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 BozerALAN J BOZER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ann MonroeANN MONROE
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Anne JoyntANNE JOYNT
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Christopher M Marks JD MBACHRISTOPHER M MARKS JD MBA
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Edward Robinson EsqEDWARD ROBINSON ESQ
VICE PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Fidele MenavanzaFIDELE MENAVANZA
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Holly Hejmowski CPAHOLLY HEJMOWSKI CPA
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Holly P TuckerHOLLY P TUCKER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Hon Rosalie BaileyHON ROSALIE BAILEY
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
James SchweglerJAMES SCHWEGLER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Jessica Kulpit EsqJESSICA KULPIT ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Judge John F O'DonnellJUDGE JOHN F O'DONNELL
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Leslie FoxLESLIE FOX
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Oliver Young EsqOLIVER YOUNG ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Paul J Vallone EsqPAUL J VALLONE ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Robert Weissflach EsqROBERT WEISSFLACH ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ryan D Ledebur EsqRYAN D LEDEBUR ESQ
VICE PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Sarah GalvanSARAH GALVAN
VICE PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Steven Bengart EsqSTEVEN BENGART ESQ
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Timothy M O'Mara EsqTIMOTHY M O'MARA ESQ
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Karen NicolsonKAREN 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 PatelKIRTAN PATEL
CFO (CURRENT)
- Total calculated
- $25,705
- From this org
- $23,211
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $2,494
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Tamar RothausTAMAR 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-ZafframHELEN 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 ShapiroDAVID SHAPIRO
SENIOR ATTORNEY
- Total calculated
- $139,913
- From this org
- $115,642
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $24,271
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Sara OgdenSARA 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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