CFJ promotes access to justice for underserved communities seeking to assert their legal rights. Our pro bono-based projects bridge the gap for underserved communities seeking safety, stability, and justice. CFJ engages volunteer attorneys to provide legal services, empowering people with knowledge and support to effectively navigate legal challenges.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
59¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 142 volunteers and 28 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
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $71K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
59%
of spending
Worth a look: 59% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$514K
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $2.8M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $96K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$775K
21% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 21% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
31
of 31 voting members
Looks good: 31 of 31 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.6M
+10% vs prior year
Spent
$2.6M
To programs
59%
Net assets
$3.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.6M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$2.6M
Expenses
$2.6M
FY2025▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.4M
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.4M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$2.6M
Net assets
$3.0M
FY2025-0.04%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$2.7M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$2.7M
FY2024$3.0M
FY2025$3.0M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1985.

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

Where the money goes

59 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 59% · $1.6M Management & general 37% · $963K Fundraising 4% · $106K

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

35 people listed on the 990; $514K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$185,170Pt VII · Sec A
Directing Attorney
$124,851Pt VII · Sec A
Supervising Attor
$102,503Pt VII · Sec A
Directing Attorney
$101,746Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President-Elect
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Executive VP
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Senior VP
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022
Diane Trunk$185,170$109,777——
Silvia Martinez$124,851$110,273$103,870—
Tara Hunter——$108,458—
Catherine Hoffman$101,746$107,221——
Alexandra Hong$102,503———
Silvia I Martinez———$100,792

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 Counsel for Justice executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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 legal help and justice for those who need it most.

Questions for Counsel for Justice

Tap to ask. Counsel for Justice sees how many people are interested.

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

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Immigration Legal Assistance Project

Counsel for Justice provided free immigration legal services in approximately 4,000 cases in 2025, including self-help services, limited-scope assistance, and attorney representation. The project assisted low-income immigrants in Los Angeles County with immigration applications, legal information, document preparation, and representation…

$704Kprogram expense
02

Domestic Violence Project

Counsel for Justice provided free legal services to survivors of domestic violence through its courthouse-based restraining order clinic. In 2025, the project assisted 1,692 people by helping survivors understand their legal options, prepare restraining order applications, and seek court orders to protect their safety, housing, children…

$450Kprogram expense
03

Housing Project

Counsel for Justice provided free legal services in 184 housing cases in 2025, many involving veterans facing eviction or other housing instability in Los Angeles County. Services included attorney representation and a courthouse-based self-help Answer clinic that helped tenants respond to unlawful detainer complaints, prepare court…

$282Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Law Rocks INCFY2024$9K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$96K
See all 4 funders →
Grants paid · 3 grants · $88K · 2024–2025

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$381K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$72K
Money outPt IX
$2.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.6M
Managementcol C$963K
Fundraisingcol D$106K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$456K
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$775K
PeoplePt VI, VII
35
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a31
IndependentVI 1b31
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.8M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$88K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$72K
Investment incomeLn 3$381K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$2.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$290K
SavingsLn 2$166K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$456K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$43K
Other assetsLn 15$152K
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$775K
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 528
VolunteersI 6142
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$389K$456K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.4M$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$54K$43K
Total assetsLn 16$3.4M$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$449K$775K
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M$3.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$76K$76K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$198K$14K$184K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.4M$1.1M$244K$26K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$34K$26K$8K$534
Other employee benefitsLn 9$86K$54K$30K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$131K$94K$34K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$193K$193K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$158K$2K$105K$51K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$32K$32K
Office expensesLn 13$46K$19K$25K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$48K$5K$29K$13K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$82K$70K$12K
TravelLn 17$56K$38K$10K$9K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$12K$4K$8K$825
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$12K
InsuranceLn 23$30K$20K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$95$95
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.6M$1.6M$963K$106K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.6M$2.6M−$1K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.4M$2.2M$219K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.7M$1.7M−$59K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.7M$1.4M$260K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.3M$1.1M$143K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.2M$1.4M−$136K$2.4M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,634,701 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,966,776$2,195,555
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $83,933$72,172
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $247,233$380,546
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $104,662−$13,572
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,402,604$2,634,701
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $14,491$75,999
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,551,221$1,864,075
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $617,965$695,917
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,183,677$2,635,991
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $218,927−$1,290
Part VI · Governance 31 of 31 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body31
VI-1b Independent voting members31
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 $2,634,701 across 12 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $840 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$198
VIII-1c Fundraising events$88,364
VIII-1e Government grants$1,774,376
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$332,617
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,195,555
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $72,172$72,172
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $380,546$380,546
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$14,412
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $72,172 · Excluded from tax $381,386$2,634,701
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,635,991 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $75,999$75,999
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $13,846 · Management $183,947$197,793
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,144,265 · Management $244,465 · Fundraising $26,042$1,414,772
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $25,922 · Management $7,580 · Fundraising $534$34,036
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $54,174 · Management $30,112 · Fundraising $1,942$86,228
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $94,436 · Management $34,384 · Fundraising $2,426$131,246
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $11,267$11,267
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $193,095$193,095
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $16,449$16,449
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,765 · Management $105,456 · Fundraising $50,548$157,769
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $31,500$31,500
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $18,816 · Management $24,567 · Fundraising $2,420$45,803
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $5,478 · Management $29,089 · Fundraising $13,125$47,692
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $70,378 · Management $12,024$82,402
IX-17 TravelPrograms $37,630 · Management $9,776 · Fundraising $8,550$55,956
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,024 · Management $7,623 · Fundraising $825$12,472
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $11,612$11,612
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $20,052 · Management $9,753$29,805
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $95$95
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,566,785 · Management $962,794 · Fundraising $106,412$2,635,991
Part X · Balance sheet $3,771,251 assets, 21 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $227,951$289,703
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $160,847$165,886
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $62,931$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $188,302$305,846
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $7,465$22,077
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $54,195$42,582
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,438,146$2,793,263
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $306,620$151,894
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,446,457$3,771,251
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $95,761$120,636
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $161,201$496,592
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $191,636$157,454
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $448,598$774,682
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,334,944$1,173,181
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,662,915$1,823,388
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,997,859$2,996,569
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,446,457$3,771,251
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,996,569 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,634,701
XI-2 Total expenses$2,635,991
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,290
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,997,859
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,996,569

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.