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CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES INCORPORATED

EIN 41-1299151 MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Revenue 2025
$4,585,973
Expenses 2025
$4,317,270

Program services were 85.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1000
Street
111 NORTH 5TH STREET

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 · 2025

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 AND 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 WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ITS 21- COUNTY SERVICE AREA IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE SERVICE AREA STRETCHES FROM THE WESTERN BORDER WITH SOUTH DAKOTA TO THE EASTERN BORDER WITH WISCONSIN. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS OF LEGAL NEED ARE FAMILY LAW AND HOUSING ISSUES. CMLS EMPHASIZES REPRESENTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ORDERS FOR PROTECTION, DISSOLUTIONS OF MARRIAGE AND OTHER FAMILY LAW CASES. HOUSING CASES TYPICALLY INVOLVE PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOW COST, SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING. CMLS PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH STAFF ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES AND FULL REPRESENTATION FOR A BROAD RANGE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY LOW INCOME PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, CMLS HAS A VIBRANT VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM THAT SERVES 19 OF THE 21 COUNTIES IN THE CMLS SERVICE AREA. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, CMLS PARTNERS WITH THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE CHILD RELATED RELIEF IS SOUGHT. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS ARE PRESENT FOR FAMILY COURT'S DOMESTIC ABUSE CALENDAR THREE DAYS A WEEK. VICTIMS ARE OFFERED ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION. VICTIMS WHO ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL FAMILY LAW ISSUES FOLLOWING A DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE ARE FREQUENTLY ACCEPTED AS CLIENTS AND RECEIVE REPRESENTATION FROM CMLS. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS THROUGH SELF HELP CLINICS ESTABLISHED BY CMLS IN ANOKA, AND STEARNS COUNTY. THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM OFFERS LEGAL ADVICE CLINICS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAW LIBRARIES OF WRIGHT COUNTY, THE GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY IN SAINT CLOUD AND THE KANDIYOHI PUBLIC LIBRARY IN WILLMAR, MINNESOTA. PRO BONO ATTORNEYS ALSO PROVIDE ADVICE AT A MONTHLY CMLS CLINIC IN ISANTI COUNTY. CMLS PRO BONO ATTORNEYS PROVIDE MEDIATION SERVICES IN THE SAINT CLOUD AND WILLMAR AREAS THROUGH A VOLUNTEER FAMILY MEDIATION PROGRAM. THIS IS THE PRIMARY MEDIATION SERVICE IN THE CMLS SERVICE AND IS FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW DISPUTES. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS SERVE VETERANS THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA. REGULAR CLINICS ARE HELD IN ST. CLOUD AND MONTEVIDEO TO MEET THE LEGAL NEEDS OF RURAL VETERANS. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY CMLS PROVIDES FULL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE TO VETERANS ON LEGAL ISSUES SUCH AS CHILD SUPPORT, PARENTING TIME AND LANDLORD/TENANT CASES. CMLS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REGULARLY PRESENT COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDERSTAND LEGAL ISSUES AND PREVENT SOME LEGAL PROBLEMS FROM OCCURRING.

    Expenses $3,680,955

As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • DANIEL MORRIS

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $141,093
    From this org
    $136,022
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $5,071
    Hours/week
    40

  • PAT O'NEILL

    DIRECTOR OF

    Total calculated
    $183,014
    From this org
    $144,641
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,373
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,641
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $5,545
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,828
    Filer's total
    $183,014

  • DIANA LARSON

    SUPERVISING

    Total calculated
    $122,400
    From this org
    $118,957
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,443
    Hours/week
    40

  • ELIZABETH SAUER

    MANAGING ATT

    Total calculated
    $127,282
    From this org
    $114,240
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,042
    Hours/week
    40

  • JESSICA MELHEIM

    SENIOR ATTOR

    Total calculated
    $125,600
    From this org
    $103,064
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,536
    Hours/week
    40

  • JESSICA MASTELLAR

    DEPUTY DIREC

    Total calculated
    $108,881
    From this org
    $101,010
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,871
    Hours/week
    40

  • JONATHAN WOLF

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • TIFANNE WOLTER

    VICE PRESIDE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • MARK VAVRECK

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • OWAIS AHMED

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARNA ANDERSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • EMILY LAWRENCE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MEG LUGER-NIKOLAI

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • LYNDSEY OLSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BEN WAGNER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • AMIE ASCHEMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KRISTINE WITTMANN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SHEENA BEAMON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CATHY TESSMER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KIMBERLY THOLE-REINKE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TRAVIS ALLEN

    DIRECTOR END

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOSH FISHER

    DIRECTOR END

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CALONDRA CHANDLER

    DIRECTOR END

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • AUDREY ROSE SANTOS

    DIRECTOR BEG

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MADINA MOHAMED

    DIRECTOR BEG

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $4,585,973
    Expenses
    $4,317,270
    Contributions
    $4,499,489
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $4,601,752
    Expenses
    $4,360,848
    Contributions
    $4,543,808
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $3,954,685
    Expenses
    $3,709,924
    Contributions
    $3,934,005
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $3,055,783
    Expenses
    $2,931,443
    Contributions
    $3,038,023
    Grants paid
    $0

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
    $882,460
    Expenses
    $2,503,166
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,763,329

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,498,179
    Expenses
    $2,493,336
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,627,484

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,407,325
    Expenses
    $2,533,817
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,325,699

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,380,295
    Expenses
    $2,370,063
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,463,273

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,318,957
    Expenses
    $2,350,490
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,403,310

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,298,437
    Expenses
    $2,356,350
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,441,466

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,315,971
    Expenses
    $2,156,122
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,514,355

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,481,784
    Expenses
    $1,796,551
    Assets (EOY)
    $3,341,822

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $2,280,772
    Expenses
    $1,685,682
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,732,039

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.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

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 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.