Migrant Legal Action Program

What Migrant Legal Action Program does

Migrant Legal Action Program (MLAP), founded in 1970 and headquartered at 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 915, Washington, D.C., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides free legal representation and serves as a national advocacy voice for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States. The organization's work spans direct legal services, legislative and administrative advocacy, and technical assistance to a national network of local nonprofit law centers serving farmworker communities, addressing issues including wage theft and labor law violations, unsafe housing conditions, immigration status, education access (including the Title I, Part C Migrant Education Program serving approximately 375,000 children in 46 states), health care access, and federal nutrition programs. MLAP does not sell commercial products or services and charges no fees to clients.

MLAP's revenue model is built on diversified, grant-funded nonprofit streams rather than commercial pricing. Funding sources include individual contributions and donations (including federal employee giving through the Combined Federal Campaign #10186, pro bono support from law firms, corporate giving, and AmazonSmile), grants from the federally established Legal Services Corporation (LSC), Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) funding, and state-based legal aid sources. All contributions are tax-deductible under 501(c)(3) status. The organization operates without disclosed subsidiaries, parent companies, or equity involvement, and does not publicly disclose annual revenue or headcount in the source data.

Operationally, MLAP delivers services through two channels: (1) direct legal representation and federal-level advocacy from its Washington, D.C. headquarters, and (2) support for a federation of local nonprofit law centers across the country that receive varying mixes of LSC, IOLTA, and state funding. The bilingual (English/Spanish) website and Facebook presence are primary outreach tools, and the organization does not operate mobile apps, APIs, or proprietary technology platforms. MLAP's strategic relationships include the U.S. Department of Education, USDA, USDA Rural Housing Service, HHS Health Resources and Services Administration, the Legal Services Corporation, MAZON, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, FRAC, and NASDME.

Name

Migrant Legal Action Program

Legal name

Migrant Legal Action Program, Inc.

Website

https://mlap.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Migrant Legal Action Program is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that provides free legal representation, federal legislative advocacy, and technical assistance to a nationwide network of local law centers serving migrant and seasonal farmworkers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Farmworker advocacy
• Migrant legal representation
• Nonprofit legal services
• Employment rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Contributions and Donations: Relies on support from individual contributors, including federal employees through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #10186), law firms providing pro bono services, other nonprofit groups, and corporate donors. Donations accepted through online portals including Network for Good, Razoo, and iGive. Amazon Smile program generates contributions.
2. Legal Services Corporation Funding: Receives funding from the Legal Services Corporation, a nonprofit established by Congress to provide legal aid to eligible Americans. Some local law centers in the network are also funded by LSC.
3. IOLTA and State Funds: Some centers receive funding through Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) programs and state-based legal aid funding sources.
4. Tax-Deductible Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, all contributions are tax-deductible. Organization prides itself on careful fund management and low overhead.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Migrant Legal Action Program (MLAP) provides free legal representation, advocacy, and technical assistance for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States. The organization focuses on issues related to working conditions, housing, immigration, education, health, and food/nutrition. It also delivers training and support to a network of local nonprofit migrant service providers and engages in legislative and administrative advocacy.

Product overview

Migrant Legal Action Program (MLAP) is a non-profit legal services organization providing legal representation and national advocacy for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The organization operates as a single integrated service offering centered on legal representation and policy advocacy, supplemented by technical assistance for local service providers. MLAP's core service is Migrant Legal Services, which provides legal representation on issues arising from working and living conditions. Supporting this are advocacy programs addressing housing, health, employment, immigration, food and nutrition, and migrant education. The organization also provides training and technical assistance to a network of local migrant service providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Migrant Legal Services Direct legal representation and advocacy services provided to migrant and seasonal farmworkers addressing legal issues arising from working and living conditions, including wage violations, unsafe housing, immigration matters, education access, and healthcare.
• Legislative and Administrative Advocacy

Quantifiable outcome

• 375,000 children served through Migrant Education Program across 46 states
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education (NASDME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASDME organizes the annual National Migrant Education Conference. MLAP participates in and supports this conference which brings together educators and service providers working with migrant children.
• Center on Budget and Policy PrioritiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MLAP on publication regarding promising practices by school districts providing access to school meals for those not fluent in English (2012).
• Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication partner with MLAP and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on school meals access for limited English proficient families (2012).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Southern Poverty Law Center: Large civil rights organization with litigation, advocacy, and immigrant rights programs including farmworker-related cases. Comparable federal-level legal advocacy and nonprofit funding model, though much broader mandate.
• Legal Aid Society (New York): Major provider of civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers, including immigrants and farmworker populations. Comparable as a federally-funded legal aid organization, though broader in scope and geography.
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF): National Latino civil rights organization with legal advocacy on employment, education, immigration, and voting rights. Overlaps with MLAP's farmworker advocacy across employment, education, and immigration law.

Direct peers

• National Immigration Law Center: Dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants in the U.S. Overlaps with MLAP in immigration legal support and federal policy advocacy for farmworker and immigrant populations.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): National legal services network providing immigration legal aid and capacity-building for affiliates. Comparable as a federally engaged immigration legal-aid intermediary, though broader in scope than farmworker-only.
• Farmworker Justice: National advocacy and legal services organization for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Directly comparable mission, federal-level policy advocacy focus, and farmworker-rights specialization.
• Justice in Motion: International migrant rights organization that uses a network of local legal partners to defend migrant rights. Comparable partner-network delivery model and migrant-rights legal focus.
• National Farm Worker Ministry: Faith-based organization supporting farmworkers and farmworker-led groups through organizing, advocacy, and education. Comparable farmworker-rights mission and federal-level advocacy footprint.

Regional players

• Northwest Justice Project: Largest provider of free civil legal aid to low-income communities in Washington State, serving migrant farmworkers regionally. Comparable as an LSC- and IOLTA-funded legal aid nonprofit serving farmworker communities.

Emerging players

• United Farm Workers: The largest farmworker labor union in the U.S., focused on collective bargaining, organizing, and policy advocacy. Comparable farmworker constituency and advocacy mission, but operates as a labor union rather than a legal services nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MigrantLegalActionProgram
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/migrant-legal-action

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Migrant Legal Action Program