NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
AbbreviationLDF
FormationFebruary 12, 1940; 84 years ago (1940-02-12)
TypeNon-profit organization
Headquarters40 Rector Street, 5th floor New York City, New York, 10006 U.S.
Region served
United States
President and Director-Counsel
Janai Nelson
Websitewww.naacpldf.org

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (NAACP LDF, the Legal Defense Fund, or LDF) is an American civil rights organization and law firm based in New York City.

LDF is wholly independent and separate from the NAACP.[1] Although LDF can trace its origins to the legal department of the NAACP created by Charles Hamilton Houston in the 1930s,[2][3] Thurgood Marshall founded LDF as a separate legal entity in 1940, which became totally independent from the NAACP in 1957.[1]

Janai Nelson serves as the eighth President and Director-Counsel, since March 2022.[4] Previous Director-Counsels include Sherrilyn Ifill (2012–2022), John Payton (2008–2012), Ted Shaw (2004–2008), Elaine Jones (1993–2004), Julius Levonne Chambers (1984–1993), Jack Greenberg (1961–1984), and founder Thurgood Marshall (1940–1961).[5]

  1. ^ a b "Transformative History of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund". NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "LDF@70: 70 Years of Fulfilling the Promise of Equality" (PDF). Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  3. ^ "NAACP v. NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., 753 F.2d 131 (D.C. Circuit 1985)". Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  4. ^ "Introducing LDF's New President and Director-Counsel: Janai Nelson". NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "History". NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Retrieved November 13, 2018.