CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES

EIN: 411299151 501(c)(3)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Total Revenue
$4,585,973
Total Expenses
$4,317,270
Total Assets
$3,170,537
Net Assets
$2,324,874
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1979
Legal Domicile
MN
Principal Officer
DANIEL MORRIS
Phone
6123328151
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES, founded in 1979, is a community nonprofit that reported $4.6M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025. Expenses of $4.3M left a modest 6% surplus.

Mission

THE MISSION OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA LEGAL SERVICES IS TO ADVOCATE FOR ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES AND TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY BY EMPOWERING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS THROUGH LEGAL EDUCATION.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $3,680,955

CMLS IS A POVERTY LAW FIRM AND PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ITS 21- COUNTY SERVICE AREA IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE...

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CMLS IS A POVERTY LAW FIRM AND PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT ITS 21- COUNTY SERVICE AREA IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE SERVICE AREA STRETCHES FROM THE WESTERN BORDER WITH SOUTH DAKOTA TO THE EASTERN BORDER WITH WISCONSIN. THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS OF LEGAL NEED ARE FAMILY LAW AND HOUSING ISSUES. CMLS EMPHASIZES REPRESENTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN ORDERS FOR PROTECTION, DISSOLUTIONS OF MARRIAGE AND OTHER FAMILY LAW CASES. HOUSING CASES TYPICALLY INVOLVE PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO LOW COST, SAFE AND SANITARY HOUSING. CMLS PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH STAFF ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES AND FULL REPRESENTATION FOR A BROAD RANGE OF LEGAL PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY LOW INCOME PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, CMLS HAS A VIBRANT VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM THAT SERVES 19 OF THE 21 COUNTIES IN THE CMLS SERVICE AREA. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY, CMLS PARTNERS WITH THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHERE CHILD RELATED RELIEF IS SOUGHT. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS ARE PRESENT FOR FAMILY COURT'S DOMESTIC ABUSE CALENDAR THREE DAYS A WEEK. VICTIMS ARE OFFERED ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION. VICTIMS WHO ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL FAMILY LAW ISSUES FOLLOWING A DOMESTIC ABUSE CASE ARE FREQUENTLY ACCEPTED AS CLIENTS AND RECEIVE REPRESENTATION FROM CMLS. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS THROUGH SELF HELP CLINICS ESTABLISHED BY CMLS IN ANOKA, AND STEARNS COUNTY. THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM OFFERS LEGAL ADVICE CLINICS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LAW LIBRARIES OF WRIGHT COUNTY, THE GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY IN SAINT CLOUD AND THE KANDIYOHI PUBLIC LIBRARY IN WILLMAR, MINNESOTA. PRO BONO ATTORNEYS ALSO PROVIDE ADVICE AT A MONTHLY CMLS CLINIC IN ISANTI COUNTY. CMLS PRO BONO ATTORNEYS PROVIDE MEDIATION SERVICES IN THE SAINT CLOUD AND WILLMAR AREAS THROUGH A VOLUNTEER FAMILY MEDIATION PROGRAM. THIS IS THE PRIMARY MEDIATION SERVICE IN THE CMLS SERVICE AND IS FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE WITH FAMILY LAW DISPUTES. CMLS STAFF ATTORNEYS AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS SERVE VETERANS THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA. REGULAR CLINICS ARE HELD IN ST. CLOUD AND MONTEVIDEO TO MEET THE LEGAL NEEDS OF RURAL VETERANS. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY CMLS PROVIDES FULL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE TO VETERANS ON LEGAL ISSUES SUCH AS CHILD SUPPORT, PARENTING TIME AND LANDLORD/TENANT CASES. CMLS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS REGULARLY PRESENT COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINARS TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDERSTAND LEGAL ISSUES AND PREVENT SOME LEGAL PROBLEMS FROM OCCURRING.

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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 (2025)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,499,489
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $86,484
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $4,585,973

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $3,544,541
Fundraising Expenses $0
Program Expenses $3,680,955
Other Expenses $772,729
TOTAL EXPENSES $4,317,270

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $4,585,973 $4,601,752 0.0%
Expenses $4,317,270 $4,360,848 0.0%
Net Income $268,703 $240,904 +0.1%
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

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Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
17
Independent Members
17
Employees
41
Volunteers
65

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
5
$324,107
Total Directors
20
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
4
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
DANIEL MORRIS EXECUTIVE DI 40.00
Officer
$136,022 $5,071 $141,093
PAT O'NEILL DIRECTOR OF 40.00
Officer
$144,641 $38,373 $183,014
DIANA LARSON SUPERVISING 40.00
Highest
$118,957 $3,443 $122,400
ELIZABETH SAUER MANAGING ATT 40.00
Highest
$114,240 $13,042 $127,282
JESSICA MELHEIM SENIOR ATTOR 40.00
Highest
$103,064 $22,536 $125,600
JESSICA MASTELLAR DEPUTY DIREC 40.00
Highest
$101,010 $7,871 $108,881
JONATHAN WOLF PRESIDENT 5.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
TIFANNE WOLTER VICE PRESIDE 5.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MARK VAVRECK TREASURER 5.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
OWAIS AHMED DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARNA ANDERSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
EMILY LAWRENCE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MEG LUGER-NIKOLAI DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LYNDSEY OLSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BEN WAGNER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
AMIE ASCHEMAN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KRISTINE WITTMANN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHEENA BEAMON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CATHY TESSMER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KIMBERLY THOLE-REINKE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TRAVIS ALLEN DIRECTOR END 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOSH FISHER DIRECTOR END 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CALONDRA CHANDLER DIRECTOR END 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
AUDREY ROSE SANTOS DIRECTOR BEG 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MADINA MOHAMED DIRECTOR BEG 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANISHA WHITLEY DIRECTOR BEG 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 $4,585,973 $4,317,270 $3,170,537 $268,703
2024 $4,601,752 $4,360,848 $2,715,651 $240,904
2023 $3,954,685 $3,709,924 $2,315,763 $244,761
2022 $3,055,783 $2,931,443 $1,971,226 $124,340
2021 $882,460 $2,503,166 $1,763,329 $-1,620,706
2020 $2,498,179 $2,493,336 $3,627,484 $4,843
2019 $2,407,325 $2,533,817 $3,325,699 $-126,492
2018 $2,380,295 $2,370,063 $3,463,273 $10,232
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