West Tennessee Legal Services INC
West Tennessee Legal Services INC is a public charity based in Jackson, Tennessee. It provides free civil legal help to limited-income individuals, families, and communities in West Tennessee, with a focus on issues affecting safety, stability, housing, healthcare, and income.
West Tennessee Legal Services INC at a glance
In short: West Tennessee Legal Services INC gave $384K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), top state Kentucky. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $383,581
- -64.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,965
- -61.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,403
- Total assets
- $5,349,920
- +28.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to West Tennessee Legal Services INC
- Contact
Mailing address: 210 W Main Street, Jackson, TN 38301
Phone: (731) 426-1315
Website: https://wtls.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from West Tennessee Legal Services INC
Who West Tennessee Legal Services INC funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Appalachian Research & Defense Fund of Ky Inc ($70K). Together the top 10 received $354K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 74 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WTLS says it serves West Tennessee and lists 21 counties, including Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, and Lauderdale. Its website says a 2024 expansion added a Memphis office and four counties, enabling it to serve all of West Tennessee. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Kentucky (37%), Tennessee (11%), and Georgia (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is West Tennessee Legal Services INC open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 12 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $384K (2025) to $1.5M (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $384K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Research & Defense Fund of Ky Inc Prestonburg, KY | Housing Counseling | $70,309 |
| Legal Aid of the Bluegrass Morehead, KY | Housing Counseling | $54,448 |
| Atlanta Legal Aid Society Inc Atlanta, GA | Housing Counseling | $37,322 |
| Montana Legal Services Association Helena, MT | Housing Counseling | $34,665 |
| Legal Services of Northern Michigan Sault Ste Marie, MI | Housing Counseling | $34,078 |
| Legal Aid of East Tennessee Knoxville, TN | Fair Housing & Eviction Prevention | $27,635 |
| Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida Orlando, FL | Housing Counseling | $27,171 |
| North Mississippi Rural Legal Services Oxford, MS | Housing Counseling | $27,086 |
| Legal Services Corporation of AL Montgomery, AL | Housing Counseling | $22,414 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid Inc Bowling Green, KY | Housing Counseling | $18,638 |
Ready to take the next step with West Tennessee Legal Services INC?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,349,920 | $9,707,097 | $8,883,081 | $383,581 | 12 | $57,283 |
| 2024 | $4,172,592 | $6,896,969 | $6,647,174 | $1,077,796 | 13 | $44,079 |
| 2023 | $3,024,131 | $6,204,543 | $5,856,098 | $1,529,090 | 16 | $32,609 |
| 2022 | $2,600,949 | $4,496,648 | $4,545,434 | $959,449 | 17 | $-1,385 |
| 2021 | $2,287,976 | $4,964,763 | $5,020,180 | $871,634 | 16 | $832 |
| 2020 | $2,237,730 | $4,637,507 | $4,469,562 | $724,987 | 16 | $6,196 |
| 2019 | $2,047,485 | $4,526,343 | $4,499,924 | $758,485 | 18 | $5,716 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WTLS’s website states that its mission is to provide equal access to justice in West Tennessee. Its case priorities include safe housing, preventing domestic violence, economic stability, access to healthcare and education, and the justice, safety, independence, and stability of families and individuals. Its legal services address consumer matters, public benefits, housing, elder law, victims’ rights, and family law.
The 2025 filing lists a program description of legal services provided in connection with the organization’s purpose. Its reported 2025 grants were designated primarily for housing counseling, with two grants identified for fair housing and eviction prevention. The grantees’ own descriptions include Atlanta Legal Aid Society, which says it provides legal services to elderly and indigent residents of metropolitan Atlanta; Montana Legal Services Association, which says it provides free legal assistance in non-criminal matters to people unable to afford it; and Legal Aid of East Tennessee, which says it provides civil legal representation, education, and other services to low-income people.
Other 2025 recipients’ own descriptions include Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, which says it provides no-cost legal services to vulnerable people in Central Florida; Legal Services Alabama, which says it provides civil legal assistance to Alabama’s low-income community; Kentucky Legal Aid, which says it assists low-income families and other vulnerable people in south-central Kentucky; and University Legal Services, which says it provides protection and advocacy services, legal representation, and housing counseling.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, WTLS reported 12 grants totaling $383,581. Grant amounts ranged from $13,868 to $70,309, with a median of $27,403. The largest grants included $70,309 to Appalachian Research & Defense Fund of Ky Inc for housing counseling, $54,448 to Legal Aid of the Bluegrass for housing counseling, and $37,322 to Atlanta Legal Aid Society Inc for housing counseling. Other reported grants included $34,665 to Montana Legal Services Association for housing counseling and $27,635 to Legal Aid of East Tennessee for fair housing and eviction prevention.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vanedda Webb as president, Laura Keeton as secretary, and Barbara Hudson as treasurer. It also lists Michael Tate on the Finance Committee, Mary Jo Middlebrooks on the Audit Committee, and Sara Barnett, John Hamilton, Brande Boyd, Cecil Giles, and Jocelyn Gargus as directors.
West Tennessee Legal Services INC is led by Ashley Holliday, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 7 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ashley Holliday
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
38 hrs/week
$120K (2024) → $149K (2025)
Vanedda Webb
President
Member → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nhung Nguyen
Director of Finance
On filings since 2024
38 hrs/week
$116K (2024) → $127K (2025)
Cecil Giles
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hamilton
Director
Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Harmon
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jocelyn Gargus
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amina Dilawari
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brande Boyd
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Barnett
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sehrish Siddiqui
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley N Parker
Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Elizabeth C Hakim
Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Jonathan O Steen
Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Mary E Bates
Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$127K (2025)
Vanessa L Alsobrooks-Bulloc
Attorney
New on the 2025 filing
38 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Barbara Hudson
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Keeton
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Jo Middlebrooks
Audit Committee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Tate
Finance Committee
Finance Committee → Finance & Executive Com, 2021
Finance & Executive Com → Finance Committee, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Charles Barnett (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Kortney Simmons (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Catherine Clayton (2019–2023) — Executive Di
- Former: James Pearson (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: William Kendall (2019–2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $149K, to Ashley Holliday (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about West Tennessee Legal Services INC
How much does West Tennessee Legal Services INC give each year?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC gave $384K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 13 grants.
What is West Tennessee Legal Services INC's typical grant size?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC's median grant in 2025 was $27,403, and its average grant was $31,965, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does West Tennessee Legal Services INC give grants?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC's top state is Kentucky, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Tennessee (11%) and Georgia (10%).
Does West Tennessee Legal Services INC give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on West Tennessee Legal Services INC's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Housing Counseling" (10 grants).
Who are West Tennessee Legal Services INC's largest grantees?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC's largest 2025 grantees include Appalachian Research & Defense Fund of Ky Inc ($70,309), Legal Aid of the Bluegrass ($54,448) and Atlanta Legal Aid Society Inc ($37,322), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is West Tennessee Legal Services INC?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.7M.
What does West Tennessee Legal Services INC fund?
WTLS’s website states that its mission is to provide equal access to justice in West Tennessee. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from West Tennessee Legal Services INC?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wtls.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is West Tennessee Legal Services INC's EIN?
West Tennessee Legal Services INC's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1326791. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). West Tennessee Legal Services INC funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/west-tennessee-legal-services-inc-morg_8c2a1f003fc2437ba8caf1bd51f3b82a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581326791_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{West Tennessee Legal Services INC funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/west-tennessee-legal-services-inc-morg_8c2a1f003fc2437ba8caf1bd51f3b82a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 West Tennessee 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.
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