irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $7.13MOUR LEGAL WORK IS SUPPORTED BY EXPANSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT ALLOW US TO REACH A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES ACROSS MULTIPLE CHANNELS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LAMBDA LEGAL'S COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT'S EXPERTISE IN PRINT, BROADCAST, AND SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS LAMBDA LEGAL TO REACH NOT JUST MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY AND ALL THOSE LIVING WITH HIV, BUT ALSO EXTENDS TO OPINION SHAPERS, LAWMAKERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. WE ALSO RELEASED A GROUND-BREAKING REPORT, "SAFE HAVENS: CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN RECOMMENDED PRACTICE AND REALITY FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE YOUTH IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE", THAT OFFERED STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR TGNB YOUTH IN CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND HOMELESS SYSTEMS, AND FOCUSED ON THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF YOUTH IN CARE, AS WELL ASPUBLISHED "THE ALARMING IMPACT OF TRUMP'S ANTI-LGBTQ FEDERAL JUDGES", DETAILING THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THESE FEDERAL JUDGES ON LGBTQ+ CIVIL RIGHTS. LAMBDA LEGAL MAINTAINED A ROBUST ONLINE PRESENCE THAT PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES, TIMELY NEWS, ANALYSIS, AND COMMENTARY ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING OUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, MEDIUM AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THROUGH THESE PLATFORMS, LAMBDA LEGAL HAS PUBLISHED HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF CONTENT THAT CAN REACH OVER A MILLION OR MORE PEOPLE EVERY WEEK. OUR INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM CONTINUED TO CREATE AND SHARE PROJECTS INCLUDING OUR SUCCESSFUL SPEAK OUT SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, FEATURING UPLIFTING TRANSGENDER AND NONBINARY VOICE AND OUR POST-ELECTION UPDATE: THE FIGHT AHEAD BRIEFING, HOSTED ON YOUTUBE, WHICH ATTRACTED MORE THAN 700 PARTICIPANTS ONLINE AND MORE THAN 2,000 VIEWS. THESE COMBINED EFFORTS GENERATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEWS STORIES ANNUALLY AND ADVANCE OUR GOAL OF INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES LGBTQ+ PEOPLE FACE AND OUR WORK TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS GREATER UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. WHERE POSSIBLE, WE USE ATTENTION AROUND OUR LITIGATION AND POLICY EFFORTS TO PROMOTE BROADER PUBLIC EDUCATION ON IMPORTANT ISSUES. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR HIV WORK PROMOTES OUR LARGER EFFORT TO DRIVE POLICY INFORMED BY "SCIENCE, NOT STIGMA." WE DO PUBLIC EDUCATION BUILDING ON OUR CASES ON BEHALF OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY FOR THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. OUR LARGE PORTFOLIO OF CASES CHALLENGING EFFORTS TO DILUTE NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS AGAINST ANTI-LGBTQ+ DISCRIMINATION THROUGH THE USE OF RELIGION AND SPEECH-BASED ARGUMENTS CONTRIBUTE TO A LARGER EFFORT TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM OF DISCRIMINATION AND THE NEED FOR ROBUST PROTECTIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. LAMBDA LEGAL'S ATTORNEYS AND OTHER STAFF ATTEND AND SPEAK FREQUENTLY AT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS, IN ADDITION TO VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION VIA PLATFORMS CREATED BY LAMBDA LEGAL ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Employment Fairness Project
Challenges workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through litigation and legal advocacy.
Fair Courts Project
Works to ensure fair and impartial courts by challenging judicial misconduct and advocating for judicial accountability in LGBTQ+ rights cases.
HIV Project
Addresses discrimination against people living with HIV through impact litigation, policy work, and public education.
Nonbinary & Transgender Rights Project
Focuses on litigation and advocacy to protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary individuals, including in healthcare, identity documents, and government services.
Youth in Out-of-Home Care Project
Advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care and other out-of-home settings through legal support and policy reform.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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LGBTQ+ Legal and Policy Advocacy 4 activities
- Filing federal lawsuits and amicus briefs to challenge discriminatory policiesFiles federal lawsuits and amicus briefs to block discriminatory laws and policies affecting LGBTQ+ people and individuals with HIV, including challenges to Trump-era bans on transgender military service, gender-affirming care restrictions, passport gender marker limitations, and federal funding restrictions on LGBTQ+ health research. Also participates in Supreme Court advocacy to uphold key civil rights protections.
- Policy advocacy and legal monitoring to protect LGBTQ+ and HIV rightsEngages in federal, state, and local policymaking to advance legal protections for LGBTQ+ people and individuals living with HIV, including advocating for the Equality Act, monitoring proposed legislation, and challenging measures that undermine civil rights. Works to strengthen democratic institutions through voter and judicial protections.
- Public education and media engagement on LGBTQ+ legal issuesConducts public education campaigns and participates in media programming, podcasts, and public discussions to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights, marriage equality, trans visibility, intersectionality, and legal protections. Highlights key legal cases during awareness periods such as back-to-school season.
- Strategic litigation to advance LGBTQ+ and HIV-related civil rightsConducts high-impact litigation at federal, state, and local levels to establish legal precedents protecting LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV, including landmark victories in marriage equality, transgender rights, HIV non-discrimination, and constitutional protections. Achievements include winning Lawrence v. Texas, serving as co-counsel in Obergefell v. Hodges, and securing rulings that sex discrimination protections cover gender identity and sexual orientation.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Mobilizing volunteers and pro bono legal networksEngages volunteers and law firm partners in pro bono litigation, advocacy, public education, and fundraising efforts. Coordinates co-counsel representation and amicus brief submissions across more than 70 active cases.
- Operating a legal help desk for discrimination-related informationProvides general legal information and resources through a Help Desk to individuals facing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status, supporting public understanding of their rights.
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LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 1 activity
- Hosting public engagement events to advance equalityHosts over a dozen annual events to promote equality, recognize partners, and engage the public in LGBTQ+ and HIV-related civil rights advocacy.
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LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency & Community Education 1 activity
- Providing legal education and capacity-building for professionalsOffers CLE-accredited virtual education sessions on LGBTQ+ and HIV-related legal issues to support corporate DEI goals and builds legal capacity through a Community Attorney Directory that connects attorneys with pro bono representation opportunities.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$58.51M
Contributions & grants$55.62M95%
Program service revenue$160K0%
Investment income$3.02M5%
Other revenue$-295K
expenses
Total expenses$29.11M
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$18.92M
Grants paid out$35K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$85.03M
Cash$12.51M
Investments$52.08M
Liabilities$9.32M
Net assets$75.71M
Liquid reserves26.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +65.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 14
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN JENNINGS | CEO | 40 | $832K |
| JENNIFER CAROL PIZER | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER | 40 | $452K |
| JOSHUA PUSHKIN | CDO | 40 | $428K |
| CAMILLA TAYLOR | DIR. FOR LITIGATION | 40 | $305K |
| JOHN E ROANE | COO | 40 | $304K |
| GILLIAN M POWER | CTO | 40 | $294K |
| AMANDA WYATT | CFO | 40 | $287K |
| CRYSTAL COSTELLO | CHIEF OF PEOPLE & CULT. (OUTGOING) | 40 | $265K |
| MARCO CHAN | CHIEF OF PLAN & PROG MGMT. | 40 | $258K |
| KRISTINE ANDREA KIPPINS | DIR. FOR POLICY | 40 | $249K |
| JEFF SOUVA | SENIOR COUNSEL DIR. DEV. | 40 | $238K |
| WILLARD L DUMAS III | DIR. OF LEADERSHIP GIFTS | 40 | $232K |
| CINDI A CREAGER | CCO | 40 | $231K |
| PAUL CASTILLO | DEPUTY LEGAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $226K |
board members · 11
- ADONICA WADA — DIRECTOR
- ALAN YORK — DIRECTOR
- AMBER WHITTINGTON — DIRECTOR (OUTGOING)
- ANGELA LIM — DIRECTOR
- ANNE WHITE — DIRECTOR
- BETSY BERNARD — DIRECTOR
- BILL HARDIN — DIRECTOR
- CYNTHIA HILL — DIRECTOR
- DANI D'AMICO — DIRECTOR
- DAVID ORTIZ — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH MCMURRAY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 35
Who they work with
- 40 law firms and corporations Partner — Provides major financial support to Lambda Legal through corporate and law firm sponsorships.
- ACLU Partner — Co-challenged North Carolina’s discriminatory restroom law in federal court.
- ACLU of Idaho Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging Idaho’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender adults.
- ACLU of Utah Foundation Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging conditions of confinement for transgender women in Utah prisons.
- Alturas Law Group, PLLC Partner — Co-counsel in federal lawsuits challenging bans on gender-affirming care in Idaho.
- American Civil Liberties Union Partner — Co-counsel in multiple federal lawsuits involving LGBTQ+ rights and access to gender-affirming care.
- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging NIH funding restrictions on LGBTQ+ health research.
- Community Attorney Directory Partner — Network of legal professionals providing affirming legal services to LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected individuals.
- Covington & Burling, LLP Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging Trump administration policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Crowell & Moring LLP Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging NIH funding restrictions on LGBTQ+ health research.
- GLMA Partner — Client in a federal lawsuit challenging National Institutes of Health funding restrictions on LGBTQ+ health research.
- Gilbert Baker Foundation Partner — Client in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s refusal to register the Pride flag as a trademark.
- Hogan Lovells Partner — Pro-bono co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging executive orders banning gender-affirming care for minors.
- Human Rights Campaign Foundation Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging the federal government’s refusal to recognize gender identity on official documents.
- Human Rights Campaign Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Lambda Legal on litigation and advocacy related to transgender rights.
- Jenner & Block Partner — Pro-bono co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging executive orders banning gender-affirming care for minors.
- Joe Foster Partner — Senior Director of Corporate & Law Firm Partnerships at Lambda Legal
- LGBT National Senior Hotline Partner — Partner organization listed as a crisis intervention resource for LGBTQ+ seniors.
- LGBT National Youth Talkline Partner — Partner organization listed as a crisis intervention resource for LGBTQ+ youth.
- LGBT+ National Hotline Partner — Partner organization listed as a crisis intervention resource for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Legal Defense Fund Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging Trump administration policies restricting diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Munger Tolles & Olson LLP Partner — Co-counsel in multiple federal lawsuits involving transgender rights in Idaho.
- National Institutes of Health Government — Defendant in a federal lawsuit challenging funding restrictions on LGBTQ+ health research.
- National Leadership Council Coalition — Volunteer council that helps cultivate financial resources for Lambda Legal's work.
- New York Attorney General’s office Partner — Collaborated with Lambda Legal on the nation's first AIDS-discrimination challenge in People v. West 12 Tenants Corp.
- New York Civil Liberties Union Partner — Co-counsel in a federal class-action lawsuit challenging denial of gender-affirming care in New York correctional facilities.
- PFLAG Partner — Client in a federal lawsuit challenging executive orders banning gender-affirming care for minors.
- Perkins Coie Partner — Co-counsel in a federal lawsuit challenging the federal government’s refusal to recognize gender identity on official documents.
- Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund (PRLDEF) Network — Lambda Legal based its Articles of Incorporation on those of PRLDEF when forming as a nonprofit organization.
- San Francisco AIDS Foundation Partner — Client in a lawsuit challenging Trump executive orders that undermined LGBTQ+ civil rights protections.
+ 5 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Evidence-Based Defense of Transgender Healthcaremethodology: evidence-based advocacyBy centering scientific and medical evidence in advocacy, Lambda Legal counters politically driven legislation targeting transgender youth, because factual authority strengthens legal and public legitimacy.
- Integrated Legal and Policy Advocacymethodology: integrated_legal_advocacyBy combining litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, Lambda Legal creates reinforcing pathways for change—because legal victories are strengthened when paired with shifts in policy and public understanding.
- Strategic Impact Litigationmethodology: strategic_litigationBy pursuing high-impact legal cases, Lambda Legal secures binding legal precedents that produce systemic change, because court rulings can invalidate discriminatory laws and establish nationwide protections for LGBTQ+ and HIV+ people.