Neighborhood Legal Services Inc
NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS) SEEKS EQUITABLE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE, REPRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO, DUE TO FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY, DISABILITY, DISCRIMINATION, OR ABUSE, REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION OF THEIR CIVIL LEGAL RIGHTS.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.3M
+20.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
+37.8% YoY
Grant Count
14
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$243K
+37.8% YoY
About Neighborhood Legal Services Inc
Based on IRS filings
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc is a nonprofit organization, based in BUFFALO, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $3.4M. Net investment income was $15K.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,333,371 | $6,889,955 | $6,308,199 |
| Revenue | $16,563,985 | $13,145,334 | $9,297,172 |
| Expenses | $15,626,861 | $12,874,264 | $9,260,808 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $15,298 | $12,496 | $195 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project ($629,636), Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Inc ($625,816), Center for Elder Law and Justice Inc ($625,471).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VIA VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADVANCEMENT BUFFALO, NY | PROVISION OF 24/7 PHONE SERVICE AND REFERRALS FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME | $86,887 |
| VIA EVALUATION BUFFALO, NY | EVALUATION OF VOCA PROGRAM | $10,830 |
| EVERGREEN HEALTH SERVICES BUFFALO, NY | ONSITE LEGAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS. | $19,106 |
| UB CENTER FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH - ITTIC BUFFALO, NY | RESEARCH | $8,665 |
| ERIE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT BUFFALO, NY | PRIVATE ATTORNEY INVOLVEMENT | $629,636 |
| THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ALBANY, NY | EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM | $130,117 |
| LEGAL AID BUREAU OF BUFFALO INC BUFFALO, NY | EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM | $625,816 |
| CENTER FOR ELDER LAW AND JUSTICE INC BUFFALO, NY | EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM | $625,471 |
| WNY LAW CENTER BUFFALO, NY | EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM | $598,114 |
| CIVIL JUSTICE INC BALTIMORE, MD | EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM | $32,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE SCHWACH | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KERISHA HAWTHRONE-GREEN | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SAM SMITH | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| JONATHAN LACEY | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| PATRICK LONG | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ROBIN EDWARDS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHANE GREENE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID NELSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DIANA BLOOM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GRACE PIETROCARLO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RICHARD J SCHECHTER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARGARET SROKA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PAMELA THIBODEAU | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| OCTOBER REED | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LAUREN E BREEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $254,255 |
| MELISSA MENDOLERA | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $159,310 |
| VERA VENKOVA | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $137,236 |
| KEISHA WILLIAMS | DEPUTY DIRECTOR | 40 | $165,862 |
| NANCY TUCKER | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCE | 40 | $128,557 |
| JOHN M ZONITCH | MANAGING ATTORNEY | 40 | $128,358 |
| MARY HANSON | ASSISTANT SUPERVISING ATTORNEY | 40 | $115,153 |
| CASSANDRA CONNIFF | CONTROLLER | 40 | $123,144 |
| MATTHEW FINAMORE | MANAGING ATTORNEY - LOCKPORT | 40 | $116,696 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is Neighborhood Legal Services Inc?
As of 2024, Neighborhood Legal Services Inc holds $8.3M in total assets with $16.6M in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $3.4M in 2024.
Where does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc operate?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc has awarded grants in Maryland, New York.
What size grants does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc award?
In 2024, Neighborhood Legal Services Inc awarded 14 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $243K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's EIN?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0198935. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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