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Nonprofit · EIN 39-1656980

COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC

Tax-exempt · LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97035

Financials

$321K$399K2023$277K$309K2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$276,582$309,173-$32,591$736,253$810$735,443
December 31, 2023990$321,297$398,936-$77,639$769,061$1,027$768,034
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$245,113
Membership dues
$2,050
Program service revenue
$31,469
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$110,000
Other salaries and wages
$22,928
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$132,928
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Occupancy
$24,700
Travel
$27,749
Program services (functional)
$236,929
Management and general (functional)
$72,244

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$769,061
Total assets, end of year
$736,253
Total liabilities, end of year
$810
Net assets, end of year
$735,443
Land, buildings and equipment
$252
Publicly traded securities
$317,193
Net assets without donor restrictions
$735,443
Gross receipts
$276,582
Employees
1
Volunteers
10
Year formed
1995
State of legal domicile
OR

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 December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JEFFREY TREXLEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$110,000
CHRISTINA MERKLERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
CHRIS POWELLVICE PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
AMY CHUTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DALE CENDALISECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
ANDREW AYDINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BOB WAYNEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
GENE LUEN YANGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JEN KINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JOSSEPH ILLIDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
PAM NOLESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 10 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JEFF TREXLEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$120,000
CHRISTINA MERKLERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
CHRIS POWELLVICE PRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
AMY CHUTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
DALE CENDALISECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
GENE LUEN YANGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BOB WAYNEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JEN KINGDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
PAM NOLESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JOSSEPH ILLIDGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
15110 BOONES FERRY RD STE 220, LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97035-3496
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
JEFF TREXLER, 15110 BOONES FERRY RD 220, LAKE OSWEGO, OR 970353496
Signed the 990
JEFF TREXLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(971) 266-8212
Website
CBLDF.ORG
Return prepared by
SKODY SCOT & CO CPAS PC

Mission

TO DEFEND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS RELATED TO SPEECH AND PRESS AND TO ASSIST WITH RELIEF FROM ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION BY AUTHORITIES CONSERNING OR RELATING TO THE PUBLIC'S ACCESS TO COMIC BOOKS AND OHTER COMIC PUBLICATIONS.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • 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.
    Expenses $236,929 · revenue $31,469

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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
39-1656980
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
1995
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$736,253
Income (IRS master file)
$276,582

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$276,582$309,173$736,253XML
990December 2023$321,297$398,936$769,061XML
990December 2022$294,426$743,087$845,673IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 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 39-1656980).

Questions about COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC

What is the EIN of COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC is 39-1656980.
Is COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
Are donations to COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC 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 COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names JEFF TREXLER.
Who are the officers and directors of COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $110,000 (JEFFREY TREXLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $276,582, expenses of $309,173 and total assets of $736,253 at year end.

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