Form 990 for tax year 2023
Filed by N A A C P LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND INC.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $75,675,969
- Total expenses
- $58,450,816
- Contributions and grants received
- $56,260,716
- Grants paid
- $4,927,508
- Program service revenue
- $1,532,175
- Investment income
- $18,136,437
- Other revenue
- -$253,359
- Total assets, end of year
- $426,136,160
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,958,577
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $415,177,583
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $40,247,005
- Management and general expenses
- $8,332,023
- Fundraising expenses
- $9,871,788
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $40,247,005
Program services were 68.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1a · Federated campaigns
$1,098,079
-
1c · Fundraising events
$3,317,031
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$51,845,606
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$1,932,061
-
2a · Program service revenue: COURT FEES
total $972,678 · related or exempt $972,678
-
2b · Program service revenue: FELLOWSHIP-PROGRAM REVENUE
total $323,597 · related or exempt $323,597
-
2c · Program service revenue: REGISTRATION FEES INCOME
total $235,900 · related or exempt $235,900
-
3 · Investment income
total $8,469,277 · excluded $8,469,277
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $242,683,450
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $233,016,290
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $9,667,160
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $9,667,160 · excluded $9,667,160
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$206,850
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$3,317,031
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$460,209
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$253,359 · excluded -$253,359
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $769,706 · program services $769,706
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $4,157,802 · program services $4,157,802
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $2,800,626 · program services $1,676,332 · management and general $512,778 · fundraising $611,516
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $22,926,618 · program services $17,108,869 · management and general $2,768,886 · fundraising $3,048,863
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $1,313,202 · program services $944,664 · management and general $216,167 · fundraising $152,371
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $3,244,266 · program services $2,143,592 · management and general $598,099 · fundraising $502,575
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $1,799,276 · program services $1,300,262 · management and general $291,099 · fundraising $207,915
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $7,439,441 · program services $4,707,910 · management and general $254,044 · fundraising $2,477,487
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $128,883 · management and general $128,883
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $8,303 · program services $8,303
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $513,188 · fundraising $513,188
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $1,034,370 · management and general $1,034,370
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,040,125 · program services $95,282 · management and general $577,831 · fundraising $367,012
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $62,373 · program services $32,924 · fundraising $29,449
-
13 · Office expenses
total $2,701,815 · program services $1,320,506 · management and general $372,771 · fundraising $1,008,538
-
14 · Information technology
total $877,810 · program services $542,926 · management and general $260,344 · fundraising $74,540
-
16 · Occupancy
total $1,556,986 · program services $1,044,686 · management and general $352,112 · fundraising $160,188
-
17 · Travel
total $566,068 · program services $473,550 · management and general $67,838 · fundraising $24,680
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $2,737,568 · program services $2,465,832 · management and general $122,396 · fundraising $149,340
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $1,365,635 · program services $853,162 · management and general $358,021 · fundraising $154,452
-
23 · Insurance
total $303,255 · program services $188,329 · management and general $80,845 · fundraising $34,081
-
24a · Other expenses: PHOTOS/PRESS RELEASE
total $455,811 · program services $119,888 · management and general $3,500 · fundraising $332,423
-
24b · Other expenses: BAD DEBT EXPENSES
total $291,779 · program services $71,483 · management and general $217,809 · fundraising $2,487
-
24c · Other expenses: BAR ASSOCIATION DUES/ME
total $94,074 · program services $70,624 · management and general $19,015 · fundraising $4,435
-
24d · Other expenses: LIBRARY
total $54,079 · program services $52,302 · management and general $488 · fundraising $1,289
-
24e · All other expenses
total $207,757 · program services $98,071 · management and general $94,727 · fundraising $14,959
-
26 · Joint costs (an allocation of the lines above)
total $420,971 · program services $256,936 · management and general $0 · fundraising $164,035
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $28,015,986 · end of year $1,307,967
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $12,113,791 · end of year $46,875,190
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $33,831,749 · end of year $30,197,381
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $542,903 · end of year $1,157,520
-
7 · Other notes and loans receivable
beginning of year $3,423 · end of year $3,423
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$22,250,406
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$8,792,813
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $12,954,783 · end of year $13,457,593
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $299,225,778 · end of year $325,729,419
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $6,703,906 · end of year $7,407,667
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $4,716,331 · end of year $6,222,893
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $4,448,408 · end of year $4,735,684
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $298,639,825 · end of year $304,615,789
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $85,587,755 · end of year $110,561,794
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (LDF) IS AMERICA'S PREMIER LEGAL ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE. USING THE POWER OF LAW, NARRATIVE, RESEARCH, AND PEOPLE, WE DEFEND AND ADVANCE THE FULL DIGNITY AND CITIZENSHIP OF BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
Activities or mission (Part I)
THE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND (LDF) IS AMERICA'S PREMIER LEGAL ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
-
THE LEGAL PROGRAM PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION WITH CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING EDUCATION EQUITY, POLITICAL PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
Expenses $29,066,865 · Grants $769,706 · Revenue $1,532,175
-
THE THURGOOD MARSHALL INSTITUTE IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTER WITHIN THE NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. THE INSTITUTE COMPLEMENTS LDF'S TRADITIONAL LITIGATION STRENGTHS AND BRINGS CRITICAL CAPABILITIES TO THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, INCLUDING RESEARCH AND TARGETED ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS.
Expenses $5,968,182
-
THE HERBERT LEHMAN PROGRAM OFFERS GRANTS, GENERALLY OF $3,000 ANNUALLY TO U.S. CITIZEN UNDERGRADUATES AND $15,000 ANNUALLY TO U.S. CITIZEN LAW STUDENTS. PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO PERSONS WHO ARE ENTERING THE FIRST YEAR OF FULL-TIME STUDY.
Expenses $5,211,958 · Grants $4,157,802
As filed on the 2023 return.
Listed in Part VII
-
William J BynumWILLIAM J BYNUM
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
James E CastilloJAMES E CASTILLO
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4 + 1 related
-
Robyn ColesROBYN COLES
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Leslie CornfieldLESLIE CORNFIELD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Gregory H EvansGREGORY H EVANS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Colleen FosterCOLLEEN FOSTER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Lisa GilfordLISA GILFORD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
David E KendallDAVID E KENDALL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Ronald KirkRONALD KIRK
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Michael R KleinMICHAEL R KLEIN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Kim KoopersmithKIM KOOPERSMITH
CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 8 + 1 related
-
William E LightenWILLIAM E LIGHTEN
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Cecilia L MarshallCECILIA L MARSHALL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Janai NelsonJANAI NELSON
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR-COUNSEL
- Total calculated
- $623,431
- From this org
- $533,669
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $89,762
- Hours/week
- 59 + 1 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $533,669
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $36,377
- Nontaxable benefits
- $53,385
- Filer's total
- $623,431
-
Cynthia PattonCYNTHIA PATTON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Luis R PenalverLUIS R PENALVER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Steven B PfeifferSTEVEN B PFEIFFER
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 4 + 1 related
-
Anne K SmallANNE K SMALL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Jonathan SorosJONATHAN SOROS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
John R StephensJOHN R STEPHENS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Angela VallotANGELA VALLOT
CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 8 + 1 related
-
Ann Claire WilliamsANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Ron WilsonRON WILSON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Kenji YoshinoKENJI YOSHINO
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Tony WestTONY WEST
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2 + 0.5 related
-
Claude JohnsonCLAUDE JOHNSON
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $392,496
- From this org
- $351,743
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $40,753
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $351,743
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $20,800
- Nontaxable benefits
- $19,953
- Filer's total
- $392,496
-
Tona BoydTONA BOYD
ASSOC. DIR. COUNSEL
- Total calculated
- $400,441
- From this org
- $342,815
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $57,626
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $342,815
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $19,138
- Nontaxable benefits
- $38,488
- Filer's total
- $400,441
-
Kevin ThomsonKEVIN THOMSON
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $349,572
- From this org
- $270,164
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $79,408
- Hours/week
- 39.5 + 0.5 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $270,164
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $37,478
- Nontaxable benefits
- $41,930
- Filer's total
- $349,572
-
Elisabeth NorthELISABETH NORTH
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $298,579
- From this org
- $263,402
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $35,177
- Hours/week
- 39.5 + 0.5 related
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $263,402
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $16,821
- Nontaxable benefits
- $18,356
- Filer's total
- $298,579
-
Samuel SpitalSAMUEL SPITAL
DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION
- Total calculated
- $370,517
- From this org
- $281,834
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $88,683
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $281,834
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $36,191
- Nontaxable benefits
- $52,492
- Filer's total
- $370,517
-
Jin Hee LeeJIN HEE LEE
DIR. OF STRATEGIC INT.
- Total calculated
- $338,393
- From this org
- $242,636
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $95,757
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $242,636
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $36,361
- Nontaxable benefits
- $59,396
- Filer's total
- $338,393
-
Rudolph Gary SpencerRUDOLPH GARY SPENCER
SENIOR COUNSEL
- Total calculated
- $242,781
- From this org
- $211,619
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $31,162
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $211,619
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,600
- Nontaxable benefits
- $17,562
- Filer's total
- $242,781
-
Victor GenecinVICTOR GENECIN
OF COUNSEL
- Total calculated
- $223,848
- From this org
- $207,834
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $16,014
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $207,834
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,264
- Nontaxable benefits
- $2,750
- Filer's total
- $223,848
-
Stuart NaifehSTUART NAIFEH
MANAGER, REDISTRICTING PROJECT
- Total calculated
- $250,567
- From this org
- $198,672
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $51,895
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $198,672
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,325
- Nontaxable benefits
- $38,570
- Filer's total
- $250,567
-
Laura FinoLAURA FINO
EXE. DIR. INSTIT GIVING
- Total calculated
- $247,951
- From this org
- $197,255
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $50,696
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $197,255
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,297
- Nontaxable benefits
- $37,399
- Filer's total
- $247,951
-
Raymond AudainRAYMOND AUDAIN
SENIOR COUNSEL
- Total calculated
- $254,483
- From this org
- $196,862
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $57,621
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $196,862
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $13,097
- Nontaxable benefits
- $44,524
- Filer's total
- $254,483
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Independent compensation consultant
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
$65,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS IN GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM
-
$60,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS
-
TO FURTHER SUPPORT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN KENTUCKY
-
$50,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
-
$40,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
-
$40,000
TO PROVIDE GENERAL SUPPORT
-
$40,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE
-
SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
$40,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT PROTESTER DEFENSE AND GENERAL OPERATIONS
-
$40,000
TO FURTHER SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATIONS
-
TO FURTHER SUPPORT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AREAS
The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
EARL WARREN LEGAL TRAINING PROGRAM
501(C)(3) · PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO LAW STUDENTS · NY · controlled entity
Directly controlled by NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 15 May 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202511359349311586
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
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