ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY INC (EIN 237376131) - Form 990 Financial Analysis & Trantor Score

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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

1969

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

MAKIEDAH MESSAM

Phone

4199302511

Tax Period

2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY INC, founded in 1969, is a mid-sized nonprofit that reported $14.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue grew 10% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. The organization ran a surplus of $2.5M, a strong 18% operating margin.

Mission

ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY, INC. (ABLE) IS A NON-PROFIT LAW FIRM THAT PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CIVIL MATTERS TO HELP ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO ACHIEVE SELF-RELIANCE, EQUAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

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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 $13,622,740

Program Service Revenue $755,087

Investment Income $-216,056

Other Revenue $102,865

TOTAL REVENUE $14,264,636

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $1,898,662

Salaries & Benefits $7,546,128

Fundraising Expenses $324,357

Program Expenses $10,067,729

Other Expenses $2,288,077

TOTAL EXPENSES $11,732,867

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$14,264,636	$12,969,979	+0.1%
Expenses	$11,732,867	$10,498,491	+0.1%
Net Income	$2,531,769	$2,471,488	+0.0%

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

103

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

$474,293

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
CASSANDRA ANDRES	PRESIDENT	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
KHADIJAH H ALI	VICE PRESIDENT	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBERT TUCKER	VICE PRESIDENT	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
NATHAN D TURNER	SECRETARY	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
BRANDON E DOBYNS	TREASURER	1.50	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
HEATHER L ALLRED	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
CATHERINE BITWAYIKI	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
CLAYTON CRATES	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
AMANDA DAVIS	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANDREA DE LA ROCA	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANNA DELP	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
TWILA R FERGUSON	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN F HALL	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
SAUNDRA HOLMES	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JORDAN JENNINGS	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ALEX LAVELLE	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS J LUCENTE JR	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
EVE MITRO	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
LINDSEY POSEY	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAMES STAHLER	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
CARASUSANA CARA WALL	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
ETHEL WASHINGTON-HARRIS	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
KATHRYN A WATSON	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
KARI L WHITE	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
MECHELLE ZAROU	TRUSTEE	1.50	Director	$0	$0	$0
HEATHER L HALL	DEPUTY DIRECTOR	48.00	Officer	$147,336	$27,128	$174,464
NIKOLETA I COOK	DIRECTOR OF FINANCE	40.00	Officer	$127,549	$24,006	$151,555
MAKIEDAH MESSAM	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (FROM 3/24)	42.00	Officer	$134,613	$13,661	$148,274
KATHLEEN C KERSH	MANAGING ATTORNEY	42.00	Highest	$108,268	$34,173	$142,441
JESUS SALAS	MANAGING ATTORNEY (THRU 12/24)	38.00	Highest	$132,999	$7,277	$140,276
REBECCA STEINHAUSER	MANAGING ATTORNEY	44.00	Highest	$115,717	$15,775	$131,492
MARK HELLER	SENIOR ATTORNEY	41.00	Highest	$120,397	$6,588	$126,985
MATTHEW N CURRIE	MANAGING ATTORNEY	36.00	Highest	$119,364	$6,532	$125,896
JANET HALES	FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	1.50		$97,000	$0	$97,000

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
2024	$14,264,636	$11,732,867	$17,391,584	$2,531,769
2023	$12,969,979	$10,498,491	$15,465,415	$2,471,488
2022	$10,893,888	$8,288,083	$12,633,893	$2,605,805
2021	$8,514,560	$6,909,424	$10,015,731	$1,605,136
2020	$8,442,497	$7,918,395	$7,297,240	$524,102
2019	$8,883,420	$8,525,390	$7,600,197	$358,030
2018	$8,050,443	$7,765,268	$7,465,155	$285,175

ADVOCATES FOR BASIC LEGAL EQUALITY INC