irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $396KHOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED 516 FORECLOSURE MATTERS, DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS VIOLATIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING BROOKLYN HOMEOWNERS, BENEFITING NEARLY 1,400 PEOPLE. ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN'S SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS ENCOMPASS A RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION, ASSISTANCE WITH DEED THEFT AND OTHER SCAMS, AND REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THAT CONCERN DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS (DOB) VIOLATIONS. AJB STAFFS SEVERAL COURT-BASED PROGRAMS FOR HOMEOWNERS APPEARING IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT AND OFFERS REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECLOSURE PROCESS, INCLUDING LOAN MODIFICATIONS, FORECLOSURE MOTION PRACTICE, GOOD FAITH HEARINGS, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE LITIGATION, AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT IN FORECLOSURE MATTERS, AJB ASSISTS HOMEOWNERS FACING OTHER CONCERNS SUCH AS TITLE ISSUES, DEED SCAMS, AND OTHER FORMS OF PROPERTY FRAUD.
- #2 $377KFAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED 431 FAMILY LAW CASES, BENEFITING OVER 900 PEOPLE.IN KINGS COUNTY FAMILY COURT, AJB PROVIDES ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES, AND REPRESENTATION IN CUSTODY AND VISITATION MATTERS AS WELL AS CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT CASES. FURTHER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW FIRMS, AJB MAINTAINS A PRO SE UNCONTESTED DIVORCE PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS FILE AN UNCONTESTED DIVORCE IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT. UNIQUE AMONG MANY LEGAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AJB ALSO OFFERS ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION IN ARTICLE 17A GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS IN SURROGATE'S COURT, WHICH DESIGNATE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND TO ACT ON BEHALF OF A PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 18 WHO HAS INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES - EMPLOYING MINIMALLY RESTRICTIVE OPTIONS TO GIVE MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND PEACE OF MIND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Consumer Debt & Bankruptcy Program
Provides legal help with consumer debt issues and Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions through courthouse clinics and limited representation.
Family Stabilization Program
Offers legal representation in custody, visitation, child and spousal support, and uncontested divorce cases; also provides assistance with Article 17A guardianships for adults with developmental disabilities.
Homeowner Assistance Program
Provides foreclosure intervention and prevention, representation in Department of Buildings violations, and defense against deed theft and property fraud for Brooklyn homeowners.
Senior Assistance Program
Assists older adults with advance directives, healthcare proxies, power of attorney, and protection from mortgage and deed scams.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 2 activities
- Provision of free civil legal services to low-income Brooklyn residentsProvides high-quality, pro bono legal advice and representation in areas including family law, housing foreclosure, consumer debt, personal finances, aging, and freedom of movement to individuals who cannot afford legal services. In 2024, handled 431 family law cases benefiting over 900 people and 516 foreclosure/DOH violation cases benefiting nearly 1,400 homeowners.
- Training and supervision of legal volunteers and pro bono attorneysTrains, mentors, and supervises volunteers, including pro bono attorneys from corporate partners, to expand capacity for legal service delivery. In one year, trained and supervised 264 volunteers who contributed 4,223 hours of service.
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Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
- Advocacy before government bodiesEngages in policy advocacy by providing testimony to municipal committees, such as the NYC Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection, to influence laws and policies affecting access to justice.
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Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
- Fundraising to support legal servicesSecures sustained funding through initiatives like the Monthly Giving Collective and Corporate Partnership Giving Program, and participates in public fundraising events such as the TD Five Boro Bike Tour to expand access to legal services for economically insecure Brooklyn residents.
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Justice System Innovation & Inclusion Programs 1 activity
- Legal education and community outreach programsConducts community education initiatives and outreach to support individuals and address systemic barriers to justice in Brooklyn, including workshops and materials on legal rights and access to services.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.31M
Contributions & grants$2.18M95%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$125K5%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$2.45M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$1.82M
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.59M
Cash$418K
Investments$378K
Liabilities$187K
Net assets$1.41M
Liquid reserves3.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEIDI LEE HENDERSON | PRESIDENT & CEO (TO 12/2024) | 40 | $202K |
| MELISSA A STARR | INT. PRESIDENT & CEO (AS OF 12/2024) | 40 | $186K |
| SIDNEY CHERUBIN | DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES | 40 | $155K |
| TERESA DALY | DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL GIVING | 40 | $135K |
| ANNE O'GRADY | PRO BONO DIRECTOR | 40 | $126K |
| PETER SHELTON WHITE | SUPERVISING ATTORNEY | 40 | $125K |
board members · 19
- ADAM B GILBERT — BOARD MEMBER
- ADAM SHEPHERD — BOARD MEMBER
- AKSHAY DHIMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ALEXANDER KAPLAN — BOARD MEMBER
- BRIAN FYRD — BOARD MEMBER
- CAROLINE CONWAY — BOARD MEMBER
- COLIN KELLY — BOARD MEMBER
- DANIEL ANGEL — BOARD MEMBER
- ELENA BONIFACIO — BOARD MEMBER
- JACK ALDRICH — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFFREY GEWIRTZ — BOARD MEMBER
- LAUREN ZIMMERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- LEE POPKIN — BOARD MEMBER
- LISA BRAUN — TREASURER
- LYDIA KEANEY REYNOLDS — BOARD MEMBER
- LYNN E JUDELL — BOARD CHAIR
- MARK LANDE — BOARD MEMBER
- MELANIE KOTLER — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL WATSON — SECRETARY
relationships · 22
Who they work with
- BSE Global Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board Co-Chair Wendy Li
- Bike New York Partner — Charity partner for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour.
- Boies Schiller Flexner LLP Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board member Caleb Mims
- BrightSpire Capital Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board Secretary Jacob Godshall
- Brooklyn Bar Association Partner — Originally founded as the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, indicating an ongoing or historical institutional relationship.
- Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board member Martese Johnson
- Center on Race, Inequality and the Law at NYU Law Partner — Co-hosted an event on deed fraud and racial injustice at Weeksville Heritage Center.
- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board member Aaron Kahen
- Gibson Dunn Funder — Exclusive Justice Champion Sponsor for Team AJB's participation in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour.
- Keren Goldshlager Partner — Member of Access Justice Brooklyn’s Young Professionals Board and Monthly Giving Collective participant.
- Kings County Supreme Court Partner — Partnership through court-based legal programs for homeowners facing foreclosure.
- Law firms Partner — Partners with law firms to maintain a pro se uncontested divorce program in Kings County Supreme Court.
- LinkedIn Network — Connects with professional community through LinkedIn presence
- Nonprofit NY Network — Member of Nonprofit NY.
- Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) Partner — Collaborates to provide legal assistance to homeowners facing NYC Department of Buildings violations.
- PwC Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board member Richa Jain
- Szenok Partner — Member of Access Justice Brooklyn’s Corporate Partnership Giving Program at the Champion level.
- Weeksville Heritage Center Partner — Hosted a joint event with Access Justice Brooklyn and NYU Law on threats to Black homeownership.
- Winston & Taylor LLP Partner — Employer of Young Professionals Board Co-Chair Michelle D. Tuma
- compassionate pro bono attorneys Partner — Collaborates with pro bono attorneys to provide civil legal services.
- cross industry professionals Partner — Engages professionals from outside the legal field to support service delivery and expand capacity.
- pro bono attorneys Partner — Collaborates with pro bono attorneys to provide civil legal services.
strategies · 3
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.
- Pro Bono Partnership Modelmethodology: pro_bono_partnership_modelBy partnering with pro bono attorneys and cross-industry professionals, we expand access to civil legal services for low-income and marginalized communities because leveraging external expertise increases service capacity and allows rapid adaptation to emerging legal needs.
- Staff-Volunteer Collective Modelmethodology: staff_volunteer_collaborationBy integrating dedicated staff with trained volunteers, we increase access to justice because combining professional oversight with expanded human resources allows for scalable, community-embedded service delivery that promotes equity.
- Systemic Legal Advocacy for Equitymethodology: systemic_change_through_legal_advocacyBy providing full-spectrum legal representation and challenging systemic barriers, we produce more equitable legal outcomes because addressing root structural inequities—such as in housing or guardianship—enables meaningful, lasting change in clients' lives.