Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc is located in Lake Oswego, OR. The organization was established in 1995. According to its NTEE Classification (R63) the organization is classified as: Censorship, Freedom of Speech & Press, under the broad grouping of Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc employed 2 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc generated $189.2k in total revenue. This represents a relatively dramatic decline in revenue. Over the past 7 years, the organization has seen revenues fall by an average of (21.2%) each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $327.2k during the year ending 12/2021. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
THE PURPOSE OF THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND IS TO DEFEND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS RELATING TO SPEECH AND PRESS AND TO ASSIST WITH RELIEF FROM ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION BY AUTHORITIES CONCERNING OR RELATING TO THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO COMIC BOOKS AND OTHER COMIC PUBLICATIONS.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN CHALLENGES TO COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVEL CENSORSHIP. MATTERS IN WHICH THE FUND INTERVENED RAISED A RANGE OF IMPORTANT CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL ISSUES, SUCH AS COMIC CREATORS' RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION, PROTECTION OF THE USE OF GRAPHIC NOVELS IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, AND THE RIGHT TO MAKE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF WORKS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.THE FUND ALSO CONTINUED TO PROMOTE THE DEFENSE OF THE COMIC ARTS COMMUNITY'S RIGHTS THROUGH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey Trexler Interim Executive Director | Officer | 40 | $100,000 |
Chris Powell Vice-President | OfficerTrustee | 5 | $0 |
Gene Luen Yang Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 0.5 | $0 |
Christina Merkler President | OfficerTrustee | 5 | $0 |
Dale Cendali Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 1 | $0 |
Bob Wayne Director | Trustee | 0.5 | $0 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $14,980 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $60,467 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $68,290 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $143,737 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $18,924 |
Investment income | $4,510 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $189,165 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $100,000 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $30,000 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $52,418 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $5,180 |
Other employee benefits | $0 |
Payroll taxes | $0 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $19,000 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $0 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $57,113 |
Advertising and promotion | $170 |
Office expenses | $17,581 |
Information technology | $4,867 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $42,079 |
Travel | $3,697 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $0 |
Insurance | $4,287 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $327,192 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $88,035 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $265,641 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $0 |
Accounts receivable, net | $71,567 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $22,798 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $17,206 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $0 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $786,414 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $42,673 |
Total assets | $1,294,334 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $0 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $0 |
Total liabilities | $0 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $1,294,334 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $0 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $1,294,334 |
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 3 grants that Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc has recieved totaling $17,767.
Awarding Organization | Amount |
---|---|
Schwab Charitable Fund San Francisco, CA PURPOSE: PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT | $7,550 |
Paypal Charitable Giving Fund Washington, DC PURPOSE: General Support | $5,217 |
Will And Ann Eisner Family Foundation Inc Ridgewood, NJ PURPOSE: FREE SPEECH & SEQUENTIAL ART EDUCATION | $5,000 |
Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Electronic Frontier Foundation Inc San Francisco, CA | $46,555,416 | $17,692,904 |
The Center For Investigative Reporting Inc Emeryville, CA | $6,439,476 | $8,386,066 |
Brave New Software Project Inc Pasadena, CA | $2,053,378 | $4,441,873 |
Free Speech Coalition Inc Canoga Park, CA | $412,935 | $866,395 |
The Signals Network Inc San Francisco, CA | $293,995 | $604,140 |
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Inc Lake Oswego, OR | $1,294,334 | $189,165 |
Bridge Foundation For Free Speech And Civil Discourse Inc El Cerrito, CA | $55,963 | $0 |
Free Speech Union South Pasadena, CA | $91,790 | $0 |
Washington Coalition For Open Government Redmond, WA | $43,577 | $0 |
Coalition For California Torrance, CA | $78,161 | $0 |
Founders First Freedom Vista, CA | $295,394 | $210,671 |
Distributed Denial Of Secrets San Francisco, CA | $52,183 | $0 |