MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE INC

EIN: 521225979 501(c)(3) Crime & Legal

BALTIMORE, MD

Total Revenue
$5,024,696
Total Expenses
$4,616,740
Total Assets
$5,909,442
Net Assets
$3,420,236
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1981
Legal Domicile
MD
Principal Officer
SUSAN FRANCIS
Phone
4105396800
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE INC, founded in 1981, is a community nonprofit in the Crime & Legal sector that reported $5.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue grew 13% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. Expenses of $4.6M left a modest 8% surplus.

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE (MVLS) IS TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO JUSTICE THROUGH FREE CIVIL LEGAL HELP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY FOR EQUITABLE LAWS. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR THE COMPLETE MISSION STATEMENT.)

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $1,992,660

MVLS PROVIDES LEGAL HELP IN A BROAD RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS INCLUDING FAMILY, HOUSING, CONSUMER, CRIMINAL RECORD RELIEF, ESTATE PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION, AND TAX CONTROVERSY. LAST YEAR, MVLS'...

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MVLS PROVIDES LEGAL HELP IN A BROAD RANGE OF CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS INCLUDING FAMILY, HOUSING, CONSUMER, CRIMINAL RECORD RELIEF, ESTATE PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION, AND TAX CONTROVERSY. LAST YEAR, MVLS' PRO BONO PROGRAM MATCHED OVER 2,266 LOW-INCOME CLIENTS WITH ATTORNEYS AND TAX PROFESSIONALS FOR FREE REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL CASES. MVLS HAS MORE THAN 800 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS ON ITS PANEL AND EMPLOYS STAFF ATTORNEYS WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE IN ALL LEGAL AREAS LISTED ABOVE TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS. MVLS RECRUITS VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE BAR, INCLUDING SMALL AND SOLO FIRMS, LARGE LAW FIRMS, CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS, AND FROM ACCOUNTING FIRMS.

Program 2
Expenses: $750,747

THE JUDICARE PROJECT IS A REDUCED-FEE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE UNABLE TO AFFORD REPRESENTATION IN CONTESTED FAMILY LAW CASES. MVLS OPERATES...

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THE JUDICARE PROJECT IS A REDUCED-FEE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE UNABLE TO AFFORD REPRESENTATION IN CONTESTED FAMILY LAW CASES. MVLS OPERATES THIS PROJECT IN 15 MARYLAND COUNTIES AND BALTIMORE CITY. EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER LAWYERS ARE PAID $120/HOUR FOR UP TO 35 HOURS TO RESOLVE THESE DIFFICULT CASES. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. OUR JUDICARE PANEL ATTORNEYS CLOSED 194 CASES, PRIMARILY INVOLVING CONTESTED CUSTODY THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITED 543 FAMILY MEMBERS.

Program 3
Expenses: $668,021

HOUSING STABILITY IS A CORE FOCUS AT MVLS, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON OLDER ADULTS TO ENSURE THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE AND SUCCESSFULLY PASS ON THEIR ASSETS TO THEIR NEXT GENERATION THE ADVANCED...

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HOUSING STABILITY IS A CORE FOCUS AT MVLS, WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON OLDER ADULTS TO ENSURE THEY CAN AGE IN PLACE AND SUCCESSFULLY PASS ON THEIR ASSETS TO THEIR NEXT GENERATION THE ADVANCED PLANNING PROJECT EDUCATES MARYLANDERS ABOUT THE NEED TO DO ESTATE PLANNING SO THEY CAN PASS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, THEIR HOME, TO THEIR FAMILY. THIS PROGRAM COMBATS GENERATIONS OF WEALTH EXTRACTION FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, MANY OF WHOM HAD NOT ENGAGED IN ESTATE PLANNING AND HAD LOST THEIR HOMES TO TAX SALE OR FORECLOSURE. THE MY HOME, MY DEED, MY LEGACY PROJECT BUILDS UPON THIS WORK AND PROVIDES PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES FOR ESTATE PLANNING AND DEED DISENTANGLEMENT TO CLIENTS WHO WERE TRADITIONALLY DENIED ACCESS TO JUSTICE. IN FY25, MVLS HANDLED 641 ESTATES AND DEEDS CASES.

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

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $4,705,067
Program Service Revenue $1,980
Investment Income $171,914
Other Revenue $145,735
TOTAL REVENUE $5,024,696

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0
Salaries & Benefits $3,184,013
Fundraising Expenses $299,393
Program Expenses $3,906,809
Other Expenses $1,432,727
TOTAL EXPENSES $4,616,740

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $5,024,696 $4,436,000 +0.1%
Expenses $4,616,740 $4,219,677 +0.1%
Net Income $407,956 $216,323 +0.9%
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
25
Independent Members
25
Employees
48
Volunteers
440

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
$173,709
Total Directors
25
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
3
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
JAMES TANSEY TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
PENNY J MINNA VICE-PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
REBA LETSA SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DAVID G SOMMER PRESIDENT 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ROBIN LEONE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LELIA PARKER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
NICOLE LACOSTE FOLKS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
PAYAL AMIN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
EMILY WILSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
D'SEAN WILLIAMS-BROWN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHEILA STEWART DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SYMA AHMAD SIDDIQUI DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHELSEA ORTEGA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHELEE MCGEOGH DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANTHONY MAY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SUSAN DUMONT DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANGELA RUSSELL DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
REBECCA SHEPPARD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RICHARD COSTELLA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JHONELL CAMPBELL DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRENT BOLEA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHEREEFAT BALOGUN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TYREE AYERS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRIAN GORDON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LYDIA E LAWLESS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SUSAN FRANCIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer
$155,546 $18,163 $173,709
MARGARET HENN DEPUTY DIRECTOR 40.00
Highest
$110,590 $12,261 $122,851
CAROLYN MALINOWSKI SENIOR ATTORNEY, APGRB 40.00
Highest
$107,674 $8,891 $116,565
JANET FEDDER MANAGING ATTORNEY, APGRB 40.00
Highest
$112,146 $18,867 $131,013
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 $5,024,696 $4,616,740 $5,909,442 $407,956
2024 $4,436,000 $4,219,677 $4,937,393 $216,323
2023 $4,215,422 $3,531,793 $4,705,337 $683,629
2022 $3,346,394 $2,973,324 $2,520,770 $373,070
2021 $3,557,954 $3,026,442 $2,368,566 $531,512
2020 $2,929,790 $3,026,357 $2,059,460 $-96,567
2019 $2,933,957 $2,739,354 $1,683,359 $194,603
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