Women Against Abuse Legal Center

What it reported doing in 2024

The women against abuse legal center is the only comprehensive legal service provider in philadelphia specifically dedicated to addressing the needs of victims of domestic violence, and one of the first in the nation. The women against abuse legal center empowers women and men who have been abused to navigate the justice system by providing attorney representation, court advocacy and telephone counseling. Experienced staff members work with victims to secure legal protections relating to both criminal and civil matters, including protection from abuse, sexual violence and intimidation orders, child custody and child support. Women against abuse attorneys have extensive experience in navigating legal systems and addressing the issue of domestic violence in a sensitive manner that empowers clients. Several attorneys also bring specialized experience in the unique needs of distinct subpopulations, such as victims of stalking and victims who are immigrants.in fiscal year 2025, the women against abuse legal center served 3,029 victims of domestic violence. Over the past year, attorneys provided free representation or assistance to 1,401 individuals; court advocates served 883 clients; and paralegals and support staff members provided legal advocacy, information and resources to 1,303 victims at crucial points of need in the justice system, including in the probation department, the general filing unit of philadelphia family court, and for families involved in the child welfare system. The women against abuse legal center also provided telephone counseling to 1,021 clients in fiscal year 2025 and provided support to 589 victims at high-risk of lethality, following a 911 call.in addition to its direct services, the legal center pioneers innovative programs to reach vulnerable populations and expand access to legal services, including: the telephone outreach project (top): a partnership between the legal center and the philadelphia police department, top provides follow-up assistance to people experiencing domestic violence who have called 9-1-1 and are at highest risk of lethality. "fast track" attorney representation program: to provide early intervention and representation for more victims, women against abuse has stationed staff attorneys in the two court rooms in philadelphia where protection from abuse cases are heard, opening access like never before. Fast track attorneys can represent clients on the spot, connecting them with legal counsel during a critical time of need.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 93.7%; rating input score 94
• Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 6.3%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.53; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.18; rating input score 21; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 9.5%; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.9% per year; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings