ILLINOIS LEGAL AID ONLINE

EIN: 202917133 501(c)(3) Crime & Legal

CHICAGO, IL

Total Revenue
$3,619,953
Total Expenses
$3,086,560
Total Assets
$3,309,647
Net Assets
$3,113,621
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2005
Legal Domicile
IL
Principal Officer
TERESA ROSS
Phone
3129779047
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

ILLINOIS LEGAL AID ONLINE, founded in 2005, is a community nonprofit in the Crime & Legal sector that reported $3.6M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $3.1M left a modest 15% surplus.

Mission

ILLINOIS LEGAL AID ONLINE (ILAO) OPENS OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUSTICE BY EDUCATING ILLINOISANS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND CONNECTING THEM TO LAWYERS, SOLUTIONS, AND EACH OTHER, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE LEGAL SYSTEM WAS NOT DESIGNED. THROUGH INNOVATION AND ALLYSHIP, WE MAKE THE LAW ACTIONABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. IN THE U.S., PEOPLE FACING CIVIL LEGAL CHALLENGES, SUCH AS EVICTION, DEBT, DOMESTIC ABUSE, AND CHILD SUPPORT, DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO A LAWYER. JUSTICE IS SCARCE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. WE BELIEVE THAT, WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE, PEOPLE CAN BE THEIR OWN BEST ADVOCATES. WE MOBILIZE PEOPLE WITH PLAIN-LANGUAGE, 24/7 TOOLS AND SERVICES - IN TWO LANGUAGES - SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND ASSERT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. ILAO HELPS PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO FIND OR AFFORD LAWYERS OPEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR JUSTICE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2001, ILAO HAS USED TECHNOLOGY AND PARTNERSHIPS TO LOWER BARRIERS TO THE LAW SO THAT PEOPLE FACING BARRIERS TO JUSTICE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTIONS, MAKE

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $1,696,666

TO PEOPLE LYING AWAKE AT NIGHT, WITH NOWHERE TO TURN EXCEPT THEIR MOBILE, ILAO OFFERS A LIGHT IN THE NIGHT. OVER HALF OF THOSE WE SERVE COME FROM THEIR MOBILE PHONES, AND BETWEEN 5PM-9AM OR ON...

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TO PEOPLE LYING AWAKE AT NIGHT, WITH NOWHERE TO TURN EXCEPT THEIR MOBILE, ILAO OFFERS A LIGHT IN THE NIGHT. OVER HALF OF THOSE WE SERVE COME FROM THEIR MOBILE PHONES, AND BETWEEN 5PM-9AM OR ON WEEKENDS, WHEN TRADITIONAL LEGAL OFFICES ARE CLOSED. ILAO PARTNERS WITH ILLINOISANS FACING INJUSTICES BY PROVIDING 24/7 FREE, ACCESSIBLE, PLAIN-LANGUAGE LEGAL TOOLS AND DIRECTION, INCLUDING PLAIN-LANGUAGE SELF-HELP GUIDES, INTERACTIVE LEGAL FORMS, TRIAGE AND ELIGIBILITY SCREENING FOR FREE LEGAL AID SERVICES, AND KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS EDUCATION. IN FY25, 2 MILLION ILLINOISANSAPPROXIMATELY 15% OF THE STATES POPULATION SOUGHT ILLINOISLEGALAID.ORG FOR GUIDANCE AND HELP WITH OVER 600 LEGAL ISSUES, SUCH AS EVICTION, FOOD INSECURITY, DOMESTIC ABUSE, CRIMINAL RECORDS, DIVORCE, CHILD SUPPORT, DEPORTATION, DISCRIMINATION, AND DEBT. OUR HIGHEST VOLUME OF SERVICES RELATES TO FAMILY LAW, WHERE PEOPLE WITHOUT LAWYERS MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTER OUR COMPLEX LEGAL SYSTEM, AND WHERE THEY ARE LEAST LIKELY TO FIND A LEGAL AID LAWYER TO ASSIST THEM. IN ADDITION TO ITS LIBRARY OF CIVIL LEGAL EDUCATION AND SOLUTIONS, ILAO PROVIDES OTHER IMPORTANT SERVICES. FIRST, INTERACTIVE APPS CALLED EASY FORMS, SIMILAR TO TURBOTAX, HELP PEOPLE WITHOUT LAWYERS CREATE FREE, PERSONALIZED, ACCURATE COURT FORMS AND LEGAL PAPERS, USING A SIMPLE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FORMAT. IN FY25, 88,636 PEOPLE CUSTOMIZED MORE THAN 160,000 LEGAL DOCUMENTS (A 54% INCREASE OVER FY24). SECOND, A TRIAGE, INTAKE, AND REFERRAL SYSTEM (GET LEGAL HELP) DIRECTS PEOPLEVIA INTERNET OR SMSTO THE BEST AVAILABLE RESOURCES: FORMS, SELF- HELP GUIDES, LAWYERS, AND HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. FOR PEOPLE SEEKING A LAWYERS HELP, ILAO MATCHES THEM WITH LOCAL SERVICES BASED ON AN INDIVIDUALS LEGAL ISSUE, ZIP CODE, AND GENERAL INCOME. IN FY25, ILAO MATCHED ALMOST 12,000 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO 12 LEGAL PROVIDERS.

Program 2
Expenses: $524,474

SECOND, ILAOS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXTENDS AND DEEPENS THE REACH OF ITS DIGITAL TOOLS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES, WORKFORCE AGENCIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM ADVOCATES, LEGAL AID...

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SECOND, ILAOS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXTENDS AND DEEPENS THE REACH OF ITS DIGITAL TOOLS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC LIBRARIES, WORKFORCE AGENCIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM ADVOCATES, LEGAL AID, AND HUMAN SERVICES. ILAO OPERATES COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS IN SPANISH- SPEAKING AND INCARCERATION-IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS IN ELGIN, AURORA, WEST CHICAGO, EAST ST. LOUIS, DECATUR, AND CHAMPAIGN-URBANA. NAVIGATORS ARE LOCAL GRASSROOTS LEADERS WHO ARE TRAINED TO EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. IN FY25, ILAO TRAINED 45 NAVIGATORS AND EDUCATED 5,071 ILLINOISANS (AN 18% INCREASE OVER FY24).

Program 3
Expenses: $306,904

DEBT HELP ILLINOIS IS A NEWLY RELEASED, FREE, INTERACTIVE SERVICE THAT DIAGNOSES A PERSONS DEBT PROBLEMS, TAILORS A PLAN TO THEIR SPECIFIC FACTS AND LOCATION, AND CONNECTS THEM TO HUMAN ASSISTANCE...

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DEBT HELP ILLINOIS IS A NEWLY RELEASED, FREE, INTERACTIVE SERVICE THAT DIAGNOSES A PERSONS DEBT PROBLEMS, TAILORS A PLAN TO THEIR SPECIFIC FACTS AND LOCATION, AND CONNECTS THEM TO HUMAN ASSISTANCE WHEN NEEDED. CONSUMERS FACING DEBT CHALLENGES START BY ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT GUIDE THEM TO PERSONALIZED OPTIONS FOR THEIR DEBT PROBLEM. A STRUCTURED KNOWLEDGE BASE (GLOSSARY, COURT LOCATIONS, AND CREDITOR LIST), COMBINED WITH AN AI- AUTHORING TOOL, GENERATES PLAIN-LANGUAGE INFORMATION AND ACTION STEPS TAILORED TO THE USERS DEBT PROFILE AND LOCATION. DEBT HELP ILLINOIS GOES BEYOND A STATIC WEBSITE BY GUIDING CONSUMERS THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THEIR SPECIFIC SITUATION, TRACKING THEIR PROGRESS, AND CONNECTING THEM TO HELPFUL RESOURCESSO THEY MOVE FROM CONFUSION TO CONCRETE ACTION.

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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%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $3,328,722
Program Service Revenue $274,667
Investment Income $65,663
Other Revenue $-49,099
TOTAL REVENUE $3,619,953

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $2,166,260
Fundraising Expenses $129,198
Program Expenses $2,528,044
Other Expenses $920,300
TOTAL EXPENSES $3,086,560

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $3,619,953 $3,557,778 +0.0%
Expenses $3,086,560 $2,534,399 +0.2%
Net Income $533,393 $1,023,379 -0.5%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
18
Independent Members
18
Employees
28
Volunteers
127

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
6
$203,132
Total Directors
18
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
GWENDELYN DANIELS DEPUTY DIREC 40.00
Highest
$131,094 $16,353 $147,447
TERESA ROSS EXECUTIVE DR 40.00
Officer
$124,617 $19,346 $143,963
JESSICA GAVLIN CHIEF FISCAL 20.00
Officer
$54,548 $4,621 $59,169
CDAVID ADER BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KOURTNEY BALTZER BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KARIM BASARIA VICE CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
BENJAMIN BRADFORD BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRISTOPHER COMERFORD BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID HAMBOURGER PAST CHAIR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KRISTINA HENDRICKS BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KENNETH JENNINGS BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELIZABETH KAHILL BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SEAN KRUSKOL FORMER CHAIR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANAND MATHEW BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JACQUELINE MCLAUGHLIN BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RENEE MCMAHON CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
CHRIS PETRINI-POLI BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HEATHER RUSSELL SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
TIMOTHY SMITH TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ELYSIA SOLOMON BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER WOODS BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
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 $3,619,953 $3,086,560 $3,309,647 $533,393
2024 $3,557,778 $2,534,399 $2,870,162 $1,023,379
2023 $2,798,858 $2,442,327 $1,693,621 $356,531
2022 $2,162,489 $2,174,499 $1,337,041 $-12,010
2021 $1,649,365 $2,015,036 $1,318,611 $-365,671
2019 $1,995,927 $1,643,336 $1,574,578 $352,591
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