Legal Action of Wisconsin
Legal Action of Wisconsin reported $17.1 million in revenue and $17.2 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $82.97 went to program services, $16.56 to management and general costs and $0.47 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.2% of the total. Government grants made up 90.6%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $183,155 (DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES). 32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 53% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.0% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.6% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.2% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 90.6% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $183,155 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.06% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 32 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.3 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 25 of 25 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHighest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $139,809 | $0 | $43,346 | $183,155 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $150,330 | $0 | $32,738 | $183,068 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 45.00 hrs/week | $171,760 | $0 | $10,477 | $182,237 |
| DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,442 | $0 | $23,578 | $177,020 |
| MANAGING ATTORNEY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $123,827 | $0 | $46,698 | $170,525 |
| FAMILY LAW PRIORITY COORDINATOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $125,953 | $0 | $31,776 | $157,729 |
| FORCLOSURE DEF. & PREVENTION PROJ. ATTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $132,047 | $0 | $16,126 | $148,173 |
32 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Legal Action of Wisconsin (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $365K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b25 · 25 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5158
- Volunteers Part I, line 6354
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| THOMSON REUTERS-WEST PUBLISHING Legal library materials and update | $104,198 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Legal Action of Wisconsin totaling $234K 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 Legal Action of Wisconsin's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Legal Action of Wisconsin, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Legal Action of Wisconsin spent in 2024, $82.97 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New YorkAlbany, NY · revenue $17M · programs 84.4% · 2024
- Lawndale Christian Legal CenterChicago, IL · revenue $17M · programs 77.4% · 2024
- ConcordanceSt Louis, MO · revenue $17M · programs 66.8% · 2024
- Nevada Bar FoundationLas Vegas, NV · revenue $17M · programs 98.9% · 2024
- Helpline Youth CounselingWhittier, CA · revenue $17M · programs 94.5% · FY2025
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in Wisconsin
Questions people ask
How much of Legal Action of Wisconsin's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Legal Action of Wisconsin reported that 83.0% of its $17.2 million in expenses went to program services, 16.6% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Legal Action of Wisconsin pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Legal Action of Wisconsin reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $183,155, for the role of DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Legal Action of Wisconsin get its money?
Of $17.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 97.2% came from contributions and grants (including 90.6% from government grants) and 0.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Legal Action of Wisconsin a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 39-1077192 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512979349301211 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412729349300301 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303129349301480 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222869349300502 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133199349303428 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202012409349301511 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 39-1077192: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.