Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
LASCLEV does not meet this Standard because the 2019 annual report did not include:
- Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s 2019 audited financial statements including education and economic stability, housing, and safety and health.
- Total fundraising expenses.
- Total administrative expenses.
Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (LASCLEV) reports that it provides legal services at no cost to low-income clients in the service area of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties in Ohio and takes cases that impact basic needs such as health, shelter, economics, education, and access to justice. The areas of law that the organization focuses on include consumer rights, domestic violence, education, employment, family law, housing, foreclosure, immigration, public benefits, utilities, and tax law. The organization states that its 51 attorneys and more than 3,500 pro-bono attorneys also work to ensure that the justice system and government entities are accountable and accessible to the general public. In 2019, LASCLEV reports that it handled 7,297 cases that impacted 16,710 individuals. In addition, the organization states that it held 164 outreach events and educational presentations for community groups and held 106 neighborhood clinics.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland's program expenses were:
Secure decent and affordable housing |
$3,992,229 |
Improve safety and health |
$3,966,879 |
Promote education and economic stability |
$3,401,933 |
Total Program Expenses: |
$10,118,533 |
-
Chief Executive
Colleen M. Cotter, Esquire, Executive Director
-
Compensation*
$214,002
-
Chair of the Board
Rita Maimbourg Esquire
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP
-
Board Size
23
-
Paid Staff Size
108
*2019 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Membership appeals, Planned giving arrangements, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Radio, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
Fundraising costs were 5% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $14,194,740 are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Source of Funds |
Ohio Access to Justice Foundation |
$3,664,383 |
Foundations |
$3,371,814 |
Legal Services Corporation grants |
$2,504,027 |
In-kind contributions |
$1,477,948 |
Contributions |
$1,363,549 |
Investment income, net |
$768,254 |
Government grants and contracts |
$698,499 |
Partner agencies |
$487,338 |
United Way |
$446,786 |
Legal Services Corporation other awards |
$185,396 |
Other income |
$17,798 |
Cy Pres funds |
$15,000 |
Publication income |
$5,490 |
Litigation income |
$5,165 |
Total Income |
$15,011,447 |
- Programs: 84%
- Administrative: 10%
- Fundraising: 6%
Total Income |
$15,011,447 |
Program expenses |
$10,118,533 |
Fundraising expenses |
$767,571 |
Administrative expenses |
$1,168,610 |
Other expenses |
$0 |
Total expenses: |
$12,054,714 |
Income in Excess of Expenses |
$2,956,733 |
Beginning Net Assets |
$8,886,801 |
Other Changes In Net Assets |
$-30,246 |
Ending Net Assets |
$11,813,288 |
Total Liabilities |
$2,028,994 |
Total Assets |
$13,842,282 |
Note 1: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to a provision for uncollectable pledges and adjustment in present value discount.
Note 2: According to LASCLEV's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the year ended December 31, 2019, the organization received $1,477,948 in contributed goods and services