Emergency disaster relief grants: Provides supplemental funding to lsc grantees serving communities affected by federally declared disasters, enabling legal aid providers to respond to disaster related civil legal needs.
Legal Services
Legal Services Corporation: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
“Promote equal access to justice and civil legal aid to low-income individuals and families.”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $271K Willie Gunn, 0% of spending
- Revenue
- $572.8M 98.6% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $585.4M 97% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $86.5M end of FY ending Sep 2025
- Savings
- 1.8 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 205 employees, 435 volunteers
No red flags in its latest filing.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
No reported asset diversions, no insider transactions, no fundraisers keeping most of the money, and the governance policies we check for are in place.
Of each dollar it spent, 97.0¢ went to programs, as reported.
For each dollar donated, Legal Services spent 0¢ on fundraising.
Fundraising ÷ $564.6M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IXWhat it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
Pro bono innovative funds: Lsc awards pro bono innovative funds to lsc grantees on a competitive basis annually to develop, test and replicate innovative pro bono efforts that enable grantees to expand access to legal assistance using private, volunteer lawyers.
Technology initiative grants: Lsc awards technology initiative grants to lsc grantees to fund the development and implementation of technology solutions to enhance the delivery of civil legal aid, automate functions, and expand access to legal resources for self-represented litigants.
Loan repayment assistance program: Lsc awards loan repayment assistance program (lrap) grants on a competitive basis to help grantees recruit and retain attorneys by reducing the financial burden of law school debt. The program supports a strong and stable legal aid workforce by helping grantees attract and retain qualified attorneys who provide critical civil legal services to low-income individuals and families.
Other program expenses: Lsc engages in several programs and initiatives to help improve the civil legal aid problem in America such as the rural summer legal corps program a privately funded initiative to connect law students with legal aid programs in the common pursuit of better addressing the civillegal needs of rural communities as well as the itc conference which is the only national event focused exclusively on the use of technology in the legal aid community.
Net assets: $7.3M to $86.5M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2013 to 2025.
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in FY ending Sep 2025, from the charity and related organizations.
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Reingold Inc | Management consultants | $1,030,792 |
| Community It Innovators Inc | It services | $311,181 |
| Mcbride Lock & Associates | Audit services | $237,443 |
| Rand Corporation | Construction services | $206,719 |
| Sikich Cpa LLC | Accounting services | $152,436 |
The questions people ask about the Legal Services.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the Legal Services CEO make?
Willie Gunn, General Counsel, received $271,461 in reportable compensation in FY ending Sep 2025, 0% of Legal Services' $585.4M in spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VIIWhat percentage of Legal Services donations go to programs?
Legal Services reported 97% of FY ending Sep 2025 spending as programs, 0.1% as fundraising and 2.9% as management.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part IXHow much money does Legal Services have?
Net assets were $86.5M at the end of FY ending Sep 2025, about 1.8 months of spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part XDoes Legal Services have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered none of our twelve screening rules, which cover reported asset diversions, insider transactions, fundraiser costs, governance policies and spending patterns.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025)Every number, traced.
- Legal Services Form 990, FY ending Sep 2025 (IRS e-file)
- Legal Services Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Amir Arani, “Legal Services: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/legal-services/