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Nonprofiteer
← SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$14,362,640
Total expenses
$14,322,935
Contributions and grants received
$14,076,004
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$41,990
Investment income
$245,079
Other revenue
-$433
Total assets, end of year
$9,696,967
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,481,532
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,215,435
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,656,532
Management and general expenses
$2,382,583
Fundraising expenses
$283,820
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,656,532

Program services were 81.4% 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

    $131,900

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $163,125

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $13,219,244

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $561,735

  • 2a · Program service revenue: SPECIAL SERVICES FEES

    total $41,990 · related or exempt $41,990

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $245,079 · excluded $245,079

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $0 · other assets $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $42,690

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $163,125

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $43,123

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$433 · excluded -$433

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $0 · related or exempt $0 · unrelated business $0 · excluded $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $296,990 · program services $246,322 · management and general $47,619 · fundraising $3,049

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $8,525,509 · program services $7,031,887 · management and general $1,409,586 · fundraising $84,036

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $173,361 · program services $159,578 · management and general $10,604 · fundraising $3,179

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,979,318 · program services $1,818,311 · management and general $125,030 · fundraising $35,977

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $640,469 · program services $588,371 · management and general $40,457 · fundraising $11,641

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $152,551 · program services $152,551

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $136,366 · management and general $136,366

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $434,625 · program services $159,043 · management and general $174,779 · fundraising $100,803

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $4,385 · program services $4,385

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $286,541 · program services $15,573 · management and general $268,095 · fundraising $2,873

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $299,887 · program services $243,412 · management and general $50,205 · fundraising $6,270

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $730,131 · program services $678,836 · management and general $51,295

  • 17 · Travel

    total $73,920 · program services $58,750 · management and general $15,165 · fundraising $5

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $49,393 · management and general $49,393

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $52,434 · program services $52,434

  • 24a · Other expenses: COALITION SUPPORT

    total $295,403 · program services $295,403

  • 24b · Other expenses: TRAINING DUES & SUBSCRI

    total $74,200 · program services $72,559 · management and general $1,641

  • 24c · Other expenses: COUNTY & OTHER SUPPORT

    total $49,831 · program services $49,831

  • 24d · Other expenses: EVENTS

    total $35,462 · fundraising $35,462

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $32,159 · program services $29,286 · management and general $2,348 · fundraising $525

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $3,349,462 · end of year $5,751,569

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,100,000 · end of year $0

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $984,551 · end of year $624,396

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $70,496 · end of year $119,230

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

    $1,126,746

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

    $1,000,599

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $171,040 · end of year $126,147

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $16,116 · end of year $17,798

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,510,231 · end of year $3,057,827

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,686,796 · end of year $1,267,523

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $778,136 · end of year $1,055,948

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,561,754 · end of year $3,158,061

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,146,078 · end of year $4,194,699

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $29,132 · end of year $20,736

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS AND ELIGIBLE CLIENT GROUPS IN CIVIL MATTERS, IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER WHICH ENABLES CLIENTS TO: 1.) ENFORCE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, 2.) OBTAIN EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND FORUMS WHICH CONSTITUTE OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, 3.) MAINTAIN FREEDOM FROM HUNGER, HOMELESSNESS, SICKNESS AND ABUSE, AND 4.) EMPOWER PERSONS AND ASSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THUS HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES AND BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-RELIANT, TO THE EXTENT THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE SCHEDULE O

  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc. (SMRLS or the Organization) was formed in 1909 in St. Paul as a branch of Associated Charities to provide legal advice and representation to low-income people. In 1977, SMRLS expanded its services to 32 additional counties in the southern third of the state and to migrant farm workers in Minnesota and North Dakota. In 2016, the definition of clients eligible to be served through the migrant program was broadened to agricultural workers and that program has been renamed. A significant portion of SMRLS' operations is funded through grants from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a private, not-for-profit corporation established by Congress in 1974 to assure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans. LSC is headed by a bipartisan Board of Directors appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. During 2023, SMRLS served 10,940 clients (28,464 household members) with more than 12,096 legal matters. In addition, approximately 9,584 families and individuals benefit from SMRLS' preventative law and community education work and approximately 46,324 people accessed the website. SMRLS employs 62 attorneys and 55 non-attorney staff. SMRLS currently has offices in St. Paul, Mankato, Rochester, Winona, Albert Lea, Worthington and Moorhead, as well as several community organizations including medical-legal partnerships at a hospital and community clinics. SMRLS has gained national recognition for its tradition of sound management and innovative approaches to provide legal services for low-income people. SMRLS' nationally respected comprehensive needs assessment process, and its diversity and leadership development work, have resulted in an effective, community-based and collaborative law practice. SMRLS' operational strategic plan, The Vision for 2018 and Beyond (the strategic plan), has driven the reorganization of the Migrant programs into the Agricultural Worker Programs, establishment of a continuous process improvement effort in the intake process, addition of a human resources manager, development of a new executive leadership team and outsourcing of a portion of the IT function. Changes are focused on improving the ability of the Organization to respond to the new needs of the client population in our services area. In June 2023, the SMRLS Board of Directors adopted a plan for the next stage of SMRLS' strategic development, 2023+ Beyond Strategic Framework. SMRLS has strong working relationships with statewide local bar associations, lawyers, the state legislature, business and governmental entities and client groups. Through a series of innovative urban and rural Volunteer Attorney Programs, 80 volunteer attorneys donated approximately 1,359 hours of case representation time to eligible clients in 2023.

    Expenses $11,656,532 · Revenue $41,990

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Andrew M Baese

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Brenda Devlin

    1ST VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Brett W Olander

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Terrance Cs Newby

    2ND VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Thomas B Hatch

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5
  • Abdi Sabrie

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brett Strand

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Elizabeth Webster

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gretchen Cepek

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jan Marie Lungren

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jim Suk

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Joshua Murphy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Pam James

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Samantha Suttan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tashonda Williamson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jessie R Nicholson

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $180,204
    From this org
    $174,551
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,653
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,551
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,653
    Filer's total
    $180,204
  • Vannam Khen

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

    Total calculated
    $116,787
    From this org
    $104,517
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,270
    Hours/week
    45
  • Laura K Jelinek

    SENIOR LEADERSHIP ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $152,306
    From this org
    $135,117
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,189
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,117
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,498
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,691
    Filer's total
    $152,306
  • Laura S Melnick

    LEAD ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $159,541
    From this org
    $145,420
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,121
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,420
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,050
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,071
    Filer's total
    $159,541
  • Margaret Erickson

    SUPERVISING ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $153,852
    From this org
    $140,546
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,306
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,546
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,374
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,932
    Filer's total
    $153,852
  • Thomas Krause

    ASST DIR OF LITIGATION & ADVOCACY

    Total calculated
    $178,110
    From this org
    $164,078
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,032
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $164,078
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,044
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,988
    Filer's total
    $178,110
  • Valerie K Snyder

    LEAD ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $156,863
    From this org
    $143,139
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,724
    Hours/week
    45

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $143,139
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,636
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,088
    Filer's total
    $156,863

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 · Compensation committee
  • 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
2023
Filed
29 October 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202433039349301138

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