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Nonprofiteer
← NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$16,563,985
Total expenses
$15,626,861
Contributions and grants received
$16,508,404
Grants paid
$3,408,858
Program service revenue
$40,283
Investment income
$15,298
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$8,333,371
Total liabilities, end of year
$6,005,913
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,327,458
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$13,782,165
Management and general expenses
$1,844,696
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$13,782,165

Program services were 88.2% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $37,697

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $15,555,382

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $915,325

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ATTORNEY FEES

    total $40,283 · related or exempt $40,283

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $15,298 · excluded $15,298

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $3,408,858 · program services $3,408,858

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $773,532 · program services $357,259 · management and general $416,273

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $7,722,395 · program services $6,835,339 · management and general $887,056

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $316,263 · program services $268,511 · management and general $47,752

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,055,997 · program services $917,108 · management and general $138,889

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $688,221 · program services $584,309 · management and general $103,912

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $36,000 · program services $30,564 · management and general $5,436

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $197,316 · program services $167,524 · management and general $29,792

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $223,552 · program services $189,798 · management and general $33,754

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $109,821 · program services $93,239 · management and general $16,582

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $595,117 · program services $505,262 · management and general $89,855

  • 17 · Travel

    total $13,158 · program services $11,171 · management and general $1,987

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $73,164 · program services $62,117 · management and general $11,047

  • 20 · Interest

    total $7,493 · program services $6,369 · management and general $1,124

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $47,311 · program services $40,168 · management and general $7,143

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $53,529 · program services $45,447 · management and general $8,082

  • 24a · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE

    total $143,123 · program services $121,513 · management and general $21,610

  • 24b · Other expenses: PAYROLL PROCESSING & PE

    total $60,319 · program services $51,271 · management and general $9,048

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $39,262 · program services $33,334 · management and general $5,928

  • 24d · Other expenses: LIBRARY MATERIALS

    total $31,977 · program services $27,149 · management and general $4,828

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $30,453 · program services $25,855 · management and general $4,598

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $294,414 · end of year $244,455

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $593,999 · end of year $16,065

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,183,730 · end of year $3,957,425

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $337,520 · end of year $1,271,875

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $102,799 · end of year $57,509

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $561,925

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $382,500

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $112,019 · end of year $179,425

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $2,265,474 · end of year $2,606,617

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,183,710 · end of year $1,222,357

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $2,052,712 · end of year $1,829,517

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $5,974 · end of year $5,672

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $2,257,225 · end of year $2,948,367

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,296,136 · end of year $2,159,082

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $94,198 · end of year $168,376

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS) SEEKS EQUITABLE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE, REPRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO, DUE TO FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY, DISABILITY, DISCRIMINATION, OR ABUSE, REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION OF THEIR CIVIL LEGAL RIGHTS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE SCHEDULE O.

  • NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS) IS A NONPROFIT CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER SERVING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND IN OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE. NLS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO THOSE FACING DISABILITIES, EVICTIONS, POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS, POVERTY, DENIAL OF PUBLIC BENEFITS AND FAMILY LAW ISSUES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION. NLS ALSO PROVIDED ASSISTANCE WITH HEALTH CARE RELATED ISSUES HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OBTAIN, MAINTAIN AND USE THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION, NLS SEEKS SYSTEMIC CHANGES THAT RESULT IN A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE WNY COMMUNITY. PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE: ATTORNEY OF THE MORNING, DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROJECT, COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT, FAIR HOUSING ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, HOMELESS ADVOCACY TASK FORCE, MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS, NEW YORK STATE OF HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, UTILITY DISCONNECT HOTLINE, AND WORK INCENTIVES PLANNING AND ASSISTANCE PROJECT. THE JUSTICE BUS TRANSPORTS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT ERIE, NIAGARA, GENESEE, ORLEANS, AND WYOMING COUNTIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS. PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, THE JUSTICE BUS 'POPUP' CLINICS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE MOST CHALLENGED WHEN SEEKING ACCESS TO SERVICES IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.

    Expenses $13,782,165 · Grants $3,408,858 · Revenue $40,283

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

Listed in Part VII

  • MICHELLE SCHWACH

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • KERISHA HAWTHRONE-GREEN

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SAM SMITH

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JONATHAN LACEY

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • PATRICK LONG

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ROBIN EDWARDS

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SHANE GREENE

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DAVID NELSON

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DIANA BLOOM

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • GRACE PIETROCARLO

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • RICHARD J SCHECHTER

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARGARET SROKA

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PAMELA THIBODEAU

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • OCTOBER REED

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LAUREN E BREEN

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $275,064
    From this org
    $254,255
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,809
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $254,255
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,809
    Filer's total
    $275,064

  • MELISSA MENDOLERA

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $169,042
    From this org
    $159,310
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,732
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $159,310
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,732
    Filer's total
    $169,042

  • VERA VENKOVA

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $154,571
    From this org
    $137,236
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,335
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $137,236
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,335
    Filer's total
    $154,571

  • KEISHA WILLIAMS

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $174,855
    From this org
    $165,862
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,993
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,862
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,993
    Filer's total
    $174,855

  • NANCY TUCKER

    DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE

    Total calculated
    $133,484
    From this org
    $128,557
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,927
    Hours/week
    40

  • JOHN M ZONITCH

    MANAGING ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $145,832
    From this org
    $128,358
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,474
    Hours/week
    40

  • MARY HANSON

    ASSISTANT SUPERVISING ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $151,834
    From this org
    $115,153
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,681
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $115,153
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $36,681
    Filer's total
    $151,834

  • CASSANDRA CONNIFF

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $133,713
    From this org
    $123,144
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,569
    Hours/week
    40

  • MATTHEW FINAMORE

    MANAGING ATTORNEY - LOCKPORT

    Total calculated
    $129,804
    From this org
    $116,696
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,108
    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

None.

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
13 May 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202531359349303118

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