Los Angeles, CA

WAGE JUSTICE CENTER

EIN 26-1077468

Justice, Rights & Public Safety Legal Aid & Civil Rights Low-income

Mission

To defend workers' rights across Southern California to ensure a just and equitable economy for all.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

About WAGE JUSTICE CENTER

The Wage Justice Center is a Los Angeles–based 501(c)(3) legal nonprofit founded in 2007 that represents low-wage and indigent workers in wage‑theft and wage‑collection matters, provides community legal education, and pursues impact litigation and policy change. The organization specializes in judgment enforcement, mechanic’s liens for construction workers, corporate tracing and successor‑liability strategies, mobile legal clinics, and outreach at day‑labor sites. In recent years WJC has combined direct client services with strategic litigation and legislative advocacy to expand enforcement tools available to workers. Recent Form 990 filings show active program delivery and a multi-year fundraising profile supporting both individual casework and systemic litigation efforts, and the organization continues to run training, outreach, and cohort-based fellowship programs for law students and pro bono attorneys.

Notable achievements

Recovered wages for thousands of workers

Since its founding WJC reports having collected more than $20 million on behalf of over 6,650 workers, using tools such as mechanic’s liens, commercial collection strategies, and negotiated settlements to secure back pay and judgments for low‑wage employees.

Bankruptcy precedent protecting wage claims

WJC won a multi-year case establishing that employer fraud cannot be used to discharge wage debts in bankruptcy, strengthening the ability of wage‑theft victims to collect even when employers file for bankruptcy.

Policy and legislative impact

WJC played a key role in coalition work that expanded enforcement options for workers under California law (including efforts tied to successor‑liability and stronger collection tools), contributing to legislative wins that improve post‑judgment recovery.

At a glance

Total assets: $1.6M
Annual revenue: $571K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 26-1077468
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Website: wagejustice.org
On Mahalo since: April 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Rated and profiled by independent charity evaluators and nonprofit data services; Charity Navigator lists Wage Justice Center with a multi‑year program expense ratio above 80% and a multi‑star score reflecting strong program spending.

Active public profile and filing history: Wage Justice Center appears in major nonprofit databases and maintains annual Form 990 filings through recent years, indicating up‑to‑date tax‑exempt reporting and public financial disclosure.

Local legal and academic recognition: the organization presents community awards and host events (for example a 2024 Founders Award event), and is regularly cited by law schools, legal aid networks, and state bar grant programs for its training and impact work.

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