NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES INC

EIN: 510198935 501(c)(3)

BUFFALO, NY

Total Revenue
$16,485,971
Total Expenses
$16,201,522
Total Assets
$7,665,041
Net Assets
$2,611,907
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1976
Legal Domicile
NY
Principal Officer
WILLIAM O'CONNELL
Phone
7168470650
Tax Period
2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES INC, founded in 1976, is a mid-sized nonprofit that reported $16.5M in total revenue in fiscal year 2025.

Mission

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS) SEEKS EQUITABLE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE, REPRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO, DUE TO FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY, DISABILITY, DISCRIMINATION, OR ABUSE, REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION OF THEIR CIVIL LEGAL RIGHTS. SERVING ERIE, NIAGARA, GENESEE, WYOMING, AND ORLEANS COUNTIES, NLS AIMS TO CREATE THE GREATEST ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES TO PURSUE GOALS THAT WILL INCREASE BOTH THE STABILITY AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $14,229,618 Revenue: $14,907

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS), AS MEASURED BY PROGRAM EXPENSES, DELIVERED ITS LARGEST SERVICE IMPACT THROUGH ITS HOUSING PROGRAM, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, AND EVICTION...

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS), AS MEASURED BY PROGRAM EXPENSES, DELIVERED ITS LARGEST SERVICE IMPACT THROUGH ITS HOUSING PROGRAM, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, AND EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING EVICTION, HOMELESSNESS, UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS, AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION ACROSS ERIE, NIAGARA, GENESEE, WYOMING, AND ORLEANS COUNTIES. SINCE OCTOBER 2021, NLS HAS SUPPORTED THE WESTERN NEW YORK EVICTION PREVENTION PROJECT THROUGH NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE (OTDA) EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS. THE PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AGENCIES, CLOSED 22,811 EVICTION MATTERS TO DATE, WITH 42% HANDLED BY NLS. IN ADDITION, 12,226 EVICTIONS WERE PREVENTED AND 3,917 WERE DELAYED, HELPING HOUSEHOLDS SECURE STABLE HOUSING AND AVOID HOMELESSNESS.NLS ALSO PROVIDED CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FACING DISABILITY-RELATED BARRIERS, POVERTY, DENIAL OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, UNSAFE HOUSING, AND FAMILY LAW ISSUES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THROUGH ITS PUBLIC BENEFITS AND ITS MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATED INITIATIVES, NLS ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ACCESSING SNAP, MEDICAID, SSI/SSDI, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS ADDRESSING OTHER HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL NEEDS. IN ITS FAMILY LAW PRACTICE, NLS PROVIDED TRAUMA-INFORMED REPRESENTATION IN MATTERS INVOLVING ORDERS OF PROTECTION, CUSTODY, CHILD SUPPORT, AND DIVORCE.ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS, NLS DELIVERED INTEGRATED LEGAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY THROUGH COURT-BASED, OUTREACH, AND MOBILE LEGAL SERVICE MODELS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

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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 $16,074,247
Program Service Revenue $9,907
Investment Income $396,817
Other Revenue $5,000
TOTAL REVENUE $16,485,971

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $2,498,392
Salaries & Benefits $11,835,877
Fundraising Expenses $0
Program Expenses $14,229,618
Other Expenses $1,867,253
TOTAL EXPENSES $16,201,522

Year-over-Year Comparison

2025 2024 Change
Revenue $16,485,971 $16,563,985 0.0%
Expenses $16,201,522 $15,626,861 +0.0%
Net Income $284,449 $937,124 -0.7%
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
16
Independent Members
16
Employees
155
Volunteers
18

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
11
$863,537
Total Directors
21
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
5
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
KERISHA HAWTHORNE-GREER PRESIDENT (STARTING JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JONATHAN LACEY VICE PRESIDENT (STARTING JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
PAMELA THIBODEAU SECRETARY (STARTING JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SHANE GREENE TREASURER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
HEATHER ABRAHAM BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DIANA BLOOM BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELISE CASSAR BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ELAINE DIALLO BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBIN EDWARDS BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GRACE GOLANDO BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JULIA HEFTKA BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PATRICK HINES BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GRACE PIETROCARLO BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
OCTOBER REED BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RICHARD J SCHECHTER BOARD MEMBER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CARINA SCHOENBERGER BOARD MEMBER (STARTING JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAELLE SCHWACH PRESIDENT (TO JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
SAM SMITH TREASURER (TO JUNE 2025) 2.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
PATRICK LONG BOARD MEMBER (TO JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MARGARET SROKA BOARD MEMBER (TO JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID NELSON BOARD MEMBER (TO JUNE 2025) 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LAUREN E BREEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (TO AUGUST 2025) 40.00
Officer
$188,385 $15,435 $203,820
MELISSA MENDOLERA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40.00
Officer
$186,577 $24,581 $211,158
VERA VENKOVA DEPUTY DIRECTOR 32.00
Officer
$141,930 $21,674 $163,604
KEISHA WILLIAMS DEPUTY DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$180,000 $16,279 $196,279
WILLIAM O'CONNELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (STARTING AUGUST 2025) 40.00
Officer
$79,615 $9,061 $88,676
JOHN M ZONITCH SUPERVISING ATTORNEY 40.00
Highest
$139,933 $23,633 $163,566
CASSANDRA CONNIFF CONTROLLER 40.00
Highest
$142,333 $7,258 $149,591
DIANA PROSKE SUPERVISING ATTORNEY 40.00
Highest
$125,120 $34,624 $159,744
TODD SCHIFFMACHER SUPERVISING ATTORNEY 40.00
Highest
$133,241 $26,322 $159,563
JENNIFER DILLON SUPERVISING ATTORNEY 40.00
Highest
$137,960 $11,925 $149,885
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 $16,485,971 $16,201,522 $7,665,041 $284,449
2024 No data No data No data No data
2023 $13,145,334 $12,874,264 $6,889,955 $271,070
2022 $9,297,172 $9,260,808 $6,308,199 $36,364
2021 $7,553,707 $6,871,448 $2,796,560 $682,259
2020 $5,781,411 $6,533,921 $2,472,145 $-752,510
2019 $6,474,466 $6,291,053 $1,887,054 $183,413
2018 $5,200,336 $5,520,009 $1,920,813 $-319,673
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