Neighborhood Legal Services Inc
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (NLS) is a public charity based in Buffalo, New York, that provides free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in Western New York. Its work includes legal advice, representation, advocacy, education, and outreach for people facing barriers related to financial vulnerability, disability, discrimination, or abuse.
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc at a glance
In short: Neighborhood Legal Services Inc gave $2.5M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $227K), mostly in New York. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,498,392
- -26.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $227,127
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $143,656
- Total assets
- $7,665,041
- -8.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Neighborhood Legal Services Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 237 Main Street Ste 400, Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: (716) 847-0650
Website: https://nls.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Neighborhood Legal Services Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Belmont Housing Resources WNY ($573K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 57 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NLS states that it serves Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans counties in Western New York. Its reported 2025 grants all went to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Neighborhood Legal Services Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $123K (2020) to $3.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belmont Housing Resources WNY Buffalo, NY | Eviction Prevention Program | $572,875 |
| WNY Law Center Buffalo, NY | Eviction prevention program & legal assistance for victims program | $474,850 |
| Center for Elder Law and Justice Inc Buffalo, NY | Eviction Prevention Program | $420,194 |
| Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project Buffalo, NY | Private Attorney Involvement | $415,938 |
| Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Inc Buffalo, NY | Eviction Prevention Program | $411,551 |
| The Research Foundation for State University of New York Albany, NY | Eviction Prevention Program | $143,656 |
| Evergreen Health Services Buffalo, NY | Onsite Legal Services for Victims. | $16,792 |
| Via Visually Impaired Advancement Buffalo, NY | Provision of 24/7 phone service and referrals for victims of crime | $15,885 |
| Via Evaluation Buffalo, NY | Evaluation of Voca Program | $10,830 |
| Ub Center for Social Research - Ittic Buffalo, NY | Research | $8,665 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,665,041 | $16,485,971 | $16,201,522 | $2,498,392 | 11 | $396,817 |
| 2024 | $8,333,371 | $16,563,985 | $15,626,861 | $3,408,858 | 14 | $15,298 |
| 2023 | $6,889,955 | $13,145,334 | $12,874,264 | $2,473,832 | 14 | $12,496 |
| 2022 | $6,308,199 | $9,297,172 | $9,260,808 | $1,055,532 | 10 | $195 |
| 2021 | $2,796,560 | $7,553,707 | $6,871,448 | $138,455 | 8 | $228 |
| 2020 | $2,472,145 | $5,781,411 | $6,533,921 | $122,794 | 5 | $171 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NLS’s stated mission is to advance equitable justice by providing access to legal advice, representation, and education to people who need assistance protecting their civil legal rights because of financial vulnerability, disability, discrimination, or abuse.
The organization’s filing describes its largest service area as housing, including representation and eviction prevention for people facing eviction, homelessness, unsafe housing, or housing discrimination. Other described services include help securing public benefits and health coverage, disability-related legal assistance, and trauma-informed family law representation involving orders of protection, custody, child support, and divorce.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NLS reported 11 grants totaling $2,498,392. Grant sizes ranged from $7,156 to $572,875, with a median of $143,656. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York.
The largest grants included $572,875 to Belmont Housing Resources WNY for an eviction prevention program; $474,850 to WNY Law Center for eviction prevention and legal assistance for victims; $420,194 to Center for Elder Law and Justice for eviction prevention; $415,938 to Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project for private attorney involvement; and $411,551 to Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo for eviction prevention. Other recipients included the Research Foundation for State University of New York ($143,656 for eviction prevention), Evergreen Health Services ($16,792 for onsite legal services for victims), and VIA Visually Impaired Advancement ($15,885 for 24/7 phone service and referrals for victims of crime). VIA describes its mission as helping people with vision impairments achieve their highest level of independence.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kerisha Hawthorne-Greer as president, Jonathan Lacey as vice president, Pamela Thibodeau as secretary, and Shane Greene as treasurer, each starting in June 2025. Listed board members are Heather Abraham, Elise Cassar, Elaine Diallo, and Grace Golando, each starting in June 2025, as well as Diana Bloom and Robin Edwards.
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc is led by Lauren E. Breen, Executive Director on filings since 2020; 10 of 31 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lauren E. Breen
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$143K (2020) → $188K (2025)
William O'Connell
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$80K (2025)
Michaelle Schwach
President
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerisha Hawthorne-Greer
President
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Mendolera
Director of Finance
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$16K (2023) → $187K (2025)
John M. Zonitch
Supervising Attorney
Supervising Attorney → Managing Attorney, 2023
Managing Attorney → Supervising Attorney, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $140K (2025)
Vera Venkova
Deputy Director
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$131K (2023) → $142K (2025)
Cassandra Conniff
Controller
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024) → $142K (2025)
Keisha Williams
Deputy Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$166K (2024) → $180K (2025)
Diana Proske
Supervising Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Jennifer Dillon
Supervising Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$138K (2025)
Todd Schiffmacher
Supervising Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$133K (2025)
David H. Nelson
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Long
Board Member
Treasurer → President, 2022
President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard J. Schechter
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Smith
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Lacey
Vice President
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Sroka
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grace Pietrocarlo
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Thibodeau
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Edwards
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shane Greene
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Bloom
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
October Reed
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carina Schoenberger
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Diallo
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elise Cassar
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grace Golando
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Abraham
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia Heftka
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Hines
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Kerisha Hawthrone-Green (2023–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Nancy Tucker (2023–2024) — Director of Human Resource
- Former: Mary Hanson (2024) — Assistant Supervising Attorney
- Former: Matthew Finamore (2024) — Managing Attorney - Lockport
- Former: Andrew F. Emborsky (2020–2023) — Advocacy Director
- Former: Brittany Jones (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Grace A. Andriette (2020–2023) — Senior Supervising Attorney
- Former: Christine Charles (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Elaine Page To (2023) — Board Member
- Former: John Del Monte To (2023) — Vice President
- Former: Kristen Flick To (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kristin Allen To (2023) — Board Member
- Former: John Del Monte (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kristen Flick (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sally Hamlin (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sherrell Moore (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Andriette Grace A. (2022) — Senior Supervising Attorney
- Former: Breen Lauren E. (2022) — Excecutive Director
- Former: Elaine Page (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Emborsky Andrew F. (2022) — Supervising Attorney
- Former: Hanson Mary C. (2022) — Assistant Managing Attorney
- Former: Kristin Allen (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Larry Waters Jr. (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Proske Diana C. (2022) — Attorney
- Former: Selmonsky Penny B. (2022) — Senior Supervising Attorney
- Former: Welch Karen M. (2022) — Supervising Attorney
- Former: Zonitch John M. (2022) — Managing Attorney
- Former: Karen Welch (2020–2021) — Supervising Attorney
- Former: Penny Selmonsky (2020–2021) — Deputy Director & Supervisin
- Former: Samantha White (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Spencer L. Durland (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Tamar Rothaus (2020–2021) — Finance Director
- Former: Vincent E. Doyle III (2020–2021) — President
- Former: William Sukaly (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Danielle Rovillo (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Peter Warn (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $188K, to Lauren E Breen (Executive Director (To August 2025)). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Neighborhood Legal Services Inc
How much does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc give each year?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc gave $2.5M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 14 grants.
What is Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's typical grant size?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's median grant in 2025 was $143,656, and its average grant was $227,127, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc give grants?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (10 grants).
Does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Eviction Prevention Program" (4 grants).
Who are Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's largest grantees?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Belmont Housing Resources WNY ($572,875), WNY Law Center ($474,850) and Center for Elder Law and Justice Inc ($420,194), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Neighborhood Legal Services Inc?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $16.5M.
What does Neighborhood Legal Services Inc fund?
NLS’s stated mission is to advance equitable justice by providing access to legal advice, representation, and education to people who need assistance protecting their civil legal rights because of financial vulnerability, disability, discrimination, or abuse. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Neighborhood Legal Services Inc?
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nls.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Neighborhood Legal Services Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/neighborhood-legal-services-inc-morg_bcad50f45ec946b682bd3e3f107f5f70
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510198935_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Neighborhood Legal Services Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/neighborhood-legal-services-inc-morg_bcad50f45ec946b682bd3e3f107f5f70},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Neighborhood 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.
Neighborhood Legal Services Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?