Mission: Founded in 1968, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is the nation's leading nonprofit Latino legal organization. Often described as the law firm of the Latino community, MALDEF promotes equality and justice through litigation, advocacy, public policy, and community education in the areas of employment, immigrants' rights, voting rights, education, and language rights. MALDEF strives to implement programs that are structured to bring Latinos into the mainstream of American political and socio-economic life; providing better educational opportunities; encouraging participation in all aspects of society; and offering a positive vision for the future. Unique to MALDEF is an approach that combines advocacy, educational outreach, and litigation strategies to achieve socio-economic change. (Less)

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 1967, and donations are tax-deductible.