2019-11-13T19:47:30-06:00 2018-12-31 271895149 Heveron & Company CPAs PLLC 260 Plymouth Avenue South Rochester NY 14608 990 2018-01-01 161487925 Empire Justice Center EMPI 5854544060 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 Kristin N Lilley President and CEO 5854544060 2019-11-07 1 Brenda Smith P00617844 5852322956 2019-11-06 24.213.221.209 2019-11-07 10:00:42 ES P B2A9950FE4E290A27265E6F4CC856355997C42CC E666F4FEDFEE2AF8B34C23492DE16161FE0E51C6 2018 2020-03-31 21:24:44Z Kristin N Lilley 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 6992921 0 X www.empirejustice.org X 1995 NY Empire Justice is a statewide organization working to improve civil justice in NY (See Sch.O)The Empire Justice Center is a statewide multi-issue, multi-strategy organization focused on changing the systems within which poor and low income families live. Empire Justice provides legal assistance to those in need, offers training and support to community-based organizations, and works to improve programs and services for those in need. 10 10 89 294 0 27655 1077256 762212 6415059 6218268 3396 947 0 -2611 7495711 6978816 0 0 0 0 5459431 5178860 0 0 0 1885171 2124360 7344602 7303220 151109 -324404 2243075 2328252 949964 1359545 1293111 968707 X To protect and strengthen the legal rights of people in New York State who are poor, disabled or disenfranchised through: systems change advocacy, training and support to other advocates and organizations, and high quality direct civil legal representation. 0 0 1113842 1086394 Disability Benefits: Empire Justice contracts with New York State to provide legal assistance to individuals in Western New York who have been inappropriately denied or terminated from federal disability and supplemental security income programs. In 2018, Empire Justice administered a sub-contract with LawNY to provide these regional services. In 2018, 303 cases were closed in the region, generating approximately $510, 829 in interim assistance to clients and an additional $2,096,340 in retroactive benefits. In 2018, the Western New York Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) won 73% of cases. Empire Justice also contracts with the state under DAP to provide training, support and technical assistance to local grantees throughout the state. 1001587 937886 Foreclosure Prevention: In 2018, Empire Justice continued its role as Anchor Partner as designated by the NYS Attorney General in efforts to combat foreclosures in New York. In this role, Empire Justice oversees 54 legal services and housing counseling contracts, oversees data collection and provides statewide training, support and technical assistance to grantees. Empire Justice also provided direct representation to homeowners at risk of foreclosure in the Greater Rochester area. In 2018 assistance was provided to 153 homeowners who were victims of predatory lending and/or who were at risk of foreclosure. The foreclosure prevention work of Empire Justice Center achieved restructuring and refinancing of clients' predatory loans, saving them tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. 1033975 912892 Immigrant Assistance: To provide training support and technical assistance to immigration services organizations in the Hudson Valley and Northeastern New York, and to provide legal assistance to immigrants in need of legal assistance in the Hudson Valley. Funded through various grants and contracts, including the NYS Office for New Americans. 3026243 3281096 Crime Victims: Empire Justice partners with the New York State Office of Victim Services, the University at Albany's Center for Human Services Research, and Pro Bono Net on the New York State Crime Victims Legal Network Project, a federally-funded project that brings awareness to the many civil legal needs of crime victims, while also helping victims access civil legal assistance. The Network focuses on the 57 counties outside of New York City. In 2018, the Network launched www.crimevictimshelpny.org a central online hub that connects crime victims with legal assistance on issues related to housing, family, employment, finances, and more. NY Crime Victims Legal Help launched on October 1, 2018 as a pilot in three counties in western New York. During its first six months in the limited pilot region, the site reached more than 3,700 people. Combined, visitors viewed more than 16,000 pages on the site covering essential areas such as family law, safety and housing matters. More than 950 individuals used the site to search for a legal services provider, and more than 600 visitors accessed information about free legal documents and court forms available to help victims address their civil legal needs. Empire Justice Center's Westchester offices also provide civil legal services to immigrant victims of crime, serving 195 crime victims in 2018.Health: Empire Justice provides statewide training and technical assistance to legal services, other community-based organizations and local health center staff on public health programs to help them in determining eligibility for and access to affordable health coverage. As a contractor to provide assistance under health care reform, Empire Justice is part of the Community Health Advocates (CHA) network. In 2018, our staff provided 9 trainings to 499 community based health advocates presenting topics such as "Medicare and Managed Long Term Care," "Medicaid 101, and "MAGI Medicaid." Our attorneys and paralegals also responded to 77 substantive technical assistance requests from 50 CHA member agencies assisting them with complicated legal issues and cases. The New York State Office for the Aging contracts with Empire Justice to provide training and assistance on issues involving Medicare Part D.Other/General: These funds were used to fulfill the core mission of Empire Justice Center and to provide services in such area as Domestic Violence, public benefits and immigration; to provide services on Long Island through the Public Advocacy Center; and to support the Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship. In providing these programs and services, in calendar year 2018, the organization offered 118 training events, issuing 630 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits and reaching over 9,330 participants. Training topics included: "The Opportunities and Perils of the Community Reinvestment Act," "Representing Victims of Domestic Violence in Family Court," "The Neurobiology of Experiencing Violence and/or Assault," "Immigrants Living with HIV: Pathways to Employment and Health Care," "ICE Encounters and Public Charge." Empire Justice staff closed 2,081 direct service cases during 2018, directly benefiting 4,648 people. 3026243 3281096 6175647 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 0 1 89 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 NY X Lori K McCormick 5854544060 1 West Main Street No 200 Rochester NY 14614 JoAnn Smith Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Deborah P Amory Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Nancy Engelhardt Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 L Theresa Macon Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 Raymond Brescia Vice Chair 1.00 X X 0 0 0 John Bringewatt Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 Emily E Whalen Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 David H Tennant Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 Kristen Clark Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Maureen DeRosa Member 0.50 X 0 0 0 Anne Erickson President and CEO 35.00 X 140597 0 15167 Lori K McCormick Chief Financial Officer 35.00 X 89798 0 898 Bryan Hetherington Chief Counsel 35.00 X 145307 0 13371 375702 0 29436 2 0 1 0 0 200000 28771 225426 308015 762212 Disability Benefits 541100 1086394 1086394 Foreclosure Prevention 541100 937886 937886 Immigrant Assistance 541100 912892 912892 Health HIV/AIDS 541100 338632 338632 Consumer Housing & CRA 541100 307712 307712 2634752 2634752 6218268 947 947 11494 28771 14105 -2611 -2611 6978816 6218268 0 -1664 X 246460 51402 195058 3969940 3491448 478492 25190 22745 2445 631340 539413 91927 305930 257974 47956 44730 44730 9885 9885 1064422 981238 83184 202709 180041 22668 74271 65760 8511 368945 311111 57834 121275 116818 4457 48740 41100 7640 38529 38529 Leadership Consulting 25530 25530 Litigation Costs 3787 3787 121537 74281 47256 7303220 6175647 1127573 0 150 150 160668 60116 1616811 1884035 185128 145755 105393 93041 302160 169579 166626 132581 8299 12574 2243075 2328252 941632 991203 16735 8332 12607 0 339000 949964 1359545 X 941611 688036 351500 280671 1293111 968707 2243075 2328252 -324404 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 786959 768792 838908 1077256 762212 4234127 786959 768792 838908 1077256 762212 4234127 583307 3650820 11200 8930 2538 3205 947 26820 11494 11494 4272441 32042548 0.85450 0.82220 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: Special Events Gross Income RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 566 4031 4597 7298623 7303220 515161 128790 0 0 542907 526800 517230 515161 2102098 3153147 11641 5877 7662 4597 29777 135727 131700 129308 128790 525525 788288 1594 127 1002 566 3289 0 1 X 69779 36199 33580 58851 52527 6324 173530 80853 92677 132581 Line of Credit 339000 339000 7007384 25957 25957 6981427 -2611 -2611 6978816 7331788 25957 2611 28568 7303220 0 7303220 Part IV, Line 2b: Client escrow funds are held in a separate, interest-bearing checking account. Part XI, Line 4b - Other Adjustments: Special Event -2,611. Part XII, Line 2d - Other Adjustments: Special Event 2,611. Leadership Event 40265 28771 11494 9986 1508 2611 40265 28771 11494 9986 1508 2611 14105 -2611 X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anne Erickson President and CEO 140597 0 0 0 0 0 1454 0 13713 0 155764 0 0 0 Bryan Hetherington Chief Counsel 145307 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13371 0 158678 0 0 0 Part I, Line 3 The Board of Directors approved the increase in Anne's salary effective October 1, 2018. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 shall be reviewed by the Executive Director and Treasurer and then presented to all Board members either electronically or by paper copy prior to its signing and subsequent filing with the IRS. At the next Board meeting, the Treasurer and tax preparer, if appropriate, will review the Form 990 with the Board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c On an annual basis, the Audit Committee maintains conflict of interest declarations for all members of the board. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Board of Directors acting as a whole will have the responsibility to set CEO compensation and conduct an annual review of CEO performance. It will set compensation in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 4953 of the Internal Revenue Code: including: an independent compensation setting process; which is based on reliable information; with contemporaneous documentation; and that seeks to provide compensation that is reasonable compared to the compensation provided to CEO's providing like services, in similar organizations, under similiar circumstances. In setting CEO compensation the Board will periodically obtain and review information on compensation in comparable organizations. In the intervening years the board may rely on the last previous data collection and trend it forward to the current year. The process for determining compensation of the organization's officers or key employees includes the use of comparability data as well. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The Form 1023 application which was forwarded to the IRS and Form 990 for the previous three years shall be available for inspection by the public during normal office hours. The names and addresses of contributors on Schedule B shall be redacted in the Form 990's that are made available to the public. Copies will be provided for a fee of $1.00 per page plus postage, if any. Other corporate documents, such as bylaws, minutes, financials and policies and procedures shall be maintained as internal documents and shall not be made available to the general public, unless for a business reason as determined by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part IX, line 11g Subcontracted Legal Services: Program service expenses 892,419. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 892,419. Other: Program service expenses 77,848. Management and general expenses 20,121. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 97,969. Housing Counseling Training: Program service expenses 10,971. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 10,971. Outside Contract Services: Program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 63,063. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 63,063.