2024-04-13T11:21:31-05:00 2023-06-30 310800053 CLARK SCHAEFER HACKETT & CO 4449 EASTON WAY SUITE 400 COLUMBUS OH 43219 990 2022-07-01 830571864 OHIO LEGAL HELP OHIO 6142856875 88 E BROAD STREET SUITE 720 COLUMBUS OH 43215 SUSAN A CHOE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6142856875 2024-04-12 1 SUSAN CHOE 999009999 0 NATOSHA CARR P01225377 6148852208 2024-04-12 2 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z SUSAN CHOE 88 E BROAD STREET SUITE 720 COLUMBUS OH 43215 878439 0 X HTTPS://WWW.OHIOLEGALHELP.ORG/ X 2018 OH OHIO LEGAL HELP LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TO IMPROVE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL OHIOANS. OUR WORK REMOVES BARRIERS TO THE LAW SO THAT ALL OHIOANS CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS, MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND CONNECT TO LEGAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 9 9 5 25 0 0 511045 877886 0 0 8 3 900 550 511953 878439 0 0 0 0 582947 590836 0 0 18045 110124 142963 693071 733799 -181118 144640 353534 608825 25281 32122 328253 576703 OHIO LEGAL HELP LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION TO IMPROVE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL OHIOANS. OUR WORK REMOVES BARRIERS TO THE LAW SO THAT ALL OHIOANS CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS, MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND CONNECT TO LEGAL AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. 0 0 642279 92 PERCENT OF CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS REPORTED BY LOW-INCOME AMERICANS RECEIVE INADEQUATE OR NO LEGAL HELP. PEOPLE WHO NEED LEGAL HELP THE MOST ARE OFTEN THE ONES WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO IT. IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE CALLED THE JUSTICE GAP, AND IT REFERS TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME AND VULNERABLE AMERICANS AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. OHIO LEGAL HELP WAS CREATED TO BRIDGE AND CLOSE THIS JUSTICE GAP IN OHIO. AS A STATEWIDE, SECURE MOBILE-FIRST HUB OF LEGAL INFORMATION, FORMS AND RESOURCES, OHIO LEGAL HELP BRIDGES THE JUSTICE GAP FOR UNDERSERVED, VULNERABLE AND LOW-INCOME OHIOANS BY CONNECTING THEM TO CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.(PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) 642279 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X X SUSAN A CHOE 6142856875 88 E BROAD STREET SUITE 720 COLUMBUS OH 43215 DAVID KUTIK PRESIDENT 2.00 X X 0 0 0 SALLY BLOOMFIELD VICE PRESIDENT 2.00 X X 0 0 0 JOHN PINNEY TREASURER/SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 CHERYL BROOKS SULLIVAN DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 JOHN HOLT DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 JOSE BAUTISTA DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 JUDGE CHRISTOPHER WAGNER DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 MARK NYLANDER DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 UKEME AWAKESSIEN JETER DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 BRANDI MARTIN DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 SUSAN CHOE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 151299 0 36070 151299 0 36070 1 0 1 0 CAPELLIC LLC 1398 E VERSAILLE CT BOISE ID 83706 WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE 138370 1 877886 877886 3 3 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 550 550 550 878439 0 0 553 187369 149878 28105 9386 316275 295879 15928 4468 11847 10485 1036 326 39562 35015 3459 1088 35783 31670 3129 984 11850 11850 5252 5252 6822 6140 682 2883 2450 294 139 70169 68895 1019 255 6971 6135 627 209 5080 4318 254 508 1794 1794 29620 29620 1833 1833 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 501 501 BANK SERVICE CHARGES 188 188 733799 642279 73475 18045 104964 124062 50000 125000 10135 14372 441006 95615 188435 345391 353534 608825 25281 32122 25281 32122 X 203609 502335 124644 74368 328253 576703 353534 608825 144640 103811 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 96812 534526 799867 511045 877886 2820136 96812 534526 799867 511045 877886 2820136 2820136 61 10 8 3 82 250 900 550 1700 2821918 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 441006 95615 345391 345391 1006247 127808 127808 878439 0 878439 757797 23998 23998 733799 0 733799 X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SUSAN CHOE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 151299 0 0 0 0 0 7565 0 28505 0 187369 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 3 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AT OHIO LEGAL HELP'S JUNE MEETING, THE FULL BOARD DISCUSSES THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS THEN SET BASED UPON HER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND REVIEW OF EXECUTIVE SALARIES FROM COMPARABLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN OHIO AND NATIONALLY. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A: OHIO LEGAL HELP EMPOWERS LOW-INCOME, UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE OHIOANS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS, MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TAKE ACTION. USING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, WE REMOVE BARRIERS TO JUSTICE AND HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. OHIO LEGAL HELP'S 2023 USER METRICS WERE AS FOLLOWS: TOTAL USERS ASSISTED: 772,082 TOTAL VISITS TO OHIOLEGALHELP.ORG: 1,001,632 TOTAL PAGES VISITED ON OHIOLEGALHELP.ORG: 2.2 MILLION TOTAL NUMBER OF REFERRALS: 271,594 O COURTS: 96,898 O LEGAL AIDS (INCLUDING PRO SENIORS): 23,670 O PRIVATE BAR ASSOCIATIONS (LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE): 11,379 O PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL: 8,518 O SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES: 59,788 USER PROFILE: O VISITING ON A MOBILE PHONE (70%) O AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE OF 3 PEOPLE O HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS LESS THAN 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (80%) O NEARLY HALF (48%) FALL INTO A SPECIAL DEMOGRAPHIC WHETHER THAT'S FACING HOMELESSNESS (53%), EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE OR ABUSE (34%), OVER THE AGE OF 60 (28%), OR A VETERAN (15%). OUR TOP PAGES VISITED IN 2023 WERE NAME CHANGE, PROTECTION ORDERS, DISSOLUTION, THE DIVORCE PROCESS IN OHIO, AND THE EVICTION TIMELINE. OUR TYPICAL USER VISITS THE WEBSITE ON THEIR MOBILE PHONE AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. THEY ARE OFTEN IN A HOUSEHOLD OF AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE, AND THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS LESS THAN 200 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. NEARLY HALF OF OUR USERS ARE FACING HOMELESSNESS, EXPERIENCING OR HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE OR ABUSE, OVER THE AGE OF 60 OR A VETERAN. THOUSANDS OF OUR USERS ALSO PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO US ON THEIR NEEDS AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR WEBSITE. BY ANALYZING THIS DATA AND LISTENING TO OUR USERS, WE KNOW THAT OHIOANS TURNED TO OHIO LEGAL HELP TO SOLVE CORE LEGAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR DAILY LIVES AND THAT THE DESIGN OF OUR WEBSITE AND THE INFORMATION IT CONTAINS MUST BE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND ACTION ORIENTED TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE LEGAL HELP. EVERY DAY, WE INCORPORATE CONCEPTS INVOLVED IN USER-CENTERED DESIGN INTO OUR WORK. THE HEART OF USER-CENTERED DESIGN IS EMPATHY AND PLACING YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE USER: LIKE A USER CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIVORCE PROCESS, OR A USER SCARED ABOUT FACING A DEBT COLLECTION LAWSUIT OR A USER NAVIGATING THE STRESS OF AN EVICTION. BY PLACING OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF OUR USERS, WE CAN TAILOR SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IMPACTING THEIR LIVES. ONE OF OUR USERS WROTE TO US AFTER FINDING THE DIVORCE INFORMATION THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND TOLD US, "YOUR WEBSITE IS WELL WRITTEN, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND, AND GIVES HONEST EXAMPLES OF WHAT TO ANTICIPATE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO ALL OF US CONFUSED BY LEGAL PROCEEDINGS." FEEDBACK LIKE THIS IS INVALUABLE TO US AS WE WORK EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND OUR WEBSITE. IN ADDITION TO USER FEEDBACK, OUR TEAM MET WITH COUNTLESS PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR USERS' NEEDS. OUR PARTNERS KNOW FIRSTHAND THE DIFFICULTIES MANY OHIOANS FACE WITH LEGAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR DAILY LIVES. THEY HELP GUIDE THE CONTENT AND TOOLS ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR OUR USERS. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE GUIDANCE OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND BOARD, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL AREAS OF NEED THAT WE COULD EXPAND ON OUR WEBSITE. FIRST, WE WORKED WITH THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO AND THE FRANKLIN COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND JUVENILE COURT TO CREATE INFORMATION AND AN ACTION PLAN FOR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS. KINSHIP CARE INVOLVES PLACING KIDS WITH GRANDPARENTS, EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS OR CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, WHICH CAN MINIMIZE TRAUMA, PROVIDE MORE STABILITY, AND FACILITATE CONNECTIONS WITH SIBLINGS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. NEXT, WE WORKED WITH A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER LAWYER EXPERTS AT BROADSTREET PARTNERS TO EXPAND OUR CONTENT ON EMPLOYMENT LAW. THIS INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE WILL HELP EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND UNDERSTAND OHIO LAW. LATER IN THE YEAR, THE WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SNAP BENEFITS (ALSO KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS) UNDERWENT CHANGES THAT AFFECTED MANY OHIOANS. WORKING WITH THE TEAM AT THE OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FOODBANKS, WE CREATED A SNAP WORK REQUIREMENTS SCREENING TOOL THAT HELPS OHIOANS UNDERSTAND WHICH REQUIREMENTS THEY MAY HAVE TO MEET OR IF THEY MEET AN EXEMPTION. NAVIGATING THIS SYSTEM CAN BE COMPLICATED, SO CREATING A USER-FRIENDLY TOOL LIKE THIS CAN PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT TIME. RECENTLY, WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF BLACK OHIOANS TO LEARN THEIR VIEWS ABOUT AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DEBT COLLECTION WAS THE LEGAL ISSUE MOST RESPONDENTS HAD DEALT WITH. YET WHILE 52% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH DEBT COLLECTIONS, ONLY 17% SOUGHT HELP FROM A LAWYER. WE CONSIDERED HOW THIS INFORMATION COULD BE USED TO HELP OHIOANS, WITH A FOCUS ON EMPOWERING BLACK OHIOANS TO ACCESS THE COURT SYSTEM AND AVOID THE DETRIMENTAL COLLATERAL IMPACTS OF INACTION INVOLVING DEBT COLLECTION LAWSUITS. THROUGH GENEROUS FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE COLUMBUS BAR FOUNDATION, WE WORKED WITH THE FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT SELF HELP CENTER THIS PAST YEAR TO ADD LEGAL INFORMATION, COURT FORMS AND TOOLS ON OUR WEBSITE TO HELP FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS DEAL WITH CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO DEBT COLLECTION. ONE OF OUR USERS WROTE TO US AFTER VISITING OUR PAGE ON FIGHTING A DEBT COLLECTION LAWSUIT AND TOLD US, "I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH MY DEBT COLLECTION NOW THAT IT IS WITH AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WAS SCARED BUT I FEEL BETTER NOW THAT I HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT AND KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN I RECEIVE THE LETTERS." IN KEEPING WITH OUR BELIEF IN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT TO OUR WEBSITE, WE ALSO ADDED CHATBOT TECHNOLOGY THANKS TO A GRANT FROM THE OHIO STATE BAR FOUNDATION. ONE OF THE PILLARS OF ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IS UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS INTERFACE WITH TECHNOLOGY IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND WANT REAL-TIME SUPPORT. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS OUR USERS' NEED FOR REAL-TIME SUPPORT WHILE USING OHIOLEGALHELP.ORG, OHIO LEGAL HELP NOW PROVIDES A CHATBOT POWERED BY AI, AND IN 2024 WILL HAVE AN INTERACTIVE LIVECHAT STAFFED BY LAW STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM OHIO'S LAW SCHOOLS DURING BUSINESS HOURS. WE HOPE THAT TOOLS LIKE THESE WILL REMOVE MANY OF THE BARRIERS TO JUSTICE THAT PEOPLE FACE WHEN THEY ARE NAVIGATING THE CIVIL LEGAL SYSTEM ON THEIR OWN. WE ENDED 2023 BY BEING NAMED THE RECIPIENT OF THE OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION AWARD FROM THE OHIO STATE BAR FOUNDATION. THE AWARD HONORS "THE OUTSTANDING ATTORNEYS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXEMPLIFIED AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO BUILDING A BETTER JUSTICE SYSTEM, BROADENING ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND ADVANCING OUR COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW." WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM ALL OF OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS OF OUR MISSION AND ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR USERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR WORK, LIKE OUR USER FROM BUTLER COUNTY WHO WAS BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR MOBILE HOME, WHO WROTE TO US TO SAY "[THE WEBSITE] ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STRESSFUL SITUATION AND HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT." LOOKING TO 2024, OHIO LEGAL HELP WILL CONTINUE TO BRIDGE THE JUSTICE GAP FOR UNDERSERVED, VULNERABLE AND LOW-INCOME OHIOANS BY CONNECTING THEM TO CRITICAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C OHIO LEGAL HELP'S CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND PROCEDURE EXTENDS TO ALL DIRECTORS AND TO OHIO LEGAL HELP'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. EACH DIRECTOR AND OFFICER MUST ANNUALLY COMPLETE AND SIGN THE "ANNUAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM". DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER AN ACTUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS ARE MADE BY THE BOARD THROUGH A MAJORITY VOTE WHICH EXCLUDES THE VOTE OF A POTENTIALLY CONFLICTED DIRECTOR(S). NO DIRECTOR OR OFFICER MAY PRESIDE OVER, VOTE ON, OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY DELIBERATION OF ANY MATTER IN WHICH SUCH DIRECTOR OR OFFICER HAS A CONFLICT OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AT OHIO LEGAL HELP'S JUNE MEETING, THE FULL BOARD DISCUSSES THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE SALARY AND COMPENSATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS THEN SET BASED UPON HER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW AND REVIEW OF EXECUTIVE SALARIES FROM COMPARABLE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN OHIO AND NATIONALLY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 OHIO LEGAL HELP'S IRS FORM 990 FILING AND AUDIT ARE AVAILABLE VIA ITS WEBSITE. FURTHER, ANY FILES REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC WILL GENERALLY BE MADE AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL FORMAT VIA ELECTRONIC DELIVERY. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.