Nonprofit · EIN 41-1316151
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC
Tax-exempt · SAINT PAUL, MN 55104
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $19,792,136 | $18,273,321 | $1,518,815 | $10,632,099 | $4,777,722 | $5,854,377 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $14,362,640 | $14,322,935 | $39,705 | $9,696,967 | $5,481,532 | $4,215,435 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $19,412,345
- of which government grants
- $18,536,420
- Program service revenue
- $199,442
- Investment income
- $203,243
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$22,894
- Other revenue
- -$22,894
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $346,949
- Other salaries and wages
- $11,291,074
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $15,617,670
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $149,549
- Accounting fees
- $131,517
- Occupancy
- $741,639
- Travel
- $99,173
- Depreciation
- $53,409
- Program services (functional)
- $14,884,346
- Management and general (functional)
- $2,821,451
- Fundraising (functional)
- $567,524
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $9,696,967
- Total assets, end of year
- $10,632,099
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,777,722
- Net assets, end of year
- $5,854,377
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $94,238
- Publicly traded securities
- $3,408,093
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $5,753,484
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $100,893
- Gross receipts
- $19,836,814
- Employees
- 146
- Volunteers
- 78
- Year formed
- 1977
- State of legal domicile
- MN
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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JESSIE R NICHOLSON | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $205,052 | $6,519 |
| LAURA S MELNICK | LEAD ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $176,677 | $15,316 |
| VALERIE K SNYDER | LEAD ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $172,523 | $16,025 |
| LAURA K JELINEK | SENIOR LEADERSHIP ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $167,065 | $20,207 |
| MARGARET ERICKSON | SUPERVISING ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $170,808 | $10,908 |
| LISA R HOLLINGSWORTH | DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION & ADVOCACY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $153,573 | $14,606 |
| VANNAM KHEN | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer | 45 | $124,871 | $10,506 |
| BRETT W OLANDER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENDA DEVLIN | 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRANCE CS NEWBY | 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS B HATCH | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW M BAESE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ABDI SABRIE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN IDEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH WEBSTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRETCHEN CEPEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JAN MARIE LUNGREN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PAM JAMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SAMANTHA SUTTON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TASHONDA WILLIAMSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOSH MURPHY | DIRECTOR (RESIGNED 12/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JIM SUK | DIRECTOR (RESIGNED 12/24) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JESSIE R NICHOLSON | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $174,551 | $5,653 |
| THOMAS KRAUSE | ASST DIR OF LITIGATION & ADVOCACY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $164,078 | $14,032 |
| LAURA S MELNICK | LEAD ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $145,420 | $14,121 |
| VALERIE K SNYDER | LEAD ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $143,139 | $13,724 |
| MARGARET ERICKSON | SUPERVISING ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $140,546 | $13,306 |
| LAURA K JELINEK | SENIOR LEADERSHIP ATTORNEY Highest-paid employee | 45 | $135,117 | $17,189 |
| VANNAM KHEN | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer | 45 | $104,517 | $12,270 |
| ANDREW M BAESE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRENDA DEVLIN | 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| BRETT W OLANDER | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRANCE CS NEWBY | 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS B HATCH | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| ABDI SABRIE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BRETT STRAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH WEBSTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GRETCHEN CEPEK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAN MARIE LUNGREN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM SUK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOSHUA MURPHY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAM JAMES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SAMANTHA SUTTAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TASHONDA WILLIAMSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 450 SYNDICATE ST N STE 260, SAINT PAUL, MN 55104-4199
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- LARA OTSUKA, 450 NORTH SYNDICATE STREET 285, ST PAUL, MN 55104
- Signed the 990
- BRETT W OLANDER, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (651) 228-9823
- Website
- WWW.SMRLS.ORG
- Return prepared by
- BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP
Mission
TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS AND ELIGIBLE CLIENT GROUPS IN CIVIL MATTERS, IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER WHICH ENABLES CLIENTS TO: 1.) ENFORCE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, 2.) OBTAIN EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND FORUMS WHICH CONSTITUTE OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, 3.) MAINTAIN FREEDOM FROM HUNGER, HOMELESSNESS, SICKNESS AND ABUSE, AND 4.) EMPOWER PERSONS AND ASSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THUS HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES AND BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-RELIANT, TO THE EXTENT THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.
Program accomplishments
- SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (SMRLS OR THE ORGANIZATION) WAS FORMED IN 1909 IN ST. PAUL AS A BRANCH OF ASSOCIATED CHARITIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. IN 1977, SMRLS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO 32 ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE STATE AND TO MIGRANT FARM WORKERS IN MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA. IN 2016, THE DEFINITION OF CLIENTS ELIGIBLE TO BE SERVED THROUGH THE MIGRANT PROGRAM WAS BROADENED TO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN RENAMED.A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SMRLS' OPERATIONS IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC), A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1974 TO ASSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW FOR ALL AMERICANS. LSC IS HEADED BY A BIPARTISAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONFIRMED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE.DURING 2024, SMRLS SERVED 11,939 CLIENTS (33,722 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS) WITH MORE THAN 13,610 LEGAL MATTERS. IN ADDITION, APPROXIMATELY 6,630 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS BENEFIT FROM SMRLS' PREVENTATIVE LAW AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORK AND APPROXIMATELY 51,061 PEOPLE ACCESSED THE WEBSITE.SMRLS EMPLOYS 68 ATTORNEYS AND 57 NON-ATTORNEY STAFF. SMRLS CURRENTLY HAS OFFICES IN ST. PAUL, MANKATO, ROCHESTER, WINONA, ALBERT LEA, WORTHINGTON AND MOORHEAD, AS WELL AS WITHIN SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS AT A HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY CLINICS. SMRLS HAS GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS TRADITION OF SOUND MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. SMRLS' NATIONALLY RESPECTED COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS, AND ITS DIVERSITY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORK, HAVE RESULTED IN AN EFFECTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED AND COLLABORATIVE LAW PRACTICE.IN JUNE 2024, THE SMRLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A PLAN FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF SMRLS' STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, 2024+ BEYOND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL FOCUS ON 5 KEY POINTS. TO IMPROVE SMRLS' ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEW NEEDS OF THE CLIENT POPULATION IN OUR SERVICES AREA. TO MAKE EFFORT AND KEEP SMRLS A DIVERSE, ADEPT, AND RESPONSIVE LAW FIRM TO FOCUS LEGAL WORK ON RACIAL JUSTICE. TO BE VIEWED AS THE STATEWIDE LEADER IN LEGAL AID. TO CREATE A CULTURAL VIBRANCY IN SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND PERSONAL WELLNESS FOR ITS STAFF. TO RETAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY ON EXISTING FUNDING WHILE ACTIVELY CULTIVATING NEW FUNDING SOURCES.SMRLS HAS STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATEWIDE LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS, LAWYERS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND CLIENT GROUPS. THROUGH A SERIES OF INNOVATIVE URBAN AND RURAL VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAMS, 80 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 1,543 HOURS OF CASE REPRESENTATION TIME TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS IN 2024.Expenses $14,884,346 · revenue $20,481,809
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 | Not 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
- 41-1316151
- 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
- 1978
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I800)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $10,632,099
- Income (IRS master file)
- $19,836,814
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $19,792,136 | $18,273,321 | $10,632,099 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $14,362,640 | $14,322,935 | $9,696,967 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $11,788,555 | $12,539,164 | $8,201,896 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 41-1316151).
Questions about SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC
- What is the EIN of SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC is 41-1316151.
- Is SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1978.
- Are donations to SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC 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 SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names LARA OTSUKA.
- Who are the officers and directors of SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 22 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $205,052 (JESSIE R NICHOLSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $19,792,136, expenses of $18,273,321 and total assets of $10,632,099 at year end.
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