2023$17.3M
FY2024$25.8M
FY2025$23.8M
Expenses
$23.6M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.1M
FY2021$15.5M
FY2022$16.4M
FY2023$18.7M
FY2024$21.5M
FY2025$23.6M
Net assets
$30.0M
FY2025▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$16.7M
FY2021$24.5M
FY2022$24.2M
FY2023$23.4M
FY2024$29.1M
FY2025$30.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1971.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $18.6M Management & general 13% · $3.1M Fundraising 8% · $1.8M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

100 people listed on the 990; $2.2M paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
SR. Special Counsel for Strat. Lit.
$265,540Pt VII · Sec A
VP & Chief Dev. Officer
$248,627Pt VII · Sec A
Int. VP, Chief of Lit. & Leg. Progs.
$246,840Pt VII · Sec A
President & CEO
$223,340Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Finance & CFO
$207,723Pt VII · Sec A
VP, COO & General Counsel
$198,384Pt VII · Sec A
Directing Attorney
$164,729Pt VII · Sec A
Interim Directing Attorney
$160,232Pt VII · Sec A

Mark Rosenbaum’s $266K as SR. Special Counsel for Strat. Lit. is at the 72nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 247 $10–100M crime & legal nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Mark Rosenbaum$265,540$251,435$243,692$237,023$228,629$224,632
Margaret Morrow————$247,388$255,800
Tracy Rice$248,627$212,981$209,768$201,609$190,844$188,471
Kristen Jackson$246,840$140,519————
Monica Ramirez Almadani—$240,208$239,587$133,233——
Kathryn a Eidmann$223,340$162,118————
Elizabeth Bluestein—————$210,539
Steven Godoy$207,723$121,478————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Public Counsel executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides free legal services, impact litigation, and policy advocacy to fight systemic poverty and protect civil rights using a network of volunteer attorneys.

Questions for Public Counsel

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Your first name shows with your question. Public Counsel answers here, for everyone.

3 programs · $10.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The immigrants' rights team provides representation to individuals from over 30 countries before the united states department of homeland security, the los angeles immigration court, the board of immigration appeals, and the federal courts.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-7105149) · Dispute this line
$3.9Mprogram expense
02

The child, youth & family advocacy team uses a multi-disciplinary approach to legal advocacy with the trauma-informed and resiliency-focused tools of social workers supporting the work of legal advocates to remove legal barriers for children, youth, families, and communities of color most impacted by systemic racism and economic…

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-7105149) · Dispute this line
$3.1Mprogram expense
03

The consumer rights & economic justice team advances economic justice by providing legal counsel for, and advocacy on behalf of, low-income individuals and their families, addressing inequalities in bargaining power, opposing those who take advantage of the vulnerable, and holding wrongdoers accountable.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-7105149) · Dispute this line
$3.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 20 grants · $2.0M · 2019–2024
Acce InstituteCA · FY2024$108,989
Unitemized GrantFY2024$91,906
Acce InstituteCA · FY2023$131,684
Unitemized GrantFY2023$55,000
Bet TzedekCA · FY2023$22,380
Acce InstituteCA · FY2022$157,068
Bet TzedekCA · FY2022$89,047
Unitemized GrantFY2022$71,053
Unitemized GrantFY2021$32,500
Unitemized GrantFY2020$15,000
See all 20 grants →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Aug 2025 · $1.5M federal money spent
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State Bar of California and 3 more$686K
Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement GrantsDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.218 · Through Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and 1 more$496K
Homeowner Assistance FundDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.026 · Through Cal Hfa$350K
Legal Assistance for VictimsDepartment of Justice · ALN 16.524 · Direct$11K

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Aug 2024 · $2.6M federal money spent
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State Bar of California and 3 more$1.7M
Homeowner Assistance FundDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.026 · Through Cal Hfa$374K
Legal Assistance for VictimsDepartment of Justice · ALN 16.524 · Through Office for Victims of Crime$294K
Crime Victim AssistanceDepartment of Justice · ALN 16.575 · Through State of California$133K
Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement GrantsDepartment of Housing and Urban Development · ALN 14.218 · Through Legal Aid Foundation of La and 1 more$37K

The auditor reported 1 finding: a weakness in money controls.

Year ending Aug 2023 · $1.7M federal money spent
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through State Bar of California and 2 more$867K
Va Supportive Services for Veteran Families ProgramDepartment of Veterans Affairs · ALN 64.033 · Through Mental Health America of Los Angeles and 1 more$388K
Homeowner Assistance FundDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.026 · Through Cal Hfa$256K
Crime Victim AssistanceDepartment of Justice · ALN 16.575 · Through State of California$117K
Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary GrantsDepartment of Justice · ALN 16.582 · Through Office for Victims of Crime$60K

The auditor reported 1 finding: a weakness in money controls.

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$23.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$22.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$722K
Investment incomeLn 3$658K
Money outPt IX
$23.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$18.6M
Managementcol C$3.1M
Fundraisingcol D$1.8M
Owns and owesPt X
$30.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.6M
Total assetsLn 16$35.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
100
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a89
IndependentVI 1b89
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$22.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$10.2M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$333K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$2.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$722K
Investment incomeLn 3$658K
Other incomeLn 4–11$232K
Gains on assetsLn 7$334K
Total revenueLn 12$23.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.0M
SavingsLn 2$2.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.6M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1.5M
Accounts receivableLn 4$3.2M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$506K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$18.9M
Total assetsLn 16$35.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$30.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5196
VolunteersI 64,000
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$333K
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$43K
Share of the $6.6M endowmentSch D 1g0.65%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$6.6M$5.8M$4.5M$3.9M$3.9M
AddedLn 1b$104K$351K$236K$440K$2.7M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.1M$6.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15.7M$18.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.0M$4.8M
Total assetsLn 16$32.9M$35.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.8M$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$29.1M$30.0M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.1M$1.1M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$92K$92K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$1.6M$689K$560K$399K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$14.3M$12.2M$1.2M$811K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$521K$446K$50K$25K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.6M$1.3M$155K$106K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.2M$967K$131K$88K
Accounting feesLn 11c$70K$70K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$228K$228K
Investment management feesLn 11f$43K$43K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$681K$323K$354K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$848K$691K$94K$63K
OccupancyLn 16$325K$265K$36K$24K
TravelLn 17$78K$62K$4K$12K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$207K$169K$23K$15K
InsuranceLn 23$157K$4K$153K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$435K$281K$140K$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$87K$8K$47K$33K
Total functional expensesLn 25$23.6M$18.6M$3.1M$1.8M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 15, 2026 $23.8M$23.6M$256K$30.0M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Jun 26, 2025 $25.8M$21.5M$4.4M$29.1M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 29, 2024 $17.3M$18.7M−$1.4M$23.4M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 7, 2023 $17.5M$16.4M$1.1M$24.2M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Apr 18, 2022 $22.6M$15.5M$7.2M$24.5M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 24, 2021 $14.1M$14.1M−$67K$16.7M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support B · Donors C · Political and lobbying D · Assets and endowments G · Fundraising I · Grants J · Pay M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $23,810,728 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $23,979,331$22,198,012
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,287,027$722,433
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $769,172$992,025
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$194,602−$101,742
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $25,840,928$23,810,728
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $381,784$1,165,269
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $18,317,263$19,232,408
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $208,171$227,694
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,548,385$2,929,830
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $21,455,603$23,555,201
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,385,325$255,527
Part VI · Governance 89 of 89 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body89
VI-1b Independent voting members89
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $23,810,728 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$2,387,856
VIII-1e Government grants$10,207,183
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,602,973
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$332,750
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$22,198,012
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $722,433$722,433
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $657,939$657,939
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $1,250$1,250
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $334,086$334,086
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$205,252−$205,252
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $87,858 · Excluded from tax $14,402$102,260
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $810,291 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $802,425$23,810,728
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $23,555,201 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,073,363$1,073,363
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $91,906$91,906
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $688,977 · Management $559,762 · Fundraising $399,269$1,648,008
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $12,230,616 · Management $1,234,603 · Fundraising $811,015$14,276,234
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $445,609 · Management $50,048 · Fundraising $24,850$520,507
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,340,556 · Management $155,093 · Fundraising $105,695$1,601,344
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $966,728 · Management $131,444 · Fundraising $88,143$1,186,315
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $69,917$69,917
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $227,694$227,694
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $43,308$43,308
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $322,982 · Management $353,652 · Fundraising $4,224$680,858
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $690,655 · Management $93,908 · Fundraising $62,972$847,535
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $264,726 · Management $35,994 · Fundraising $24,137$324,857
IX-17 TravelPrograms $61,676 · Management $4,344 · Fundraising $11,892$77,912
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $168,557 · Management $22,918 · Fundraising $15,368$206,843
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,701 · Management $153,087$156,788
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $281,422 · Management $140,323 · Fundraising $12,852$434,597
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,577 · Management $46,877 · Fundraising $32,761$87,215
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $18,639,051 · Management $3,095,278 · Fundraising $1,820,872$23,555,201
Part X · Balance sheet $35,453,992 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,748,203$3,970,781
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,388,620$2,607,116
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,458,931$1,471,389
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,889,561$3,220,805
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $804,384$505,845
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,962,041$4,755,198
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $9,128,178$11,805,739
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $6,531,605$7,117,119
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $32,911,523$35,453,992
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,974,942$2,140,794
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,853,893$3,350,010
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,828,835$5,490,804
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,164,310$22,207,383
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $7,918,378$7,755,805
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $29,082,688$29,963,188
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $32,911,523$35,453,992
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $29,963,188 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$23,810,728
XI-2 Total expenses$23,555,201
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$255,527
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$29,082,688
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$624,973
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$29,963,188

Form 990 e-file FY2025 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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