Legal Aid of the District of Columbia

Legal Aid of the District of Columbia, also known as Legal Aid DC, is a legal advocacy group that provides pro bono legal services to low-income individuals while promoting policies to increase welfare and government housing programs. The organization has received government grants, totaling over $700,000 in 2023, as well as contributions from corporate law firms including Covington & Burling LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and the Rossotti Foundation. 1 2 3

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Identity Politics (for race-based policy/activism), Housing Policy
Website: www.legalaiddc.org
Formation:

1932

Executive Director:

Vikram Swaruup

Location: Washington, DC View on map
Tax ID: 53-0196600
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $18,116,339 Revenue: $14,084,073 Expenses: $14,021,952

Contents

    Background

    The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia was founded in 1932 to provide legal services to low-income residents of Washington, D.C. The group has received government grants and contributions from corporate law firms. The group provides pro bono work in areas of domestic violence and family law, housing, public benefits, and immigration. In 2022, the group removed the word “society” from its name to become Legal Aid of Washington, D.C. and does business as Legal Aid DC. The group also advocates for left-of-center policy and legal changes to welfare, housing, and immigration. 4

    Advocacy

    Legal Aid DC has advocated increasing local welfare spending such as adding more funding to the city’s Homeowner Assistance Fund, increasing oversight of the city Department of Human Services, and expanding access to general welfare programs. 5

    Litigation and Amicus Briefs

    The group’s Barbara McDowell Appellate Advocacy Project was formed in 2004 with funding from the DC Bar Foundation. The project “files “friend of the court” briefs in cases involving matters of importance to people living in poverty. In addition, it “provides appellate instruction, consultation, and advice to the D.C. legal services community.” 6

    Immigration

    Legal Aid DC has previously assisted individuals in establishing legal residency using the District of Columbia’s Vulnerable Youth Guardianship Protection Act. Following Donald Trump’s second election in November 2024, the group released a statement claiming “[w]ith a second Trump administration promising mass deportations, the work of the immigration team will become even more urgent.” 7

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legal Aid DC claims to support and promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, with a part of its website reading “[l]egal Aid is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in all aspects of our work.” 8

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $18,116,339 $14,084,073 $14,021,952 View
    2023 $17,960,096 $14,589,968 $11,388,382 View
    2022 $14,917,002 $12,396,520 $10,929,406 View
    2021 $11,128,950 $10,485,553 $9,870,278 View
    2020 $11,179,387 $9,330,107 $8,390,545 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 132

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Vikram SwaruupEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$245,000
    Robert PergamentDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR$191,800
    Stephanie N TroyerLEGAL DIRECTOR$181,980
    Katherine HaysDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS$162,768
    Jonathan LevyDIRECTOR$162,567
    Dorothy J ScheelineDIR. OF PEOPLE & CULTURE$151,852
    Jennifer MezeyLEGAL DIRECTOR, UNTIL 12/24$150,359

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $40,518,785
    • Number of Grants: 524
    • Number of Funders: 95

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $2,693,7642024 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY24 ATJ GRANTS
    $2,647,5642024 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY24 CLCPP GRANTS
    $2,425,4462023 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY23 ATJ GRANTS
    $2,254,8032023 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY23 CLCPP GRANTS
    $1,816,2502023 Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management IncCOMMUNITY & HUMAN SERVICES
    $1,810,0012022 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY22 CLCPP GRANTS
    $1,725,8692022 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY22 ATJ GRANTS
    $1,100,0002021 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY21 CLCPP GRANTS
    $975,0002021 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY21 ACCESS TO JUSTICE GRANTS PROGRAM
    $547,5002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationHOUSING PRESERVATION PROJECT- FY20 CLCPP GRANT PROGRAM
    $433,3562020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationHOUSING PRESERVATION PROJECT (FY20 CIVIL LEGAL COUNSEL PROJECTS PROGRAM)
    $385,0002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationSOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD ACCESS PROJECT – FY20 ATJ GRANTS PROGRAM
    $186,0002020 Arnold & Porter FoundationGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $161,0002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY20 ATJ GRANTS
    $155,0002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationFY20 ATJ GRANTS
    $150,0002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationACCRUE REMAINING GRANT AMOUNTS TO BE PAID (LEGAL AID SOCIETY)
    $130,5002021 Greater Washington Community FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $125,0002020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationDOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION PROJECT- FY20 ATJ GRANTS PROGRAM
    $115,0602023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $114,1442020 The District of Columbia Bar FoundationHOUSING PRESERVATION PROJECT (FY20 CIVIL LEGAL COUNSEL PROJECTS PROGRAM)
    $113,3672022 The Skadden FoundationPAYMENT FOR FELLOWS
    $100,0002020 Sidley Austin FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $98,5002022 Vanguard CharitableFor recipient's exempt purpose
    $95,1112020 Sidley Austin FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $89,5002021 Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc.PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    References

    1. “2024 Annual Report: Leadership Cabinet.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/toc/2024-leadership-cabinet#scroll-toc-banner
    2. “2024 Annual Report: Introduction.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/toc/2024-introduction
    3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530196600/202422199349300147/full
    4. “Who We Are.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/who-we-are
    5. “Advocacy Updates November 2024.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/blogs/advocacy-updates-november-2024
    6. “Appellate Advocacy.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/practice-areas/appellate-advocacy
    7. “2024 Annual Report: Immigration Law.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/toc/2024-immigration-law#scroll-toc-banner
    8. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” Legal Aid DC. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.legalaiddc.org/diversity-equity-inclusion