Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, inc. (ABLE) is a non-profit law firm that provides high quality legal assistance in civil matters to help eligible low-income individuals and groups in western Ohio achieve self-reliance, and equal justice and economic opportunity.
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc at a glance
In short: Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc gave $1.9M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $1.9M), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,898,662
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,898,662
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,898,662
- Total assets
- $17,391,584
- +12.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Legal Aid of Western Ohio Inc ($1.9M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc gives
- Giving grew 270% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $513K (2021) to $1.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid of Western Ohio Inc Toledo, OH | Support | $1,898,662 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $17,391,584 | $14,264,636 | $11,732,867 | $1,898,662 | 1 | $-216,056 |
| 2023 | $15,465,415 | $12,969,979 | $10,498,491 | $1,838,654 | 1 | $242,012 |
| 2022 | $12,633,893 | $10,893,888 | $8,288,083 | $937,300 | 1 | $32,678 |
| 2021 | $10,015,731 | $8,514,560 | $6,909,424 | $512,774 | 1 | $12,153 |
| 2020 | $7,297,240 | $8,442,497 | $7,918,395 | $674,482 | 1 | $21,599 |
About Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc
Based on IRS filings
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc is a public charity, based in Toledo, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $17.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.9M.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc is led by Makiedah Messam, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 9 of 34 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Makiedah Messam
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
42 hrs/week
$135K (2024)
Cassandra Andres
President
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikoleta I. Cook
Director of Finance
Chief Financial Officer → Director of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$96K (2020) → $128K (2024)
Catherine Bitwayiki
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eve Mitro
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn A. Watson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Posey
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mechelle Zarou
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Lucente Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Twila R. Ferguson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carasusana Cara Wall
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Jennings
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ethel Washington-Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Lavelle
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Davis
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea De La Roca
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Delp
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clayton Crates
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather L. Allred
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Stahler
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John F. Hall
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kari L. White
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saundra Holmes
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather L. Hall
Deputy Director
Advocacy Director → Interim Executive Director, 2023
Interim Executive Director → Deputy Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
48 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $147K (2024)
Janet E. Hales
Former Executive Director
Executive Director → Outgoing Executive Director, 2023
Outgoing Executive Director → Former Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$126K (2020) → $97K (2024)
Rebecca Steinhauser
Managing Attorney
On filings since 2021
44 hrs/week
$107K (2021) → $116K (2024)
Jesus Salas
Managing Attorney
Senior Attorney → Managing Attorney, 2024
On filings since 2022
38 hrs/week
$111K (2022) → $133K (2024)
Mark Heller
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2022
41 hrs/week
$110K (2022) → $120K (2024)
Matthew N. Currie
Managing Attorney
On filings since 2022
36 hrs/week
$108K (2022) → $119K (2024)
Kathleen C. Kersh
Managing Attorney
New on the 2024 filing
42 hrs/week
$108K (2024)
Brandon E. Dobyns
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan D. Turner
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Tucker
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khadijah H. Ali
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Barry F. Luse (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Cassandra Andres Rice (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Leslie Murray (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Pamela Sullivan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Rebecca Fahim (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Thomas J. Schaffer (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Victor H. Perez (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Denise Ford Saxon (2023) — Director of Human Resources
- Former: Ethel Washington Harris (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jonathan Hollingsworth (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Molly Williams (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Robert M. Curry (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Sheena Barnes (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Shunta Weatherspoon (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Salem (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Denise M. Stollings (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lenora G. Barry (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Natasha Newberry (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Sarah K. Skow (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Carmen Ortega (2021) — Vice President
- Former: Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Carmen Beltran (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Colette M. Harrison (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger Ret (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $147K, to Heather L Hall (Deputy Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc
How much does Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc give each year?
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc gave $1.9M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 1 grant.
How large is Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc?
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc reported $17.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.3M.
Where does Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc operate?
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc has awarded grants in Ohio.
What is Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc's EIN?
Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7376131. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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