Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← CAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CAMBA LEGAL SERVICES INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$7,970,773
Total expenses
$7,970,323
Contributions and grants received
$7,969,537
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$1,236
Total assets, end of year
$5,591,151
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,158,003
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$433,148
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,456,321
Management and general expenses
$1,514,002
Fundraising expenses
$0
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,456,321

Program services were 81.0% 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.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $7,969,537

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME

    total $1,236 · excluded $1,236

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,236

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $18,062 · management and general $18,062

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $33,000 · management and general $33,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $30,070 · management and general $30,070

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $2,849 · program services $2,849

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $235,505 · program services $235,505

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $62,042 · program services $62,042

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $565,172 · program services $565,172

  • 17 · Travel

    total $2,243 · program services $2,243

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $7,085 · program services $7,085

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $41,373 · program services $41,373

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $37,788 · program services $18,894 · management and general $18,894

  • 24a · Other expenses: ALLOCATED SALARIES

    total $6,389,960 · program services $5,431,465 · management and general $958,495

  • 24b · Other expenses: ADMINISTRATIVE FEES

    total $455,481 · management and general $455,481

  • 24c · Other expenses: REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

    total $89,581 · program services $89,581

  • 24d · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES

    total $112 · program services $112

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $875,150 · end of year $37,559

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,943,797 · end of year $5,536,732

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $13,195 · end of year $0

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

    $582,008

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

    $572,629

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $50,752 · end of year $9,379

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $7,481

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $50,238 · end of year $58,238

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $3,399,958 · end of year $5,099,765

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $432,698 · end of year $433,148

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

CAMBA LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (CLS) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED LAW PRACTICE IN BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND THAT PROVIDES FREE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS. OUR MISSION AS A DEDICATED AND DIVERSE STAFF OF LAWYERS AND PARALEGALS IS TO PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHILE STANDING COMMITTED WITH OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. OUR UNIQUE APPROACH AT CLS SEEKS TO EMPOWER CLIENTS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE AND HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION THAT PROVIDES THE TOOLS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE NEW YORK CITY'S LEGAL SYSTEMS AND CORRESPONDING GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSING, THE FREEDOM FROM UNJUST COLLECTION PRACTICES, AND THE SAFETY OF IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE INALIENABLE HUMAN RIGHTS THAT MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES TO REALIZE TRUE JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CAMBA LEGAL IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, COUNSELING, REPRESENTATION, INFORMATION, AND OTHER LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF HOUSING, GOVERNMENT BENEFITS AND IMMIGRATION TO INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS AND UNDER-SERVED GROUPS IN THE BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND COMMUNITIES.

  • CAMBA LEGAL SERVICES HAS PROVIDED FREE, HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE TO NEW YORKERS FACING EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE; VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; THOSE WHO NEED HELP WITH CITIZENSHIP, TPS, DACA OR OTHER IMMIGRATION MATTERS; AS WELL AS THOSE GRAPPLING WITH CONSUMER ISSUES, INCLUDING DEBT COLLECTION PROCEEDINGS, AND CREDIT REPORTING PROBLEMS.

    Expenses $6,456,321

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Joanne Oplustil

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $689,020
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $551,738
    Other
    $137,282
    Hours/week
    1 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $505,507 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $46,231 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $89,128 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $48,154 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $689,020 related

  • Charles O'Neill

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Christopher Zarra

    SECRETARY/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 5 related

  • Katherine O'Neill

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 4 related

  • Elizabeth Miller

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $331,905
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $313,728
    Other
    $18,177
    Hours/week
    17 + 18 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $287,092 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $26,636 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $18,177 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $0 + $331,905 related

  • Jason Bouchard

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $262,543
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $205,881
    Other
    $56,662
    Hours/week
    1 + 39 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $205,481 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $400 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $5,171 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $51,491 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $262,543 related

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

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4B
JOANNE OPLUSTIL PARTICIPATED IN A SUPPLEMENTAL NONQUALIFIED PLAN. CAMBA, INC. CONTRIBUTED $70,000 TO THE PLAN ON HER BEHALF IN 2023.

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.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • CAMBA INC

    501(C)(3) · MULTI-SERVICE AGENCY WORKING TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN NYC · NY

  • CAMBA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP

    501(C)(3) · PROVIDE LOANS TO UNDERSERVED BUSINESSES IN THE BROOKLYN, NY COMMUNITY · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA INC

  • CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

    501(C)(3) · DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE HOUSING WHILE ENHANCING NEIGHBORHOODS · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA INC

  • CHV 690-738 ALBANY AVENUE HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 560 WINTHROP STREET HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 603 MOTHER GASTON BLVD HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV BUCKINGHAM HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA INC

  • CHV 210-214 HEGEMAN AVENUE HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV BEDFORD PARK HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 1038 BROADWAY HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE HDFC

    501(C)(4) · HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • SONGEA HOLDING CORPORATION

    501(C)(2) · HOLD TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA INC

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Related partnerships

Part III: related organizations taxable as a partnership, with the filer's share.

  • 880 WILLOUGHBY LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by WILLOUGHBY GP II LLC

  • WILLOUGHBY GP II LLC

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 1247 FLATBUSH AVENUE LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 1247 FLATBUSH AVENUE GP CORP

  • CHV 97 CROOKE AVE LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 97 CROOKE AVE GP CORP

  • CHV 690-738 ALBANY AVENUE LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 690-738 ALBANY AVE GP INC

  • CHV 560 WINTHROP ST LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 560 WINTHROP STREET GP INC

  • CHV 603 MOTHER GASTON BLVD LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 603 MOTHER GASTON BLVD GP INC

  • CHV HERITAGE HOUSES LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV HERITAGE HOUSE GP LLC

  • CHV 210-214 HEGEMAN AVENUE LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 210-214 HEGEMAN AVENUE GP INC

  • CHV BEDFORD PARK LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV BEDFORD PARK GP INC

  • CHV 1038 BROADWAY LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 1038 BROADWAY GP INC

  • CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE LP

    RELATED · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE GP INC

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • 1720 CHURCH HOLDING CORPORATION

    C · RENTAL OF REAL ESTATE · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA INC

  • CHV 1247 FLATBUSH AVENUE GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 97 CROOKE AVE GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 690-738 ALBANY AVENUE GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 560 WINTHROP ST GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 603 MOTHER GASTON BLVD GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 210-214 HEGEMAN AVENUE GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 210-214 HEGEMAN AVENUE HDFC

  • CHV BEDFORD PARK GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV BEDFORD PARK HDFC

  • CHV 1038 BROADWAY GP

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE GP INC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE HDFC

  • CHV HERITAGE HOUSES GP LLC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 1247 FLATBUSH AVENUE HDFC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • 880 WILLOUGHBY HDFC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 97 CROOKE AVENUE HDFC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • HERITAGE HOUSES HDFC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 329 CLARKSON AVENUE MASTER TENANT LLC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 1247 MORRIS MANOR LLC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

  • CHV 880 WILLOUGHBY AVENUE LLC

    C · SUPPORTIVE HOUSING · NY

    Directly controlled by CAMBA HOUSING VENTURES INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202541359349316604

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.