irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $3.77MSEE SCHEDULE O
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Education Law Unit
Supports children from birth to age 21 in special education advocacy, IEP and 504 plan development, suspension hearings, and school enrollment issues; serves Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Steuben, and Wayne Counties.
Family Law Unit
Provides legal representation to low-income clients in family law matters including domestic violence protection, custody, child and spousal support, divorce, and paternity; serves Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne Counties.
Housing and Consumer Law Unit
Offers legal assistance in eviction defense, foreclosure prevention, bankruptcy, consumer credit, and security deposit disputes; serves Monroe and surrounding counties.
Internship and Volunteer Program
Engages law, social work, and undergraduate students to support legal services through research, client interviews, court representation (under supervision), and administrative support.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 2 activities
- Domestic violence legal advocacyProvides legal representation, counseling, and community education to victims of domestic violence through the Family Law Unit, including assistance with orders of protection, custody, and support.
- Legal representation for children in family and education mattersProvides legal representation to children from birth to age 21 in Monroe County and surrounding counties in cases involving abuse, custody, foster care, juvenile delinquency, PINS, and education-related issues such as special education advocacy and school suspensions.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Homeownership legal supportProvides legal representation to low- to moderate-income individuals purchasing homes in Monroe County, assisting with real estate transactions and related legal issues.
- Providing free civil legal services to low-income individualsOffers free or low-cost civil legal representation, advice, and information to financially eligible individuals in Greater Rochester and Monroe County, including assistance with family law, housing, consumer issues, and public benefits.
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Justice System Innovation & Inclusion Programs 1 activity
- Collaborative civil justice initiativesCollaborates with three other legal aid organizations through a shared center to advance civil justice for vulnerable populations in the region.
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Tenant Legal Advocacy & Support Services 1 activity
- Housing and foreclosure legal assistanceProvides direct legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction in Rochester City Court and offers foreclosure prevention services, loan modifications, and deeds in lieu of foreclosure across multiple counties including Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne.
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Immigration Legal Services 1 activity
- Immigration legal services for non-citizensProvides legal representation and advocacy to non-citizens and their families, including individuals fleeing persecution who are seeking asylum and other forms of protection in the United States.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Impact reporting and public accountabilityPublishes an annual impact report detailing legal services delivered, client outcomes, and organizational performance.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Organizational capacity building and staff developmentImplements mentorship programs for interns and new hires, leads initiatives to improve legal recruitment and staff retention, and has appointed leadership to drive organizational improvement and professional development.
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Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 1 activity
- Supervised legal and social work student participationEnables law students to represent clients in court under supervision, engages social work students in the Attorney for the Child Program, and provides opportunities for undergraduate and legal field–interested students to support attorneys through administrative and legal tasks.
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Child Welfare Professional Training & Capacity Building 1 activity
- Technical assistance to community providersOffers technical assistance to community service providers as part of a coordinated response to family law issues, strengthening community-wide support systems.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Bankruptcy and consumer law servicesOffers legal representation in bankruptcy and consumer credit matters to low-income residents of Monroe County, including cases involving improper debt collection and credit issues.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$13.67M
Contributions & grants$13.51M99%
Program service revenue$127K1%
Investment income$7K0%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$13.49M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$10.85M
Grants paid out$330K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$6.17M
Cash$227K
Investments$0
Liabilities$4.00M
Net assets$2.17M
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +29.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLA PALUMBO ESQ | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $248K |
| WILLIAM DAVIS | CFO & DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION | 40 | $204K |
| STEPHEN WEISBECK ESQ | DIRECTOR, JUVENILE JUSTICE | 40 | $199K |
| LAUREN CHAVERS ESQ | DIRECTOR, LEGAL RECRUITMEN | 40 | $175K |
| VIVIAN KOWALCYK ESQ | DIRECTOR | 40 | $128K |
| VIPAN LANG ESQ | PROGRAM DIRECTOR, EDUCATION LAW UNIT | 40 | $126K |
| MARK MUOIO ESQ | PROGRAM DIRECTOR, HOUSING UNIT | 40 | $124K |
board members · 14
- ANNE DYRING RILEY ESQ — DIRECTOR
- CAITLIN FORSYTH KIREKER ESQ — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS YUSKIW — BOARD CHAIR
- CRYSTAL CUSIMANO FIGUEROA — DIRECTOR
- DAVID SEELEY — DIRECTOR
- DENINE CARR ESQ — SECRETARY
- ELIZABETH O'BRIEN — DIRECTOR
- JUNE CASTELLANO ESQ — DIRECTOR
- KATHRYN L SMITH ESQ — DIRECTOR
- KITTY BRESSINGTON — IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
- LINDSAY RABITZ ESQ — VICE CHAR
- LINDSEY BOBER ESQ — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL R PARRINELLO CPA — TREASURER
- ROMAN A MISULA ESQ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- BambooHR Partner — Hosts internship and job applications for law, college, and paralegal students.
- Empire Justice Center Partner — Co-located legal aid partner organization at the Telesca Center for Justice
- Empire Justice Center Partner — Collaborates on providing foreclosure prevention services in multiple counties.
- Hiscock Legal Aid Partner — Refers clients to Hiscock Legal Aid for residents in specified counties outside the primary service area.
- JustCause Partner — Co-located legal aid partner organization at the Telesca Center for Justice
- JustCause Partner — Collaborates on providing foreclosure prevention services in multiple counties.
- LawNY Partner — Co-located legal aid partner organization at the Telesca Center for Justice through its Monroe County Legal Assistance Center division
- Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Partner — Refers clients to the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York for residents in specified counties outside the primary service area.
- Legal Assistance of Western New York Partner — Collaborates on providing foreclosure prevention services in multiple counties.
- New York State Office of Court Administration Government — Primary funder of the Attorney for the Child Unit, providing financial support for legal services.
- United Way Funder — Accepts donations through United Way's Donor Designated Fund (Agency #239).
- United Way Network — Charter member of the Community Chest, which later became the United Way.
- Willow Domestic Violence Center Partner — Collaborates to provide help, support, and information to individuals experiencing domestic abuse.
- school districts Partner — Collaborates with school districts to support improvements in educational quality and student outcomes
- various human service agencies Partner — Established collaborations to provide a coordinated community response to clients.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Child-Centered Legal Advocacymethodology: child-centered_legal_advocacyBy centering children's expressed wishes and feelings in legal representation, we produce more authentic and effective advocacy in family court, because legal outcomes are more likely to reflect the child's best interests when their voice is primary.
- Client-Centered Advocacy for Survivors of Abusemethodology: client-centered_advocacy_for_survivorsBy using compassionate, client-centered approaches for survivors of domestic violence and elder abuse—especially those with disabilities or limited English proficiency—we improve access to justice, because trust-based advocacy reduces systemic barriers and increases engagement.
- Collaborative Legal Services Hub for Collective Impactmethodology: collaborative-legal-services-hubBy uniting multiple legal aid organizations in a shared physical and operational hub, we increase the reach and effectiveness of civil legal services, because coordinated infrastructure reduces duplication and strengthens systemic advocacy.
- Integrated Housing and Economic Security as Foundational Stabilitymethodology: integrated_housing_and_economic_securityBy providing legal services that protect both stable housing and financial security, we enable clients to achieve personal freedom and long-term stability, because these conditions are prerequisites for meaningful participation in society and access to justice.
- Legal Education as Preventive Justicemethodology: legal-education-outreachBy increasing public understanding of legal rights and processes through education and outreach, we reduce preventable legal crises and increase access to justice, because informed individuals are more likely to act early and assert their rights effectively.