COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1995

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

JEFF TREXLER

Phone

9712668212

Tax Period

2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC, founded in 1995, is a small nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $321K in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue grew 9% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $399K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 24% operating deficit.

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.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $328,189 Revenue: $37,362

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.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $283,935

Program Service Revenue $37,362

Investment Income $0

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $321,297

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $184,514

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $328,189

Other Expenses $214,422

TOTAL EXPENSES $398,936

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$321,297	$294,426	+0.1%
Expenses	$398,936	$743,087	-0.5%
Net Income	$-77,639	$-448,661	-0.8%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✗ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$120,000

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
CHRISTINA MERKLER	PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS POWELL	VICE PRESIDENT	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
AMY CHU	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DALE CENDALI	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
GENE LUEN YANG	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BOB WAYNE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEN KING	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
PAM NOLES	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOSSEPH ILLIDGE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFF TREXLER	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$120,000	$0	$120,000

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$321,297	$398,936	$769,061	$-77,639
2022	$294,426	$743,087	$845,673	$-448,661
2021	$189,165	$327,192	$1,294,334	$-138,027
2020	$395,213	$622,026	$1,405,478	$-226,813
2019	$1,176,832	$831,411	$1,553,281	$345,421
2018	$895,877	$764,706	$1,211,417	$131,171