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Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
Also known as Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund reported $49.8 million in revenue and $30.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $62.90 went to program services, $15.25 to management and general costs and $21.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $866,012 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 75 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 197% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $31MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $50MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 62.9% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.2% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 21.9% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.8% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $866,012 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.84% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 75 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 39.8 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 36 of 36 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFounded in 1972, Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, and queer/questioning people (LGBTQ+), and people living with HIV (plwh) through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Our attorneys work nationwide to advance protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status, with a particular focus on those facing intersecting forms of marginalization, including people of color, low-income individuals, youth, seniors, and incarcerated…
Our legal work is supported by expansive public education and communication efforts that allow US to reach a wide range of audiences across multiple channels throughout the year. Lambda Legal's communications department's expertise in print, broadcast, and social media helps Lambda Legal reach not just members of the LGBTQ+ community and all those living with HIV, but also opinion shapers, lawmakers, and members of the legal community.Lambda Legal maintains a robust online presence that provides comprehensive resources, timely news, analysis, and commentary across multiple platforms…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $763,623 | $0 | $102,389 | $866,012 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $435,001 | $0 | $44,183 | $479,184 |
| CHIEF LEGAL OFF. (UNTIL 06/14/25) Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $364,863 | $0 | $48,710 | $413,573 |
| DEP LEGAL DIR, LITIGATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $319,331 | $0 | $81,748 | $401,079 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $335,327 | $0 | $54,240 | $389,567 |
| CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $226,994 | $0 | $87,180 | $314,174 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $255,518 | $0 | $40,931 | $296,449 |
| DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PRACT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $217,352 | $0 | $70,765 | $288,117 |
75 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.5M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b36 · 36 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5160
- Volunteers Part I, line 642
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ALLEGIANCE FUNDRAISING LLC Fundraising consultant | $1,037,392 |
| SLOTO AND DIAMOND PLLC Legal fees | $293,461 |
| SV PRODUCTIONS LLC Event consultant | $242,582 |
| ACCOMPANY CREATIVE LLC Consultant | $225,000 |
| THE GLASSHOUSE Event facility | $184,450 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
67 private foundations reported grants to Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund totaling $1.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund spent in 2025, $62.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund reported that 62.9% of its $30.5 million in expenses went to program services, 15.2% to management and general and 21.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $866,012, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund get its money?
Of $49.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 92.8% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 23-7395681 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202641679349301264 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512609349301601 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023 (amended), object 202532609349301503 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022 (amended), object 202532609349300348 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242869349300909 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202142889349302014 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023159349302137 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 23-7395681: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.