Nonprofit · EIN 94-2495939
PRISON LAW OFFICE
Tax-exempt · BERKELEY, CA 94710
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $12,850,528 | $7,643,924 | $5,206,604 | $140,149,324 | $788,930 | $139,360,394 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $10,257,835 | $6,165,644 | $4,092,191 | $121,847,624 | $941,480 | $120,906,144 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $16,140,547 | $5,026,875 | $11,113,672 | $104,217,285 | $262,654 | $103,954,631 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,763,874
- of which government grants
- $1,746,542
- Program service revenue
- $10,256,054
- Investment income
- $830,600
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $168,166
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $316,382
- Other salaries and wages
- $4,715,267
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $6,019,187
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $431,159
- Accounting fees
- $30,550
- Travel
- $145,184
- Depreciation
- $132,506
- Program services (functional)
- $6,167,669
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,476,255
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $121,847,624
- Total assets, end of year
- $140,149,324
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $788,930
- Net assets, end of year
- $139,360,394
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,176,544
- Publicly traded securities
- $127,561,695
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $139,360,394
- Gross unrelated business income
- $39,931
- Gross receipts
- $12,850,528
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 11
- Year formed
- 1978
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARGOT MENDELSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 45 | $299,616 | $23,378 |
| ALISON HARDY | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $269,116 | $38,784 |
| STEVEN FAMA | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $266,869 | $31,769 |
| MARISSA HATTON | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $231,864 | $4,943 |
| RANA ANABTAWI | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $195,926 | $31,197 |
| RITA LOMION | ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $209,668 | $8,559 |
| CHESA BOUDIN | BOARD CHAIR/MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE MCDONNELL | BOARD CHAIR/MEMBER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH MORRIS | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON BELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VANITA GAONKAR | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK GREGORATOS | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN LU | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MARCUM | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KERAMET REITER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
2 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISHAL SHAH | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ADRIENNE YANDELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD SPECTER | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $274,925 | $7,170 |
| ALISON HARDY | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $245,028 | $36,076 |
| SARA NORMAN | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $249,224 | $28,059 |
| STEVEN FAMA | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $240,663 | $20,674 |
| MARGOT MENDELSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 45 | $218,283 | $11,893 |
| CHRISTIANNE HIPPS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH MORRIS | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON BELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHESA BOUDIN | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VANITA GAONKAR | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK GREGORATOS | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN LU | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MARCUM | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE MCDONNELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KERAMET REITER | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VISHAL SHAH | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADRIENNE YANDELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD SPECTER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 45 | $302,000 | $6,532 |
| STEVEN FAMA | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $248,037 | $22,007 |
| SARA NORMAN | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $240,675 | $10,806 |
| ALISON HARDY | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $226,108 | $21,731 |
| MARGOT MENDELSON | ATTORNEY Key employee | 45 | $182,157 | $15,420 |
| CHRISTIANNE HIPPS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SETH MORRIS | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JASON BELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| VANITA GAONKAR | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NICK GREGORATOS | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEAN LU | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MARCUM | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CLAIRE MCDONNELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| VISHAL SHAH | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ADRIENNE YANDELL | MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1917 5TH ST, BERKELEY, CA 94710-1916
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MARGOT MENDELSON, 1917 FIFTH STREET, BERKELEY, CA 94710
- Signed the 990
- MARGOT MENDELSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (510) 280-2621
- Website
- PRISONLAW.COM
- Return prepared by
- KARLSSON & LANE AN ACCOUNTANCY CORP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-2495939 or by the name PRISON LAW OFFICE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
THE MISSION OF THE PRISON LAW OFFICE IS TO REDUCE INCARCERATION AND ENSURE HUMANE AND CONSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WHO REMAIN IN PRISONS, JAILS AND ON PAROLE.
Program accomplishments
- THE PRISON LAW OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND, FOSTERING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF CORRECTIONAL ISSUES.Expenses $6,167,669 · revenue $10,256,054
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 94-2495939
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1978
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I80M)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $140,149,324
- Income (IRS master file)
- $12,850,528
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $12,850,528 | $7,643,924 | $140,149,324 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $10,257,835 | $6,165,644 | $121,847,624 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $16,140,547 | $5,026,875 | $104,217,285 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $24,155,941 | $4,280,714 | $89,399,266 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-2495939).
Questions about PRISON LAW OFFICE
- What is the EIN of PRISON LAW OFFICE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of PRISON LAW OFFICE is 94-2495939.
- Is PRISON LAW OFFICE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
- Are donations to PRISON LAW OFFICE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does PRISON LAW OFFICE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of PRISON LAW OFFICE due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did PRISON LAW OFFICE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of PRISON LAW OFFICE?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MARGOT MENDELSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of PRISON LAW OFFICE?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 17 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $299,616 (MARGOT MENDELSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does PRISON LAW OFFICE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $12,850,528, expenses of $7,643,924 and total assets of $140,149,324 at year end.
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- OASIS LEGAL SERVICES EIN 82-0696739 · last filed 990 for 2025
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- IMMIGRATION PROJECT INC EIN 82-3039743 · last filed 990 for 2025
- BERKELEY POLICE ASSOCIATION EIN 94-6104546 · last filed 990 for 2024
- PRISONERS LITERATURE PROJECT EIN 87-2253705 · last filed 990 for 2025
All nonprofits in BERKELEY · California · Crime and legal-related