Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc
For over 57 years, Western Center on Law and Poverty (WCLP) has led the fight in securing housing, health care and a strong safety net for low-income Californians by improving and transforming the public policy systems that touch their lives.
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc at a glance
In short: Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc gave $540K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $135K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $540,000
- -45.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $135,000
- -31.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $135,000
- Total assets
- $6,403,554
- -6.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was California Rural Legal Assistance Inc ($150K). Together the top 4 received $540K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 7 grants of 15 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc gives
- Giving grew 140% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $225K (2021) to $990K (2023). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $540K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California Rural Legal Assistance Inc Oakland, CA | State Bar subcontract for fair housing in California's rural areas. | $150,000 |
| Disability Rights California Sacramento, CA | State Bar subcontract for fair housing in California's rural areas. | $150,000 |
| Central California Legal Services Fresno, CA | State Bar medical debt grant. | $120,000 |
| Inland Counties Legal Services Riverside, CA | State Bar medical debt grant. | $120,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,403,554 | $6,375,786 | $6,862,908 | $540,000 | 4 | $130,472 |
| 2023 | $6,840,147 | $8,106,500 | $6,663,011 | $990,000 | 5 | $111,808 |
| 2022 | $5,205,945 | $5,424,714 | $4,969,909 | $225,000 | 3 | $16,646 |
| 2021 | $3,880,719 | $5,838,439 | $4,912,512 | $225,000 | 3 | $18,050 |
| 2020 | $3,565,756 | $4,422,254 | $4,448,470 | — | — | $10,606 |
About Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc
Based on IRS filings
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $540K. Net investment income was $130K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc is led by Crystal D Crawford, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 61 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Crystal D Crawford
Executive Director
President & Executive Director → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $144K (2024)
Lois D Thompson
Co-Chair & Interim Executive Director
Board Co-Chair → Co-Chair & Interim Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$109K (2024)
Richard Rothschild
Director of Litigation
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $186K (2024)
Stephanie Surabian
Director of Finance & Administration
Director of Finance → Director of Finance & Administrator, 2021
Director of Finance & Administrator → Director of Finance & Administration, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$128K (2020) → $165K (2024)
Heather Masterton
Director of Philanthropy
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$148K (2023) → $171K (2024)
Brandon Greene
Director Policy Advocacy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$175K (2024)
Adam Paris
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison L Plessman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Goodman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Corinna Cherian
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dale Walls
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daralyn Durie
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David E Fink
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Feinstein
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Butler Steyer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Felicia Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grant A Davis-Denny
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica L Lunney
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Gottlieb
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Hamilton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leif King
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lois M Takahashi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Hostettler
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Shipley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Kim
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick J Somers
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rey M Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shane Brun
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shira Liu
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven G Sklaver
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan K Leader
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia Rivera
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Loran III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abraham Tabaie
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Cardoza
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dianne Baquet Smith
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaelyn Edwards Judelson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John S Gibson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia B Cherlow
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Madhu Pocha
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Wong
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Chan Robison
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Duane Campbell
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Brady
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maisie Chin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marisol Franco
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Ebor
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Raquel Donoso
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Harding
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jocelyn Freeman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael John Miguel
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Nishimoto
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darcy Down
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Reitmeier
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justine Daniels
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Gorham
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Reiss
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Spear
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nisha Vyas
Deputy Director
Senior Attorney → Senior Attorney to Deputy Director, 2023
Senior Attorney to Deputy Director → Deputy Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $172K (2024)
David Elson
Board Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard J Steinberg
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Director, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
Director, Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Alex Beroukhim (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kirk D Dillman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Linda Nguy (2020–2023) — Associate Director Policy Advocacy
- Former: Allen Lanstra (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Corilee Racela (2020–2022) — Deputy Director
- Former: David Carpenter (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jeremy D Matz (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Kelley S Olah (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lorraine Echavarria (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Herald (2020–2022) — Director of Policy Advocacy
- Former: Stephanie Yonekura (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Stephen Sorensen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Arvind Rajan (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jocelyn Freeman Garrick (2022) — Director
- Former: Andrew J AJ Thomas (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Dylan Ballard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Fred von Lohmann (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Flory (2020–2021) — Policy Advocate
- Former: Jeremy Williams (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Margaret Carter (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Paul Hall (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Grace Carter (2020) — Board Co-Chair
- Former: Paul Tepper (2020) — Executive Director & President
- Former: Raymond B Kim (2020) — Director
- Former: Rodrigo Virseda (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $186K, to Richard Rothschild (Director of Litigation). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc
How much does Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc give each year?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc gave $540K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $990K across 5 grants.
What is Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc's typical grant size?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc's median grant in 2024 was $135,000, and its average grant was $135,000, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc give grants?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.4M.
What is Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $6.4M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc's EIN?
Western Center on Law & Poverty Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2897721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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