Bay Area Legal Services Inc
Bay Area Legal Services (BALS) is a regional, non-profit public interest law firm providing the highest quality legal counsel by assisting individuals and non-profit groups with limited access to legal services, resolving the legal problems of our clients, and preserving the independence, hope, and dignity of those we serve.
Bay Area Legal Services Inc at a glance
In short: Bay Area Legal Services Inc gave $453K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $452,990
- +19.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $64,713
- +2.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $14,306,697
- -5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Bay Area Legal Services Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jala) ($120K). Together the top 7 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 35 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Bay Area Legal Services Inc gives
- Giving grew 47% 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $254K (2019) to $453K (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $453K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jala) Jacksonville, FL | Legal Services | $120,000 |
| Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) Tallahassee, FL | Legal Services | $120,000 |
| Community Law Program Inc St Petersburg, FL | Private attorney involvement (PAI): legal services, housing stability (non-legal technology assistance) | $63,120 |
| United Way of Broward County Ft Lauderdale, FL | Legal Services | $60,000 |
| Legal Aid of Manasota Inc Sarasota, FL | Legal Services | $43,319 |
| The Spring of Tampa Bay Tampa, FL | Victim Advocate Services | $24,840 |
| Sunrise of Pasco County Dade City, FL | Victim Advocate Services | $21,711 |
Ready to take the next step with Bay Area Legal Services Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,306,697 | $16,853,078 | $15,661,397 | $452,990 | 7 | $128,568 |
| 2023 | $15,170,278 | $15,028,719 | $14,297,543 | $378,440 | 6 | $78,011 |
| 2022 | $12,705,960 | $12,511,833 | $13,357,605 | $375,914 | 7 | $7,834 |
| 2021 | $8,281,184 | $14,637,942 | $12,717,074 | $307,481 | 7 | $1,265 |
| 2020 | $8,377,486 | $11,100,280 | $11,988,211 | $333,261 | 8 | $2,294 |
| 2019 | $6,119,312 | $10,210,344 | $10,845,008 | $254,356 | 9 | $12,292 |
About Bay Area Legal Services Inc
Based on IRS filings
Bay Area Legal Services Inc is a public charity, based in Tampa, FL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $14.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $453K. Net investment income was $129K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bay Area Legal Services Inc is led by Joan Boles, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 9 of 32 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joan Boles
President & CEO
Deputy Director → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$131K (2019) → $193K (2024)
Vivian Cortes Hodz Esq.
Chairperson
Secretary → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theresa Jill Lopresto
Hr Director
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$108K (2023) → $113K (2024)
Jeffrey Grabel
Litigation & Advocacy Director
New on the 2024 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$108K (2024)
Adriana Huapilla
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Williams
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Davis-Gryce
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Bedke Esq.
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Martinez
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Lahlou-Amine Esq.
Director
Secretary → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tori Simmons Esq.
Director
Chairperson-Elect → Chairperson, 2023
Chairperson → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valorie Hoppenworth
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yohance Pettis Esq.
Director
Chairperson-Elect → Chairperson, 2021
Chairperson → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca C. Bell Esq.
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victor Van Pelt
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroleen B. Brej Esq.
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Sarsfield Esq.
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Anderson Stanley Esq.
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Derr Esq.
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evan Malloy Esq.
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yolanda V. Lee-George
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Giesi Oller
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jp Lacasse
COO
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$121K (2019) → $145K (2024)
Lynn Abbott
CFO
On filings since 2019
37.5 hrs/week
$78K (2019) → $106K (2024)
Gale Pinkston
Team Leader
Managing Team Leader → Team Leader, 2023
On filings since 2021
37.5 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $119K (2024)
Martin Lawyer Esq.
Senior Staff Attorney
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $116K (2024)
Thomas Difiore
Team Leader
On filings since 2023
37.5 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $112K (2024)
Jena Hudson
Deputy Director
New on the 2024 filing
37.5 hrs/week
$127K (2024)
Andrew O'Malley Esq.
Chairman Emeritus
Chairperson-Elect → Chairperson, 2022
Chairperson → Chairman Emeritus, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Thaler Esq.
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Craig E. Rothburd Esq.
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Cox Esq.
Chairperson-Elect
Secretary → Chairperson-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: James W Hengelbrok Jr. (2019–2023) — Team Leader
- Former: Richard Woltmann (2019–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Clarence Martin Lawyer III (2019–2022) — Attorney
- Former: David T Knight Esq. (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary E Haberland (2019–2022) — Attorney-Team Leader
- Former: Yolanda V Lee (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Carol S Moody (2020–2022) — Attorney-Team Leader
- Former: Ella A Shenhav Esq. (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jeff Cox Esq. (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Brody (2021–2022) — Assistant Deputy Director
- Former: Gwynne Young Esq. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Leslie Schultz-Kin Esq. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sarah E Williams Esq. (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Morgan R Bentley Esq. (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Wendy DePaul CPA Esq. (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Dionne Blaesing Esq. (2019) — Director
- Former: Kathleen Kloiber Koch Esq. (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Lee Hoffman (2019) — Director
- Former: Sonia Gamache (2019) — Former CFO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $193K, to Joan Boles (President and CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Bay Area Legal Services Inc
How much does Bay Area Legal Services Inc give each year?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc gave $453K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $378K across 6 grants.
What is Bay Area Legal Services Inc's typical grant size?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc's median grant in 2024 was $60,000, and its average grant was $64,713, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Bay Area Legal Services Inc give grants?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc gives mostly in Florida: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Bay Area Legal Services Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Bay Area Legal Services Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Legal Services" (4 grants).
Who are Bay Area Legal Services Inc's largest grantees?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (Jala) ($120,000), Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) ($120,000) and Community Law Program Inc ($63,120), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bay Area Legal Services Inc?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.9M.
What is Bay Area Legal Services Inc's EIN?
Bay Area Legal Services Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1171886. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Florida
Florida Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bay Area Legal Services Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Florida Bar Foundation Inc
Maitland, FL
FFLA funds civil legal aid and access-to-justice work, including services for children, disaster relief, and improvements to court operations, primarily in Florida. In 2025, grants ranged from $100,000 to $7.5 million, with a median of about $1.7 million. New applicants must first be approved as eligible; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$523.3M
Grants
37
Total Given
$94.2M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Castor-Bell-Lewis Family Foundation Inc
Tampa, FL
The Tampa-based Castor-Bell-Lewis Family Foundation supports Florida organizations working in areas including health care, children and families, domestic violence prevention, workforce assistance, food access, public media, civil rights, and the arts. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$578K
Grants
17
Total Given
$29K
Area Agency on Aging for North Florida
Tallahassee, FL
Advantage Aging Solutions funds organizations providing services that help older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers, including meals, in-home care, caregiver support, health education, and elder abuse prevention. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,552 to $2,362,756, with a median of about $247,828, and went to organizations in its 14-county North Florida service area. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.4M
Grants
18
Total Given
$8.5M
Suncoast Credit Union
Tampa, FL
Suncoast Credit Union funds education, children’s needs, disaster relief, food assistance, environmental projects, and other community and credit-union initiatives. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,500 to $264,944, with a median of $20,817; most funding went to Florida, with some to Wisconsin. It offers a Florida-focused nonprofit opportunity, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$17.8B
Grants
21
Total Given
$1.3M
Wanda and James M Moran Jr Foundation
Deerfield Beach, FL
The Wanda and James M. Moran Jr. Foundation funds work including disaster response, healthcare, foster youth, conservation, food access, housing, and animal welfare, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Florida, followed by North Carolina and Washington, D.C. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25,000 to $800,000, with a median of $150,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.6M
Grants
25
Total Given
$5.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Florida
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Bay Area Legal Services Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Bay Area Legal Services Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?