Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) is a Boston-based public charity established by the Commonwealth in 1983. It is the largest funding source for civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts, providing grants and other support to improve access to civil legal services for people with low incomes.
Key facts about Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp
In short: Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp gave $72.6M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $3.5M), mostly in Massachusetts. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 04-2790762
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $72,577,655
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $3,456,079
- Median grant
- $823,615
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 21, 2025)
- Total assets
- $24,151,266
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- MLAC is not currently taking applications for funding. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$24.2M
-8.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$72.6M
+3.1% YoY
Grant Count
21
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3.5M
-1.8% YoY
Is Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 21 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
MLAC’s mission is to provide leadership and support to improve civil legal services for low-income people in Massachusetts through collaboration with the legal services community, the public, the bar, and the legislature.
Its funding includes general support for eligible nonprofit legal aid organizations and restricted funding for projects involving disability benefits, Medicare advocacy, domestic violence, immigrants’ rights, and civil legal aid for victims of crime. MLAC also provides support through technology services, data and research, program monitoring and evaluation, and fellowships for law students.
Examples of grantees include Greater Boston Legal Services, which describes its work as providing free civil legal assistance to low-income people in metropolitan Boston, and Community Legal Aid, which says its legal assistance helps low-income and elderly people protect fundamental rights and secure access to basic needs. The Disability Law Center describes its mission as providing protection and advocacy services for people with disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, MLAC reported 21 grants totaling $72,577,655. The grants ranged from $47,500 to $17,806,869, with a median of $823,615. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts.
The largest reported grants included $17,806,869 to Greater Boston Legal Services, $16,225,884 to Community Legal Aid, $10,001,652 to South Coastal Counties Legal Services, $9,143,292 to Northeast Legal Aid, and $7,959,472 to Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. The stated purpose for each was financial support for legal assistance programs.
Invitation Only
MLAC is not currently taking applications for funding. Opportunities for specific project funds are generally by invitation; on select occasions, MLAC may issue a call for applications and post the opportunity on its website.
Ready to take the next step with Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MLAC funds civil legal aid organizations across Massachusetts. Its reported 2025 grant dollars went entirely to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38.7M (2021) to $72.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $72.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Boston Legal Services ($17.8M). Together the top 10 received $68.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
119 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 24 grants of 119 (20%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Boston Legal Services Boston, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $17,806,869 |
| Community Legal Aid Worcester, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $16,225,884 |
| South Coastal Counties Legal Services Fall River, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $10,001,652 |
| Northeast Legal Aid Lynn, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $9,143,292 |
| Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Boston, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $7,959,472 |
| Metro West Legal Services Framingham, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $3,345,061 |
| Disability Law Center Boston, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $1,458,405 |
| Childrens Law Center of Massachusetts Lynn, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $916,066 |
| Denovo Cambridge, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $909,722 |
| Prisoners Legal Services Boston, MA | To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs | $865,724 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,151,266 | $82,329,617 | $78,336,874 | $72,577,655 |
| 2024 | $26,360,877 | $81,070,643 | $76,200,406 | $70,424,330 |
| 2023 | $18,694,300 | $64,912,581 | $62,714,452 | $55,302,135 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,151,266 | $26,360,877 | $18,694,300 |
| Revenue | $82,329,617 | $81,070,643 | $64,912,581 |
| Expenses | $78,336,874 | $76,200,406 | $62,714,452 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,137,456 | $1,167,947 | $713,610 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Vitali, Esq., as chair; Carol Starkey, Esq., as vice chair; and Edward McIntyre, Esq., as treasurer. Directors listed include Mary Jeanne Stone, Esq.; Richard Simons; April English, Esq.; Mala Rafik, Esq.; Alma Woodberry; and Thomas Bond, Esq. Geoffrey A. Wilson is listed as a board member until April 2025; Richard Simons is listed as a board member as of November 2024.
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp is led by Lynne Parker, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 8 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lynne Parker
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$161K (2021) → $245K (2025)
Richard Vitali Esq.
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Swansey
Program Director
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $151K (2025)
Tobey Johnson
Technology Director
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $158K (2025)
Laura Booth
Program Director
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $141K (2025)
Michael Raabe
Program Director
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$118K (2023) → $140K (2025)
Wendy Valentine
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Azim Mazagonwalla
CFO
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$113K (2021) → $178K (2025)
Tenzin Bayul
Board Secretary
Secretary → Board Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$84K (2024) → $88K (2025)
Alma Woodberry
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April English Esq.
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward McIntyre Esq.
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey A. Wilson Ret
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mala Rafik Esq.
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Jeanne Stone Esq.
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Starkey Esq.
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Casey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Livia Arzuaga Gonzalez
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Simons
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Bond Esq.
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Carolyn Goodwin (2021–2024) — Program Director
- Former: Jeffrey N. Catalano Esq. (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Johnson Tobey (2024) — Technology Director
- Former: Tonysha Taylor (2024) — Program Director
- Former: Timothy M. Linnehan Esq. (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jeff Catalano Esq. (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Marijane Benner Browne Esq. (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michelle Deakin (2021–2022) — Director of Communications
- Former: Timothy P. Lee (2021) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $245K, to Lynne Parker (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 18 Tremont St 10Th Floor 1010, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 367-8544
Website: https://mlac.org
Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp
How much does Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp give each year?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp gave $72.6M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $70.4M across 20 grants.
What is Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's typical grant size?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's median grant in 2025 was $823,615, and its average grant was $3,456,079, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp give grants?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (14 grants) and Lynn, MA (2 grants).
Does Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Financial Support for Legal Assistance Programs" (21 grants).
Who are Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's largest grantees?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's largest 2025 grantees include Greater Boston Legal Services ($17,806,869), Community Legal Aid ($16,225,884) and South Coastal Counties Legal Services ($10,001,652), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp reported $24.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $82.3M.
What does Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp fund?
MLAC’s mission is to provide leadership and support to improve civil legal services for low-income people in Massachusetts through collaboration with the legal services community, the public, the bar, and the legislature. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp?
MLAC is not currently taking applications for funding. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's EIN?
Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2790762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp's focus areas in our free grants database
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Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corp down — hundreds of funders to go?