Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$586,977

Total expenses

$589,396

Contributions and grants received

$570,771

Grants paid

$97,584

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$28,196

Other revenue

-$11,990

Total assets, end of year

$687,205

Total liabilities, end of year

$51,230

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$635,975

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$465,391

Management and general expenses

$102,312

Fundraising expenses

$21,693

Program service expenses (Part III)

$465,391

Program services were 79.0% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM: DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD 900 VOLUNTEER PLACEMENTS THROUGH WHICH LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS DONATED 14,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME AND PROVIDED SERVICES FOR 5,400 CLIENTS, WORKING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHICH INCLUDE LEGAL AID PROVIDERS, PUBLIC DEFENSE OFFICES, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW OFFICES.

  Expenses $232,961

• SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: MJF PROVIDED STIPENDS FOR 13 SUMMER FELLOWS TO WORK AT THE FOLLOWING HOST ORGANIZATIONS IN SUMMER 2025: CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES (MINNEAPOLIS); CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MN; IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA; INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA; LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF DAKOTA COUNTY; LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER; MINNESOTA LAND TRUST; MINNESOTA DISABILITY LAW CENTER; SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES - HOUSING UNIT (ST. PAUL); LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA (MOORHEAD); MID- MINNESOTA LEGAL AID - ST. CLOUD; SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES - MANKATO

  Expenses $196,553 · Grants $97,584

• PRIVATE ATTORNEY STUDENT SERVICE (PASS): PASS IS A SUBSET OF THE LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH MJF STAFF WORK ON GETTING LAW STUDENTS INVOLVED IN PROJECTS WITH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS, AND ON SUPPORTING PRO BONO IN MINNESOTA'S LEGAL COMMUNITY. SEE SCHEDULE O

  Expenses $35,877

• MAJOR SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES: 1)LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM 2)SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 3)PRIVATE ATTORNEY STUDENT SERVICE (PASS) 4)STUDENT CHAPTERS AT THE MITCHELL HAMLINE SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL, AND UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS SCHOOL OF LAW 1) LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM THE LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM (LSPSP) AROSE OUT OF A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE THREE LAW SCHOOLS, THE MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION AND MJF. THIS IS A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF A MULTI-LAW SCHOOL COLLABORATION FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1999, LSPSP ENCOURAGES LAW STUDENTS TO PERFORM AT LEAST 50 HOURS OF LAW-RELATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE DURING THEIR LAW SCHOOL CAREERS. THIS IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE "50 HOUR CHALLENGE" BY LAW STUDENTS. IT REFERENCES RULE 6.1 OF THE MINNESOTA RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT WHICH STATES THAT LAWYERS HAVE AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO PERFORM PRO BONO WORK AND/OR PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CIVIL LEGAL AID PROGRAMS. STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE AT LEAST 50 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE DURING THEIR TIME IN LAW SCHOOL RECEIVE RECOGNITION FROM THEIR LAW SCHOOL AND MJF. THIS RECOGNITION COMPLEMENTS OTHER AWARDS THAT STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FOR THEIR ACADEMIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES FOR OUR CIVIL LEGAL AID PARTNER AGENCIES BY SITUATING MJF AS A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR OUTREACH REGARDING LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM THE THREE MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOLS. FROM OUR OFFICES AT EACH OF THE THREE MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOLS, MJF STAFF MAINTAIN CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE LEGAL SERVICES COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND, MEET, AND SOMETIMES ANTICIPATE THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. THE MJF STAFF ATTORNEYS DIVIDE A LIST OF STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS. STAFF ATTORNEYS CONTACT THESE PROVIDERS AT LEAST THREE-FOUR TIMES A YEAR TO DISCUSS FALL, SPRING AND SUMMER SEMESTER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND WINTER AND SPRING BREAK OPPORTUNITIES. STAFF ATTORNEYS HELP THEIR CONTACTS THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT WAYS TO BEST ENGAGE AND SUPERVISE LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS, HELP DRAFT JOB DESCRIPTIONS, POST THESE ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEN RECRUIT STUDENTS. MJF THEN PLACES LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS AT LEGAL AID PROGRAMS AND OTHER PUBLIC INTEREST LAW OFFICES TO SERVE MINNESOTANS WITH LIMITED MEANS BASED ON THE STUDENTS' INTERESTS AND AVAILABILITY. STUDENTS VOLUNTEER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN A FLEXIBLE MANNER THAT SUITS THEIR SCHEDULES. SOME VOLUNTEER POSITIONS ARE FOR ONE-DAY ENGAGEMENTS AT CLINICS; OTHERS ARE PROJECT-BASED, SUCH AS COMPLETING A RESEARCH PROJECT FOR A CASE; AND SOME ARE 4-10 HOURS/WEEK FOR A SEMESTER. UTILIZING VOLUNTEER LAW CLERKS ALLOWS THE PAID STAFF AT OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS AND TO DEVOTE MORE OF THEIR TIME TO COMPLEX ISSUES. MJF WORKS TO MAKE OUR OFFERINGS COMPLEMENTARY TO OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE STUDENTS THROUGH THE LAW SCHOOLS. MJF IS A POPULAR SOURCE OF EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENTS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO ACCESS CURRICULAR EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS CLINICS DURING THEIR 1L YEAR. THROUGH VOLUNTEERING WITH MJF, LAW STUDENTS HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS AND CONSIDER WHICH EXPERIENTIAL COURSES TO PRIORITIZE IN LATER SEMESTERS. MJF ALSO WORKS WITH UPPER-LEVEL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COURSEWORK TO ALLOW THEM TO RECORD VOLUNTEER HOURS AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE HOURS THEY NEED FOR COURSE CREDIT. THIS ALLOWS STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND SKILLS AT THEIR SITE, AND IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THEIR HOSTS FROM AN EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT BECAUSE THE STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ONBOARDED. MJF STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE EXPLORATORY CONVERSATIONS WITH PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEERS TO DISCUSS THEIR CAREER INTERESTS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS PART OF HELPING THE STUDENT IDENTIFY WHICH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR THEM. SOMETIMES THESE CONVERSATIONS LEAD TO ONGOING INFORMAL MENTORSHIP RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MJF STAFF ATTORNEYS AND STUDENTS. AN MJF STAFF ATTORNEY CAN BECOME A TRUSTED ADVISOR FOR A STUDENT BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ADVICE, SUPPORT, AND NETWORKING ASSISTANCE AS THE STUDENT PURSUES THEIR CAREER GOALS, COMPLEMENTING THE OTHER ESSENTIAL ADVISING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE LAW STUDENTS. PARTICIPATION IN THE LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS IN THE LLM PROGRAMS. PARTICIPATION IS OPTIONAL AND COMPLETING 50 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE. STUDENTS MAY GET INVOLVED AT ANY POINT IN THEIR LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. MJF STAFF ATTORNEYS ACTIVELY WORK WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES AT THE LAW SCHOOLS (ADMISSIONS, CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT AFFAIRS, EXTERNSHIP ADVISORS, CLINICAL FACULTY, FACULTY TEACHING PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TO FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENTS) TO CONNECT WITH INCOMING AND CURRENT LAW STUDENTS. MJF STAFF ATTORNEYS ARE AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO VOLUNTEER AND NEED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO IDENTIFY OTHER PUBLIC INTEREST LAW OPPORTUNITIES. OUR AIM IS TO MAKE THE LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM (AND THE RELATIONSHIPS UNDERPINNING IT) ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL STUDENTS SEEKING PUBLIC INTEREST LAW EXPERIENCES. A)STREET LAW ANOTHER ASPECT OF LSPSP IS STREET LAW, A LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. STREET LAW AIMS TO EDUCATE YOUTH ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS TEACH IN TWIN CITIES CLASSROOMS FOR AN HOUR A WEEK DURING SPRING SEMESTER. MJF PROVIDES TRAINING TO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT EMPHASIZES ACCESSIBLE, ENGAGING, AND INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION METHODS. SESSIONS AT THE SCHOOLS FOCUS ON TOPICS SUCH AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS LAW, JUVENILE LAW, INTERACTING WITH THE POLICE, LANDLORD/TENANT LAW, THE WORK OF LEGISLATORS AND POLICYMAKERS, HOW JUDGES ARE CHOSEN, AND CONSUMER LAW. MJF MODIFIED THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROGRAM DURING EARLIER STAGES OF THE PANDEMIC. STREET LAW AIMS TO BE A PATHWAY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION. STREET LAW VOLUNTEERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND REALITIES OF BEING A LAW SCHOOL STUDENT, THEIR REASONING FOR WANTING TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL, AND THEIR PLANS AND ASPIRATIONS FOR HOW THEY WILL USE THEIR LEGAL TRAINING IN THE FUTURE. STREET LAW INCLUDES A FIELD TRIP COMPONENT; SOME CLASSROOMS VISIT THE LAW SCHOOLS OR JUDGES' CHAMBERS AND HAVE A CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH THE LEGAL FIELD IN A POSITIVE WAY. 2) SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM THE SUMMER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IS ONE METHOD BY WHICH MJF SEEKS TO CLOSE THE JUSTICE GAP EXPERIENCED BY MANY MINNESOTANS WHO NEED ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. MATCHING LAW STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK FOR THE SUMMER AT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW AGENCIES SUCH AS LEGAL AID OFFICES AND LEGAL NONPROFITS INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF THOSE AGENCIES TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS. MANY LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA HAVE TO TURN AWAY ELIGIBLE CLIENTS EACH YEAR DUE TO PROGRAM AND STAFFING LIMITS, OR LACK OF CASE PRIORITY. WITH THE SUPPORT OF LAW STUDENT FELLOWS, ATTORNEYS AT PUBLIC INTEREST AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO FOCUS THEIR TIME ON MORE COMPLEX CASES AND CLIENT MATTERS WHILE STILL PROVIDING QUALITY SERVICES TO AN EVEN HIGHER VOLUME OF CLIENTS. SUMMER FELLOWS WORK FULL TIME FOR 10 WEEKS AT LEGAL AID OFFICES AND PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. EACH FELLOW RECEIVES A STIPEND PAID BY MJF. SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1983, MJF HAS FUNDED OVER 800 FELLOWS. MJF FELLOWS PROVIDE THEIR PLACEMENT AGENCIES WITH INTENSIVE HELP WITH CASEWORK, RESEARCH, LEGAL WRITING, CLIENT INTAKE, INTERVIEWING, AND EVEN COURTROOM REPRESENTATION. FEEDBACK FROM SUPERVISORS TELLS US THAT AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS WHEN THEY HAVE A PAID SUMMER FELLOW WORKING FULL TIME. MJF FUNDRAISES FOR THESE FELLOWSHIPS AND MANAGES THE ENTIRE PROCESS: FROM SELECTING WHICH AGENCIES WILL RECEIVE A FELLOW; TO RECEIVING STUDENT APPLICATIONS; TO SETTING UP INTERVIEW TIMES; AND MANAGING A LIST OF OFFERS AND ACCEPTANCES. AGENCIES SELECT WHICH STUDENTS THEY WILL INTERVIEW AND MAKE THEIR OWN HIRING DECISIONS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE AGENCIES' OWN LAWYERS, GAINING VALUABLE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WHILE BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE PROGRAMS TO SERVE MORE CLIENTS. THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS TO HOST THE FELLOWS ALWAYS EXCEEDS THE FUNDS AVAILABLE. EACH YEAR, MJF SEEKS TO OFFER A VARIETY OF FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO LAW STUDENTS BOTH IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHY AND IN LEGAL SUBJECT AREA. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE MJF'S FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM SHAPES THE CAREER PATH OF FUTURE LAWYERS, AND STRENGTHENS THE POOL OF ATTORNEYS IN MINNESOTA WHO ARE COMMITTED TO DOING LEGAL WORK THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC INTEREST EITHER THROUGH THEIR PRIMARY OR PRO BONO PRACTICE. SUMMER FUNDING ALLOWS STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT AFFORD AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP TO EXPLORE PUBLIC INTEREST WORK. 3) PRIVATE ATTORNEY STUDENT SERVICE ANOTHER COMPONENT OF LSPSP IS THE PRIVATE ATT

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

• MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL AID

  $13,300

  CLERKSHIP

• SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES

  $13,300

  CLERKSHIP

• ANISHINABE LEGAL SERVICES

  $6,900

  CLERKSHIP

• LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA

  $6,900

  CLERKSHIP

• CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

• CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

• IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

• INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

• LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF DAKOTA COUNTY

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

• LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER INC

  $6,400

  CLERKSHIP

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

26 January 2026

IRS schema version

2024v5.0

Source object

202630529349300303

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.