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GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES INC

EIN 04-2103907 BOSTON, MA

Browse the largest nonprofits in Massachusetts

Revenue 2024
$34,763,230
Expenses 2024
$27,133,405

Program services were 86.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1000
Street
197 FRIEND ST

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL (NON-CRIMINAL) LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ALMOST 341,000 LOW-INCOME PERSONS LIVING IN METROPOLITAN BOSTON TO HELP THEM SECURE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE HOMELESS FAMILIES SEEKING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PERMANENT HOUSING, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING ABUSE, FAMILIES FACING DESTITUTION, POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING ILLEGAL OR INAPPROPRIATE EVICTION, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS EXPLOITED BY MORTGAGE SCAMS, ELDERS INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS DENIED CRITICAL BENEFITS, LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY DENIED EARNED WAGES, AND VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND PERSECUTION SEEKING ASYLUM.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROVIDE FREE, NON-CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR TO HELP THEM SECURE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE.

  • GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS) IS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF FREE CIVIL (NON-CRIMINAL) LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE ALMOST 339,000 LOW-INCOME PERSONS LIVING IN METROPOLITAN BOSTON TO HELP THEM SECURE SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. OUR CLIENTS ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES SEEKING ACCESS TO EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PERMANENT HOUSING, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ESCAPING ABUSE, FAMILIES FACING DESTITUTION, POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING ILLEGAL OR INAPPROPRIATE EVICTION, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS EXPLOITED BY MORTGAGE SCAMS, ELDERS INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS, DISABLED INDIVIDUALS DENIED CRITICAL BENEFITS, LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY DENIED EARNED WAGES AND VICTIMS OF TORTURE AND PERSECUTION SEEKING ASYLUM. IN 2025, GBLS HANDLED 14,960 CASES, PROVIDING CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO 11,971 PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY. ASSISTANCE RANGED FROM BRIEF SERVICE AND ADVICE TO FULL REPRESENTATION, BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE CASE. THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL POOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO WERE NOT GBLS' CLIENTS ALSO BENEFITED FROM GBLS' WORK THROUGH COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND IMPACT ADVOCACY EFFORTS SUCH AS CLASS ACTION SUITS, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, ALL OF WHICH BRING ABOUT SYSTEMIC CHANGE.GBLS CONDUCTS SPECIAL OUTREACH PROJECTS TO SPECIFIC POPULATIONS WHICH FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING LEGAL ASSISTANCE. SUCH EFFORTS INCLUDE GBLS' ASIAN OUTREACH PROJECT CONDUCTING REGULAR INTAKE HOURS IN BOSTON'S CHINATOWN; ELDER UNIT STAFF MAKING HOME VISITS, ENGAGING IN OUTREACH AT NURSING HOMES AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT SCORES OF ELDERLY SITES; EMPLOYMENT UNIT STAFF CONDUCTING REGULAR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO LOW-WAGE WORKERS; AND FAMILY LAW STAFF CONDUCTING REGULAR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN CHELSEA FOR ABUSED WOMEN, AS WELL AS CONTINUING A UNIQUE ON-SITE PROGRAM AT BOTH MIDDLESEX AND SUFFOLK PROBATE COURT TO ASSIST ABUSED WOMEN WHO COME TO THE COURT PRO SE SEEKING A RESTRAINING ORDER.GBLS' CONSUMER UNIT CONTINUED ITS DEBT RELIEF CLINICS IN CHELSEA AND ROXBURY, HELPING LOW INCOME CONSUMERS DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS OR FRAUDULENT DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.GBLS' HEALTH AND DISABILITY UNIT, CONTINUED ITS CHILDREN'S DISABILITY PROJECT TO ASSIST DISABLED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS GAIN CRITICAL BENEFITS. THE UNIT CONTINUED ITS MAJOR SYSTEMIC INITIATIVE, HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PROJECT TO OVERCOME BARRIERS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH CARE AT MAJOR BOSTON AREA MEDICAL FACILITIES. UNIT ATTORNEYS ALSO ASSISTED THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL ELDER CLIENTS TO SECURE OR RETAIN SOME OF THE MOST BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE. GBLS' WELFARE UNIT ADVOCATES ASSIST CLIENTS TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN CRITICAL BENEFITS TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES FROM DESTITUTION. UNIT ATTORNEYS ARE MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN A MAJOR CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR ITS FAILURE TO APPROPRIATELY ASSIST ITS DISABLED CLIENTS IN A NUMBER OF MAJOR AREAS WHICH RESULTED IN THE DENIAL OF LIFE SUSTAINING BENEFITS. GBLS' EMPLOYMENT UNIT ATTORNEYS CONTINUED REPRESENTING LOW-WAGE WORKERS ILLEGALLY OR INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED WAGES AND BENEFITS. AT THE REQUEST OF THE TAX COURT JUDGE, UNIT ATTORNEYS CONTINUED TO BE PRESENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF EACH TAX COURT SESSION IN BOSTON TO ASSIST PRO SE LITIGANTS IN THEIR NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRS ATTORNEYS OVER THE LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CREDIT. MOST LITIGANTS, MANY OF WHOM DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE, ARE UNREPRESENTED. THE UNIT ALSO CONTINUED ITS CORI/ REENTRY PROJECT TO ASSIST FORMER OFFENDERS IN OVERCOMING BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM SUCCESSFULLY REENTERING SOCIETY AND MAINTAINING SELF- SUFFICIENCY. ATTORNEYS IN THE FAMILY LAW UNIT FOCUSED ON ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SECURE INDEPENDENT LIVES FREE FROM ABUSE. AS PART OF THIS WORK, THE UNIT CONTINUED ITS FIRST IN THE NATION RELOCATION PROJECT THAT PROVIDES ADVICE ON LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND ADVICE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL THROUGH A PROGRAM RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL NETWORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ATTORNEYS IN THE HOUSING UNIT CONTINUED TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME TENANTS IN EFFORTS TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES TO OBTAIN OR RETAIN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR PRIORITY FOR PERMANENT HOUSING. THE UNIT ALSO REPRESENTED LOW-INCOME TENANT GROUPS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION OF AT-RISK AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. TO DATE, THE UNIT HAS HELPED PRESERVE THOUSANDS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS WHICH FACED BEING LOST TO MARKET RATE RENTS. STAFF ALSO CONTINUED ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO EXPAND HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND FUNDING MECHANISM TO BUILD MORE UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. GBLS' IMMIGRATION UNIT CONTINUED A PROJECT TO PROVIDE VICTIMS OF TORTURE SEEKING ASYLUM IN THE U.S. WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING AND MEDICAL CARE. THE UNIT ALSO CONTINUED ITS WOMEN REFUGEES PROJECT WHICH CONTINUES TO ASSIST IMMIGRANT WOMEN GAIN RESIDENT STATUS BASED ON GENDER CLAIMS, ITS BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN'S PROJECT THAT ASSISTS BATTERED IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN ESTABLISHING LEGAL U.S. STATUS INDEPENDENT OF THEIR ABUSERS, AND ITS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN WHO HAVE ENTERED THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS. THE ASIAN OUTREACH PROJECT CONTINUED ITS WORK AS A MODEL COMMUNITY LAWYERING PROGRAM, THAT IN ADDITION TO ASSISTING INDIVIDUAL LOW-INCOME ASIAN INDIVIDUALS WHO ENCOUNTER BARRIERS TO SECURING LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HELPS EMPOWER A DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITY. THE ASIAN BATTERED WOMEN'S PROJECT CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO ASIAN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

    Expenses $23,381,282 · Grants $475,194 · Revenue $303,957

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Anne Trinque

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Chelsea Loughran

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Suzanne Small

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Mark Ford

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Jeffrey Stoler

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Alan Jay Rom

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Alma Woodberry

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Amy Roy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Andrew Devoogd

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Andrew Troop

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Angela Gomes

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Arthur Telegen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • B Andrew Zelermyer

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Barbara Sullivan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Beverly Steed

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Caroline Donovan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Catherine Harris

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Christopher Mirick

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Corinne Kelton

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Daina Estime

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • David Kluft

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • David Phelan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • David Rozenson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Donald Vaughan

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

  • Dorothea Guild

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.3

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $34,763,230
    Expenses
    $27,133,405
    Contributions
    $29,742,444
    Grants paid
    $475,194
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $33,238,511
    Expenses
    $25,543,260
    Contributions
    $31,540,947
    Grants paid
    $557,033
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $27,529,771
    Expenses
    $23,320,202
    Contributions
    $26,172,037
    Grants paid
    $1,029,177

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $25,946,622
    Expenses
    $20,636,096
    Assets (EOY)
    $42,336,073

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $18,050,563
    Expenses
    $16,829,898
    Assets (EOY)
    $34,844,976

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $19,564,243
    Expenses
    $15,902,542
    Assets (EOY)
    $28,513,018

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,217,812
    Expenses
    $14,886,671
    Assets (EOY)
    $24,905,800

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $15,814,240
    Expenses
    $15,250,242
    Assets (EOY)
    $22,787,846

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $16,187,441
    Expenses
    $13,772,789
    Assets (EOY)
    $21,561,158

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,370,795
    Expenses
    $14,197,228
    Assets (EOY)
    $19,124,940

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $14,004,023
    Expenses
    $14,831,309
    Assets (EOY)
    $19,574,072

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $15,786,988
    Expenses
    $13,767,915
    Assets (EOY)
    $19,648,697

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $13,276,369
    Assets (EOY)
    $17,203,382

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 9 November 2026 and read 9 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.