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← VOLUNTEER LEGAL ADVOCATES

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by VOLUNTEER LEGAL ADVOCATES.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,529,018
Total expenses
$3,364,438
Contributions and grants received
$3,525,030
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$5,293
Other revenue
-$1,305
Total assets, end of year
$3,053,095
Total liabilities, end of year
$255,305
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,797,790
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$2,861,045
Management and general expenses
$225,731
Fundraising expenses
$277,662
Program service expenses (Part III)
$2,861,045

Program services were 85.0% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $658,486

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,263,036

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,603,508

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $47,637

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $4,208 · excluded $4,208

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $39,073

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $37,988

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,085

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,085 · excluded $1,085

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $12,500

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $658,486

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $42,489

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$29,989 · excluded -$29,989

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $28,684 · excluded $28,684

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $28,684

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $174,732 · program services $139,786 · management and general $17,473 · fundraising $17,473

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,331,450 · program services $2,023,439 · management and general $123,102 · fundraising $184,909

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $73,034 · program services $63,474 · management and general $3,795 · fundraising $5,765

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $118,346 · program services $102,640 · management and general $6,298 · fundraising $9,408

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $202,071 · program services $174,488 · management and general $11,286 · fundraising $16,297

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $60,250 · management and general $60,250

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $6,925 · management and general $525 · fundraising $6,400

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $27,683 · program services $15,702 · management and general $241 · fundraising $11,740

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $52,760 · program services $46,866 · fundraising $5,894

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $175,887 · program services $173,511 · management and general $935 · fundraising $1,441

  • 17 · Travel

    total $3,005 · program services $2,993 · management and general $3 · fundraising $9

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $31,338 · program services $30,540 · management and general $314 · fundraising $484

  • 24a · Other expenses: LITIGATION & CASE EXP.

    total $64,840 · program services $57,214 · fundraising $7,626

  • 24b · Other expenses: TECH STIPENDS

    total $28,313 · program services $24,533 · management and general $1,487 · fundraising $2,293

  • 24c · Other expenses: BUSINESS REGISTRATION

    total $8,302 · program services $357 · management and general $22 · fundraising $7,923

  • 24d · Other expenses: PROFESSIONAL DEV.

    total $5,502 · program services $5,502

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,053,416 · end of year $1,647,867

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $33,057 · end of year $671,888

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $563,372 · end of year $595,156

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $21,706 · end of year $28,611

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $7,371

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $275,332 · end of year $102,202

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $31,681 · end of year $150,690

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $281,884 · end of year $104,615

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,793,124 · end of year $2,126,476

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $840,194 · end of year $671,314

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO ADVOCATE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, AT-RISK CHILDREN, AND OTHER VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS BY PROVIDING OVER $17M IN PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, AND ON-GOING SUPPORT; TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT A STRONG NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO VULNERABLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN DC.

  • DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM:LEGAL ASSISTANCE: DCVLP VOLUNTEER AND STAFF LAWYERS REPRESENT LOW-INCOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN PROTECTION ORDER AND FAMILY LAW CASES AND ADVOCATE FOR VICTIM RIGHTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ABUSERS. WALK-IN LEGAL CLINICS: DCVLP LAWYERS PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AT COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS AND AT A COURT-BASED CLINIC. SUPPORT SERVICES: OUR ADVOCATES PROVIDE SAFETY PLANNING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CRISIS INTERVENTION, ONGOING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL SOCIAL SERVICES. LEGAL HELP LINE: OUR ADVOCATES RESPOND TO HUNDREDS OF CALLERS' REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON VICTIM RIGHTS, LEGAL SERVICES, AND PROVIDE REFERRALS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.

    Expenses $1,453,549

  • CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM:OUR COURT-APPOINTED VOLUNTEER AND STAFF ATTORNEYS ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN GROWING UP IN HOMES WITH ABUSE, NEGLECT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONNECT THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH CRUCIAL SOCIAL SERVICES. IN OVER 95% OF THE CASES, JUDGES ACCEPT OUR ATTORNEYS' RECOMMENDATIONS.

    Expenses $645,192

  • IMMIGRATION PROGRAM:DCVLP VOLUNTEER AND STAFF LAWYERS ASSIST LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER FORMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN WITH VAWA SELF-PETITIONS, BATTERED SPOUSE WAIVERS, U AND T VISAS, AFFIRMATIVE AND DEFENSIVE ASYLUM CLAIMS, SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS, TPS, DACA, WORK AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER FORMS OF IMMIGRATION RELIEF. THE GOAL IS TO HELP IMMIGRANT VICTIMS, A MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE NOT PERMITTED TO LEGALLY WORK IN THE U.S., IN ACHIEVING SAFETY, STABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

    Expenses $535,357

  • MARYLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM:LEGAL ASSISTANCE: DCVLP LAWYERS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAUMA-INFORMED LEGAL, ADVOCACY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 220 LOW-INCOME VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND. WITH AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF ACCESS POINTS, COLLABORATIONS WITH CROSS-REFERRAL PARTNERS, AND TARGETED OUTREACH, WE REACH THE MOST UNDERSERVED VICTIMS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND.

    Expenses $226,947

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Sara Tennen

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $174,732
    From this org
    $161,220
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,512
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,220
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,443
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,069
    Filer's total
    $174,732
  • Karen Barker Marcou

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Henry Brewster

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Alexis Collins

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Trish Kelly

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jessica C Abrahams

    DIRECTOR, FROM 9/26/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jamillia Ferris

    DIRECTOR, UNTIL 11/14/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Amy Barker

    DIRECTOR, UNTIL 3/21/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tracey Coates

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Matthew Cohen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dale Harburg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tom Hentoff

    DIRECTOR, UNTIL 11/14/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Phillip Hurst

    DIRECTOR, FROM 1/23/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Heather Lamberg

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Princess McDuffie

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Stephen Raptis

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Pam Sauber

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rachel Louise Snyder

    DIRECTOR, UNTIL 3/31/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Annette M Stanley

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ilene Weinreich

    DIRECTOR, FROM 3/27/2023

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brian Yourish

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $123,023
    From this org
    $110,222
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,801
    Hours/week
    40
  • Aida Vindell

    CO-LEGAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $115,662
    From this org
    $108,174
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,488
    Hours/week
    40
  • Lauren Snow

    CO-LEGAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $109,987
    From this org
    $100,286
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,701
    Hours/week
    40
  • Daniela Huerta Garcia

    CO-LEGAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $109,407
    From this org
    $100,282
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,125
    Hours/week
    40

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. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES RECEIVED PERFORMANCE-BASED BONUS COMPENSATION IN 2023: - SARA TENNEN $1,000 - BRIAN YOURISH $1,000 - AIDA VINDELL $1,000 - LAUREN SNOW $1,000 - DANIELA HUERTA GARCIA $1,000

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
13 May 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.0
Source object
202431349349304048

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