← CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES INCORPORATED

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES INCORPORATED.

Totals

Total revenue: $3,055,783
Total expenses: $2,931,443
Contributions and grants received: $3,038,023
Grants paid: $0
Program service revenue: $0
Investment income: $2,760
Other revenue: $15,000
Total assets, end of year: $1,971,226
Total liabilities, end of year: $400,720
Net assets or fund balances, end of year: $1,570,506
Program services expenses (Part IX): $2,324,095
Management and general expenses: $607,348
Fundraising expenses: $0
Program service expenses (Part III): $2,324,095

Program services were 79.3% 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)

$2,648,430
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

$389,593
3 · Investment income

total $2,760 · excluded $2,760
11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

total $15,000 · related or exempt $15,000
11e · Other revenue, total

$15,000

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

total $150,753 · program services $45,226 · management and general $105,527
7 · Other salaries and wages

total $1,619,344 · program services $1,352,688 · management and general $266,656
8 · Pension plan contributions

total $50,343 · program services $44,669 · management and general $5,674
9 · Other employee benefits

total $272,296 · program services $226,004 · management and general $46,292
10 · Payroll taxes

total $134,718 · program services $107,936 · management and general $26,782
11c · Fees: accounting

total $32,150 · program services $30,887 · management and general $1,263
11g · Fees: other

total $265,481 · program services $183,300 · management and general $82,181
13 · Office expenses

total $33,142 · program services $20,025 · management and general $13,117
16 · Occupancy

total $214,023 · program services $189,099 · management and general $24,924
17 · Travel

total $10,829 · program services $9,701 · management and general $1,128
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

total $15,260 · program services $15,260
23 · Insurance

total $14,400 · program services $13,479 · management and general $921
24a · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT AND LIBRARY

total $79,259 · program services $62,045 · management and general $17,214
24b · Other expenses: TRAINING

total $26,799 · program services $14,102 · management and general $12,697
24c · Other expenses: OTHER DIRECT EXPENSES

total $6,406 · program services $3,471 · management and general $2,935
24d · Other expenses: MANDATED LICENSE FEES

total $3,260 · program services $3,260
24e · All other expenses

total $2,980 · program services $2,943 · management and general $37

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

beginning of year $6,765 · end of year $6,012
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

beginning of year $1,575,592 · end of year $1,774,075
3 · Pledges and grants receivable

beginning of year $98,667 · end of year $65,032
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

beginning of year $32,655 · end of year $47,393
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

$126,692
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

$84,575
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

beginning of year $49,650 · end of year $42,117
15 · Other assets

end of year $36,597
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

beginning of year $169,832 · end of year $222,541
19 · Deferred revenue

beginning of year $147,331 · end of year $141,529
25 · Other liabilities

end of year $36,650
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

beginning of year $1,424,703 · end of year $1,545,317
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

beginning of year $21,463 · end of year $25,189

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

THE MISSION OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES IS TO ADVOCATE FOR ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY BY EMPOWERING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS THROUGH LEGAL EDUCATION. CMLS IS A POVERTY LAW FIRM AND PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCING A RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ITS 21-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THE SERVICE AREA STRETCHES FROM THE WESTERN BORDER WITH SOUTH DAKOTA, TO THE EASTERN BORDER WITH WISCONSIN. CMLS IS DEDICATED TO EMBEDDING EQUITY INTO POLICIES, PROCESSES AND PRACTICES. ITS OVERALL GOAL IS TO BE A CULTURALLY COMPETENT ORGANIZATION TO ATTAIN AND REFLECT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE AND SENSITIVITY TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND COMMUNITY.

1.THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREA OF LEGAL NEED IS FAMILY LAW. CMLS PRIORITIZES REPRESENTING VICTIM/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ORDERS FOR PROTECTION, DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE AND OTHER FAMILY LAW CASES CMLS ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS BY PHONE, ON-LINE APPLICATIONS, AND REFERRALS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF FAMILY LAW CASES. CMLS PRIORITIZES CASES WHERE THERE IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD RELATED RELIEF IS NEEDED. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE CMLS SERVICE AREA WHICH INCLUDES MINNEAPOLIS, CMLS PARTNERS WITH HENNEPIN COUNTY'S DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICE CENTER. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS ARE PRESENT DAILY TO SPEAK TO VICTIMS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR LEGAL ADVOCATES. VICTIMS ARE OFFERED ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION IN ORDER FOR PROTECTION MATTERS. VICTIMS WHO HAVE OTHER FAMILY LAW ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH AN ORDER FOR PROTECTION CASE ARE FREQUENTLY ACCEPTED AS CLIENTS AND RECEIVE REPRESENTATION FROM CMLS ATTORNEYS. CMLS STAFF PROVIDE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS THROUGH COMMUNITY CLINICS. IN ANOKA COUNTY, CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS HOLD TWICE-MONTHLY CLINICS FOR PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW PROBLEMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANOKA COUNTY LAW LIBRARY. CLIENTS RECEIVE ADVICE AND HELP WITH LEGAL FORMS. CMLS PARTICIPATES IN A WEEKLY EVICTION CLINIC WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN THE ST. CLOUD AREA, CMLS STAFF HOLD REGULAR CLINICS WITH THE ST. CLOUD VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION AND WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS IN MILLE LACS AND TODD COUNTIES. IN THE WILLMAR AREA CMLS PARTNERS WITH A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM IN MARSHALL, MN. 2. HOUSING CMLS PRIORITIZES HOUSING CASES THAT WILL PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND PRESERVE ACCESS TO LOW-COST SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING. CMLS ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS BY PHONE, ON-LINE APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS FOR HOUSING CASES THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS PARTICIPATE IN A HOUSING COURT EVICTION PROJECT IN ANOKA COUNTY. THE PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE THE VOLUNTEER LAWYER NETWORK, THE ANOKA COUNTY LAW LIBRARY, ANOKA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AND MEDIATION AND RESTORATIVE SERVICES OF ANOKA COUNTY. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AN EVICTION COURT PROJECT IN THE 8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. 3.VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM CMLS OPERATES A VIBRANT PRO BONO PROGRAM IN 19 OF THE 21 COUNTIES IT SERVES AND IS EXPANDING INTO ANOKA COUNTY. CMLS STAFF PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITATE THE ABILITY OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO TAKE PRO BONO CASES THROUGH THE CMLS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM. THEY DO THIS BY CONDUCTING INTAKE AND COMPLETING CLIENT APPLICATIONS, PROVIDING TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS, PROCESSING REQUESTS FOR INTERPRETERS, EXPENSE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT FEES, AND PROVIDING RECOGNITION TO VOLUNTEERS WHO PERFORM LEGAL WORK FOR CLIENTS. ANOTHER ACTIVITY IS PROVIDING MEDIATION SERVICES IN FAMILY LAW CASES. ATTORNEY MEDIATORS PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE REQUIRED TO USE MEDIATION BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS THERE ARE VERY FEW OPTIONS FOR MEDIATION IN THE RURAL COUNTIES OF THE CMLS SERVICE AREA. THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM PROVIDES ATTORNEYS IN CASES WHERE CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. REGULAR CLINICS ARE HELD WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE WRIGHT COUNTY LAW LIBRARY, THE GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY IN ST. CLOUD, ISANTI COUNTY DISTRICT COURT AND THE SHERBURNE COUNTY LAW LIBRARY. CMLS USES TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES TO HELP OVERCOME TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS FOR CLIENTS. CLIENTS HAVE THE OPTION OF ATTENDING CLINIC APPOINTMENTS IN PERSON OR BY ZOOM. THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM INCLUDES A REDUCED RATE CONTRACT ATTORNEY PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE JUDICARE MODEL. THE PROGRAM IS FOR FAMILY LAW CASES, MOST OF WHICH ARE CONTESTED IN COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND HELPS MEET THE NEED OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE FOR HELP WITH FAMILY LAW CASES.

Expenses $2,324,095

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

EMILY LAWRENCE

PRESIDENT

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
JONATHAN WOLF

VICE PRESIDE

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
MARK VAVRECK

TREASURER

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

5
MARYCATHLEEN FENSKE

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
JON C SAUNDERS

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
KRISTI STANISLAWSKI

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
LYNDSEY OLSON

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
TRAVIS ALLEN

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
BEN WAGNER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
ANN O'REILLY

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
TIFANNE EE WOLTER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
SHEENA BEAMON

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
KRISTINE WITTMANN

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
CATHY TESSMER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
JOSH FISHER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
RENEE URSPRUNG

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
KIMBERLY THOLE-REINKE

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
CALONDRA CHANDLER

DIRECTOR

Total calculated

$0

Hours/week

1
JEAN A LASTINE

EXEC DIR / S

Total calculated

$150,753

From this org

$119,184

From related orgs

$0

Other

$31,569

Hours/week

40

Schedule J breakdown matched by us

Base

$119,184

Bonus

not reported

Other

not reported

Deferred

$3,190

Nontaxable benefits

$28,379

Filer's total

$150,753
PAT O'NEILL

AGENCY ADMIN

Total calculated

$121,753

From this org

$102,845

From related orgs

$0

Other

$18,908

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 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type: form_990
Tax year: 2022
Filed: 14 June 2023
IRS schema version: 2022v5.0
Source object: 202331849349300318

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