Nonprofit · EIN 37-1492605
LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
Tax-exempt · GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $315,911 | $291,298 | $24,613 | $1,653,458 | $57,796 | $1,595,662 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $406,111 | $312,138 | $93,973 | $1,544,508 | $67,824 | $1,476,684 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $246,830 | $285,623 | -$38,793 | $1,332,427 | $70,557 | $1,261,870 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $188,655
- of which government grants
- $123,800
- Program service revenue
- $57,515
- Investment income
- $69,741
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $32,528
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $100,940
- Other salaries and wages
- $118,261
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $236,203
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $5,050
- Depreciation
- $84
- Program services (functional)
- $221,304
- Management and general (functional)
- $53,371
- Fundraising (functional)
- $16,623
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,544,508
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,653,458
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $57,796
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,595,662
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,448,481
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,560,662
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $35,000
- Gross receipts
- $355,148
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 51
- Year formed
- 2004
- State of legal domicile
- MI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH J HUGHES | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $98,000 | $2,940 |
| JEFFREY G MUTH | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACI SCHENKEL | VICE PRESIDE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG PAULL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TJ ACKERT | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM HOVE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEFFANY J DUNKER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN ELVE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIANNA GOHLKE-CLAUSEN | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICHOLAS AYOUB | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAMELA HOEKWATER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM KELLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BOWEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHLOE CUNNINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEIDI HUNT | TRUSTEE (JAN Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
5 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUSTIN A ALLEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ALIDA J BRYANT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JASON HALL | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANNIE L DREISBACH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KIRSTEN L HOLZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH J HUGHES | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $97,641 | $2,929 |
| BILL WITTLAND | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SIMONE THIESSEN | VICE PRESIDE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACI SCHENKEL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG PAULL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM HOVE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TJ ACKERT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEFFANY J DUNKER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN A MOLDE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIANNA GOHLKE-CLAUSEN | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICHOLAS AYOUB | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAMELA HOEKWATER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM KELLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFERY G MUTH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BOWEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHLOE CUNNINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIRSTEN HOLZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEIDI HUNT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 21 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH J HUGHES | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 40 | $93,175 | $3,152 |
| BILL WITTLAND | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SIMONE THIESSEN | VICE PRESIDE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACI SCHENKEL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CRAIG PAULL | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM HOVE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JILL B FERRIS | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HILARY CURTIS ARTHUR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TJ ACKERT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TANIA A DEVRIES | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEFFANY J DUNKER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN A MOLDE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIANNA GOHLKE-CLAUSEN | EX OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NICHOLAS AYOUB | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAMELA HOEKWATER | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WILLIAM KELLY | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFFERY G MUTH | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN BOWEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHLOE CUNNINGHAM | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIRSTEN HOLZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HEIDI HUNT | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 180 OTTAWA AVE NW, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503-2703
- In care of
- % DEBORAH J HUGHES
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- DEBORAH J HUGHES, 180 OTTAWA AVE NW SUITE 5100, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503
- Signed the 990
- DEBORAH J HUGHES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (616) 632-6007
- Return prepared by
- MONROE SWEERIS & TROMP PC
Mission
A LEGAL SELF HELP CENTER, THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER WORKS TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER, AND EQUIP THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FACE AND RESOLVE LEGAL CHALLENGES, TO ASSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND TO THEREBY ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, BY PROVIDING LEGAL INFORMATION, FORMS, RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO THE MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY UNABLE TO ACCESS LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
Program accomplishments
- THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER IS A SINGLE SITE RESOURCE WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO SEEK BASIC LEGAL HELP TO MANAGE THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THEY CANNOT ACCESS LEGAL REPRESENTATION. IN A WARM AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, HIGHLY SKILLED LAC STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS EDUCATE, EMPOWER, AND EQUIP PEOPLE TO BE THEIR OWN BEST ADVOCATE WHEN USING THE COURT OR SOLVING LEGAL CHALLENGES. EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE LAC RECEIVES DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND, WHEN NEEDED, A CONNECTION TO LEGAL, COMMUNITY, OR OTHER RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT WILL ASSURE THEM A MEANINGFUL PATH FORWARD.Expenses $221,304 · revenue $57,515
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 37-1492605
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2005
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I80)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,653,458
- Income (IRS master file)
- $355,148
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $315,911 | $291,298 | $1,653,458 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $406,111 | $312,138 | $1,544,508 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $246,830 | $285,623 | $1,332,427 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $279,788 | $274,136 | $1,226,768 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 37-1492605).
Questions about LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
- What is the EIN of LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER is 37-1492605.
- Is LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2005.
- Are donations to LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names DEBORAH J HUGHES.
- Who are the officers and directors of LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 20 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $98,000 (DEBORAH J HUGHES, EXECUTIVE DI).
- How much revenue does LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $315,911, expenses of $291,298 and total assets of $1,653,458 at year end.
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