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Nonprofiteer
← CENTER FOR ELDER LAW AND JUSTICE INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CENTER FOR ELDER LAW AND JUSTICE INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,017,666
Total expenses
$7,768,434
Contributions and grants received
$6,875,152
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,051,326
Investment income
$30,018
Other revenue
$61,170
Total assets, end of year
$5,533,370
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,247,228
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,286,142
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,271,466
Management and general expenses
$1,207,938
Fundraising expenses
$289,030
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,271,466

Program services were 80.7% 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

    $3,732

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $5,884,335

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $987,085

  • 2a · Program service revenue: POOLED TRUST ACCOUNT

    total $543,015 · related or exempt $543,015

  • 2b · Program service revenue: GUARDIANSHIPS

    total $300,662 · related or exempt $300,662

  • 2c · Program service revenue: CONTRACT REVENUE

    total $128,555 · related or exempt $128,555

  • 2d · Program service revenue: ATTORNEY FEES

    total $79,094 · related or exempt $79,094

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $30,018 · excluded $30,018

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $82,622

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $31,021

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $51,601 · excluded $51,601

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $9,569 · excluded $9,569

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $9,569

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $402,581 · program services $327,655 · management and general $62,079 · fundraising $12,847

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,606,993 · program services $3,749,569 · management and general $710,405 · fundraising $147,019

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $210,729 · program services $171,510 · management and general $32,495 · fundraising $6,724

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $908,970 · program services $739,798 · management and general $140,164 · fundraising $29,008

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $375,022 · program services $305,225 · management and general $57,829 · fundraising $11,968

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $4,765 · program services $3,907 · management and general $715 · fundraising $143

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $24,970 · fundraising $24,970

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $190,407 · program services $132,529 · management and general $32,306 · fundraising $25,572

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $15,032 · program services $12,326 · management and general $2,255 · fundraising $451

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $62,786 · program services $51,484 · management and general $9,418 · fundraising $1,884

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $163,373 · program services $133,966 · management and general $24,506 · fundraising $4,901

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $334,256 · program services $274,090 · management and general $50,139 · fundraising $10,027

  • 17 · Travel

    total $80,715 · program services $66,187 · management and general $12,107 · fundraising $2,421

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $34,717 · program services $13,664 · management and general $20,553 · fundraising $500

  • 20 · Interest

    total $1,569 · program services $1,287 · management and general $236 · fundraising $46

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $29,442 · program services $24,142 · management and general $4,416 · fundraising $884

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $47,079 · program services $38,605 · management and general $7,062 · fundraising $1,412

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTION

    total $101,759 · program services $83,442 · management and general $15,264 · fundraising $3,053

  • 24b · Other expenses: TELEPHONE

    total $67,557 · program services $55,397 · management and general $10,133 · fundraising $2,027

  • 24c · Other expenses: FEES

    total $32,841 · program services $26,929 · management and general $4,926 · fundraising $986

  • 24d · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT LEASES

    total $25,059 · program services $20,548 · management and general $3,759 · fundraising $752

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $47,812 · program services $39,206 · management and general $7,171 · fundraising $1,435

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $842,877 · end of year $436,795

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,479,376 · end of year $2,207,502

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $154,631 · end of year $295,973

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $108,300 · end of year $60,617

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

    $232,940

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

    $200,214

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $44,552 · end of year $32,726

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $1,123,187 · end of year $1,268,771

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,394,448 · end of year $1,230,986

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $641,568 · end of year $695,924

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $5,250 · end of year $5,250

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $4,087 · end of year $94,065

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    end of year $125,000

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,535,086 · end of year $1,326,989

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,652,352 · end of year $3,021,824

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $309,028 · end of year $264,318

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED AND LOW-INCOME PERSONS IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK AREA THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ASSURE THAT CLIENTS MAY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH DIGNITY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ELDERLY, DISABLED AND LOW-INCOME PERSONS IN THE WESTERN NEW YORK AREA THROUGH THE PROVISION OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ASSURE THAT CLIENTS MAY LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITH DIGNITY. THE CENTER IS CO-TRUSTEE IN THE WNY COALITION POOLED TRUST WITH APPROXIMATELY $11 MILLION IN ASSETS.

  • CELJ ADVOCATES FOR OLDER ADULTS, DISABLED PERSONS AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN WESTERN NEW YORK. SINCE 1978, CELJ HAS SERVED CLIENTS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES, LEGAL WORKSHOPS AND CLINICS, PRO BONO ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS. THE AGENCY IS DIVIDED INTO TWO DEPARTMENTS: CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AND GUARDIAN AND TRUSTEE SERVICES. IN 2023, WE HAD 8,452 TOTAL CASES OPEN AT ANY TIME, SERVING 22,920 PEOPLE (USING TOTAL HOUSEHOLD SIZE). WE HOSTED 229 OUTREACHES WITH 14,967 ATTENDEES. OUR SERVICES SAVED TAXPAYERS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE AN ESTIMATED $4,766,080 AND WE HELPED OUR CLIENTS RECOVER OR SAVE AN ESTIMATED $3,335,789.

    Expenses $6,271,466 · Revenue $1,051,326

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Alan J Bozer

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ann Monroe

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anne Joynt

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Christopher M Marks JD MBA

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Edward Robinson Esq

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Fidele Menavanza

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Holly Hejmowski CPA

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Holly P Tucker

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hon Rosalie Bailey

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • James Schwegler

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jessica Kulpit Esq

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Judge John F O'Donnell

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Leslie Fox

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Oliver Young Esq

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Paul J Vallone Esq

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert Weissflach Esq

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Ryan D Ledebur Esq

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sarah Galvan

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Steven Bengart Esq

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Timothy M O'Mara Esq

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Karen Nicolson

    CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $296,720
    From this org
    $256,366
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,354
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $256,366
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $35,200
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,154
    Filer's total
    $296,720
  • Kirtan Patel

    CFO (CURRENT)

    Total calculated
    $25,705
    From this org
    $23,211
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,494
    Hours/week
    40
  • Tamar Rothaus

    CFO (PART-YEAR)

    Total calculated
    $138,680
    From this org
    $123,004
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,676
    Hours/week
    40
  • Helen Ferraro-Zaffram

    MANAGING ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $173,399
    From this org
    $165,097
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,302
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,097
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,302
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $173,399
  • David Shapiro

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $139,913
    From this org
    $115,642
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,271
    Hours/week
    40
  • Sara Ogden

    ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $131,017
    From this org
    $112,168
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,849
    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 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 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 3
THE ORGANIZATION USES AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTANT EVERY FEW YEARS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALARY.
PART I, LINE 4B
KAREN NICOLSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PARTICIPATED IN A NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN.

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
24 October 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202402989349301830

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