SAN DIEGO VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM INC

Tax status: 501(c)(3) public charity, recognized by the IRS in 1984.

EIN: 33-0016681.

FY2024 Form 990: $5,886,804 total revenue, $5,003,410 total expenses, $9,491,517 total assets.

How Helpfund reads this organization

Public Activity — Strong

Published Content & Communications — Moderate Website content was successfully cataloged (mission, programs, links). We did not find a report linked from this organization's home page. We have not looked at the rest of the site, so this is not scored either way. Most recent post 3+ years ago. We read the feed; it has not been updated since. Posting history has not been collected for this organization yet — not scored either way.

Operating History & Continuity — Strong Granted tax-exempt status in 1984 — 42 years of operating history. Unbroken filing record across 3 years.

Web & Social Presence — Strong Website is reachable (San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program). 4 official social accounts resolved. 4 social accounts resolved but not yet checked for posts — not scored either way. Posting activity has not been collected for this organization yet — not scored either way.

Regulatory & Legal Compliance — Strong Most recent 990 covers tax year 2024 — current. Latest filing includes the full functional-expense breakdown. Reports a written conflict-of-interest policy. Reports a whistleblower policy. Reports a document-retention policy. Uses an independent process to set executive compensation. 100% of voting board members are independent. Listed in IRS Publication 78 as an organization eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

Programs & Events — Strong 3 program service lines described on the latest 990. Program descriptions are substantive. Described programs account for 85% of reported expenses.

5 of 5 signals measured.

Sentiment — not yet scored

Independent Funder & Peer Validation — Strongly positive Received grants from 10 independent grantmakers, each recorded in that funder's own IRS filing rather than reported by this organization. 7 grantmakers funded it in the most recent filing years on record.

Media, Press & Legal, Social Chatter & Reach, Public Reviews & Community Voice: We have not collected this yet. That is a gap in our coverage, not a finding about this organization.

Third-Party Ratings & Watchdogs: The data exists but we are not licensed to publish it. This is a limit on us, not a finding about this organization.

1 of 5 signals measured.

Impact — not yet scored

Outcome Measurability & Disclosure — Limited Publishes 1 outcome statement. 1 of 1 outcome statements include specific figures. Outcome statements carry no time period, so the results cannot be placed in time.

Cost-Effectiveness, Impact Scale & Growth: We can measure this and choose not to publish it.

Third-Party Impact Validation, Constituent-Verified Results: We have not collected this yet. That is a gap in our coverage, not a finding about this organization.

1 of 5 signals measured.

Where Helpfund has not gathered enough independent evidence to score a measure, the profile says so. An unscored measure never means the organization scored badly.

Programs

SDVLP'S LARGEST AREA OF PROGRAM SERVICE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/FAMILY LAW. SDVLP STAFF AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER CLINICS, LOCATED AT THREE COURTHOUSES AND TWO FAMILY JUSTICE CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. SDVLP STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HELP SURVIVORS OF ABUSE TO OBTAIN LIFE-SAVING PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND PROVI

SDVLP IS ALSO A VITAL RESOURCE FOR LOW-INCOME SAN DIEGANS IN A VARIETY OF OTHER AREAS. SDVLP'S TENANTS' RIGHTS PROGRAM HELPS PREVENT UNLAWFUL EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS. OUR MICROBUSINESS AND NONPROFIT SUPPORT PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME ENTREPRENEURS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES THAT LIFT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY AND HELPS STRENGTHEN LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. OUR RECORD

SAN DIEGO VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM IS A VITAL LEGAL RESOURCE FOR SAN DIEGO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. SDVLP'S SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY PROGRAM ASSISTS DISABLED FOSTER YOUTH TO ENFORCE THEIR EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND REMAIN IN SCHOOL. SDVLP'S GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM HELPS CAREGIVERS OBTAIN LEGAL CUSTODY OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE OFTEN BEEN ABUSED OR ABANDONED, ENABLING THEM TO LIVE IN SAFE AND STABLE HOMES.

Leadership

JENNIFER NELSON, CEO · YULIENKA CORTEZ, SENIOR ACCOUNTING MANAGER · HEATHER CARMODY, SUPERVISING ATTORNEY · SIOBHAN A GRAHAM, DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION · CHRISTINE HALL, SUPERVISING ATTORNEY · JEFFREY M BYER ESQ, DIRECTOR · TIMOTHY D COHELAN ESQ, DIRECTOR · ROSALIE A KRAMM CSR, SECRETARY

Reported on the organization's IRS Form 990, Part VII.

Funding received

Received grants from 10 independent grantmakers, totalling $389,623, each recorded in that funder's own IRS filing rather than reported by this organization.

CALIFORNIA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION (2024)

RANCHO SANTA FE FOUNDATION (2024)

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE OF THE BAR ASSOC (2024)

THE MORRISON & FOERSTER FOUNDATION (2024)

SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND (2023)

Funders of similar organizations

32 grantmakers have funded organizations in this sector, drawn from each funder's own IRS filing. Sign in to see them.

Contact

facebook: @sdvlp · x: @sdvlp · instagram: @sdvlp · linkedin: @san-diego-volunteer-lawyer-program

Source: IRS Form 990 filings and other public records, republished by Helpfund. Placement is never sold.