BROOKLYN DEFENDER SERVICES

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1996

Legal Domicile

Phone

7182540700

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

BROOKLYN DEFENDER SERVICES, founded in 1996, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $92.8M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $89.4M left a modest 4% surplus.

Mission

TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY AND OTHER RELATED SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $78,646,372

IN FY25, BROOKLYN DEFENDER SERVICES (BDS) PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 28,695 LOW-INCOME BROOKLYN AND QUEENS RESIDENTS WHO WERE ARRESTED, 1,610 PARENTS IN FAMILY COURT PROCEEDINGS, 513 CLIENTS IN DETAINED IMMIGRATION REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, AND 2,543 CLIENTS FACING BARRIERS TO CIVIL JUSTICE. BDS EMPLOYS A LARGE STAFF OF HIGHLY DEDICATED AND TALENTED ATTORNEYS, SOCIAL WORKERS, INVESTIGATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF TO PROVIDE MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLIENT REPRESENTATION IN OUR CORE AREAS OF CRIMINAL, FAMILY AND IMMIGRATION DEFENSE TO PEOPLE FACING THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPRISONMENT, LOSS OF THEIR CHILDREN OR DEPORTATION AS WELL AS RELATED HOUSING, BENEFITS, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $92,441,373

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $0

Other Revenue $361,576

TOTAL REVENUE $92,802,949

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $25,923

Salaries & Benefits $72,313,923

Fundraising Expenses $97,853

Program Expenses $78,646,372

Other Expenses $17,058,235

TOTAL EXPENSES $89,398,081

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$92,802,949	$89,249,810	+0.0%
Expenses	$89,398,081	$83,753,003	+0.1%
Net Income	$3,404,868	$5,496,807	-0.4%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

635

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

⚠ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$677,244

Total Directors

$428,330

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
CINDI GIGLIO	TREASURER	0.5	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
GREGORY CERCHIONE	SECRETARY	0.5	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
KEVIN SNOVER	CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD	0.5	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LISA SCHREIBERSDORF	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.0	Officer Director	$390,198	$38,132	$428,330
ANDREA BONINA	BOARD MEMBER	0.5	Director	$0	$0	$0
JASON STARR	BOARD MEMBER	0.5	Director	$0	$0	$0
JEFFREY RONA	BOARD MEMBER	0.5	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT J GUNTHER JR	BOARD MEMBER	0.5	Director	$0	$0	$0
JUAN ALMONTE	MANAGING DIRECTOR OF FINANCE	40.0	Officer	$217,310	$31,604	$248,914
Chauncey R Walker	Managing Director of Criminal Defense	40.0	Highest	$237,478	$14,067	$251,545
Kelli McTaggart	General Counsel	40.0	Highest	$238,667	$21,926	$260,593
KWAME MILLAR	CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER	40.0	Highest	$242,778	$28,740	$271,518
LAURA SAFT	DEPUTY ED, MD CRIMINAL DEFENSE	40.0	Highest	$300,578	$31,470	$332,048
LAUREN A SHAPIRO	MD OF FAMILY DEFENSE PRACTICE	40.0	Highest	$254,606	$22,665	$277,271

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$92,802,949	$89,398,081	$37,068,192	$3,404,868
2024	$89,249,810	$83,753,003	$43,814,123	$5,496,807
2023	$75,613,128	$75,836,896	$53,040,741	$-223,768
2022	$68,129,871	$72,598,877	$21,679,240	$-4,469,006
2022	$68,489,120	$72,826,159	$22,389,854	$-4,337,039
2021	$60,744,108	$64,540,378	$27,647,041	$-3,796,270
2020	$61,487,118	$60,860,321	$15,157,863	$626,797
2019	$49,123,086	$48,542,555	$12,744,079	$580,531
2018	$42,110,112	$42,055,526	$11,025,624	$54,586