2017-04-17T19:25:11-05:00 2016-06-30 410746749 CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP 220 SOUTH SIXTH STREET SUITE 300 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55402 990 2015-07-01 411832349 BATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT BATT 6123439842 1611 PARK AVENUE SOUTH NO 2 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55404 RANA ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6123439842 2017-04-14 1 MATT STOWELL P01587994 6123764500 2015 2021-01-29 14:40:06Z RANA ALEXANDER 1611 PARK AVENUE SOUTH NO 2 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55404 199792 0 X WWW.BWLAP.ORG X 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION 1996 MN TO PROMOTE JUSTICE FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 6 6 5 15 0 0 191907 173148 13554 14431 16 12 7546 5396 213023 192987 0 0 0 0 147031 167881 0 0 5363 63497 81029 210528 248910 2495 -55923 57434 3897 48912 52044 8522 -48147 X TO PROMOTE JUSTICE FOR BATTERED WOMEN & CHILDREN-BATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT (BWLAP) ACHIEVES ITS MISSION BY ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEM CHANGE, FOR SECURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL, & TO IMPROVE THE LEGAL SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO BATTERED WOMEN & CHILDREN. 1 0 160640 0 10551 LEGAL ADVOCACY/LEGAL RESOURCES - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND IN SOME CASES DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION. DURING FY 2016, BWLAP RECEIVED 2,156 REQUESTS FOR SERVICES OF WHICH 56% RESULTED IN THE PROVISION OF LEGAL CONSULTATIONS. 18% REQUESTS CAME FROM ATTORNEYS, 39% FROM ADVOCATES, AND 17% FROM OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. 20% OF THESE CASES INVOLVED CHILDREN. 46% OF LEGAL CONSULTATIONS CAME FROM RURAL MINNESOTA, 47% FROM THE METRO AREA, 1% FROM RESERVATIONS, AND 1% OUT-OF-STATE. TOPICS OF CONCERN INCLUDE: ORDERS FOR PROTECTION, DIVORCE, CUSTODY, PARENTING TIME, IMMIGRATION, IDENTITY THEFT, HOUSING, ETC. DURING THE YEAR WE WORKED WITH VICTIMS OF CRIMES SEEKING RELIEF FROM THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. MOST CONSULTATIONS ARE INITIATED THROUGH OUR TOLL-FREE ACTION LINE. TRAFFICKING AND IMMIGRATION PROGRAM - THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM STAFFED BY A BI-LINGUAL LEGAL ADVOCATE WHO IS A PARALEGAL AND TRAINED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCATE. THE PROGRAM SERVES THE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING BY PROVIDING REPRESENTATION IN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS TO OBTAIN THE PROPER IMMIGRATION REMEDIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE EACH CLIENT'S NON-LEGAL NEEDS ARE MET. THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONSULTATION AND TRAINING, SIMILAR TO THE ORGANIZATION'S OTHER PROGRAMS. THE THIRD COMPONENT IS FOCUSED ON COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS SUCH AS THE STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE AND A MORE INFORMAL COLLABORATION WITH THE AGENCIES WE WORK WITH THE MOST CLOSELY IN THIS FIELD. THE LEGAL ADVOCATE STAFFING THIS PROGRAM IS A BIA (BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS) CERTIFIED TO REPRESENT CLIENTS IN THE IMMIGRATION'S LEGAL PROCESS WITH THE SUPERVISION OF A LAWYER.SYSTEMS CHANGE - THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS WAYS TO IMPROVE THE LEGAL SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS, WHETHER THROUGH THE PASSAGE OF NEW LEGISLATION OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAWS. ACTIVITIES ARE AIMED AT REDUCING BARRIERS, ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION, AND CREATING LONG-TERM SYSTEMS OF CHANGE. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SYSTEMS CHANGE INCLUDE: A) BEING AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION TO OTHER STATEWIDE AGENCIES ON LEGAL ADVOCACY, TRAININGS, RESPONSE TO PUBLIC POLICY AND OTHER ISSUES. B) PARTICIPATING IN COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS WITH ATTORNEYS AND OTHER LEGAL SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS AN ADVOCACY PERSPECTIVE TO THESE ENTITIES AND INCREASED THE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS FROM DIVERSE CULTURES. C) PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO CREATE COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION AMONG ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS AND OTHER SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS. WE UTILIZE THE LONG RUNNING ANNUAL NEW LAWS TRAINING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER; MAINTAIN A LISTSERV FOR DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVOCATES TO ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND ENGAGE IN STATEWIDE DIALOGUES REGARDING SYSTEM ISSUES; AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES. WE ARE A STRONG VOICE ENCOURAGING COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD, TO WORK TO ELIMINATE A LACK OF TRUST AND A PERCEPTION OF SCARCITY THAT CREATES A CULTURE OF COMPETITION. D) DRAFT AMICUS BRIEFS IN APPELLATE CASES WITH A STATEWIDE IMPACT. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EXPERT TRAINING ON ALL ASPECTS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE-RELATED LAW. A) TRAINING ATTORNEYS, ADVOCATES, AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND LEGAL REMEDIES FOR VICTIMS. BWLAP MAINTAINS A CULTURAL APPROACH TO SOCIAL TOPICS RELATED TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ALL ITS TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES. B) WORK WITH THE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE BATTERED WOMEN'S TASKFORCE AND OTHER INITIATIVES AIMED TO INCREASE TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, AND LEADERSHIP SUPPORT TO ADVOCATES, AGENCIES AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.C) PROVIDE THE ANNUAL MULTIDAY NEW LAWS TRAINING IN SIX DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA. THIS TRAINING IS FOR ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE 25858 0 3880 THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EXPERT TRAINING TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS ON ALL ASPECTS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE-RELATED LAW IN MINNESOTA. THE ANNUAL NEW LAWS TRAINING PROGRAM, HELD AT SIX ACCESSIBLE SITES STATEWIDE, IS THE MOST VISIBLE OF THE PROGRAMS. NEW LAWS IS THE SINGLE GREATEST SOURCE OF UP-TO-DATE LEGAL INFORMATION TO ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALS. NEW LAWS FOCUSES ON LEGAL CHANGES OVER THE PRIOR YEAR THAT COULD IMPACT DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS. NEW LAWS INCLUDES INFORMATION ON MINNESOTA'S LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS DECISIONS, MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT DECISIONS, MINNESOTA'S TRIBAL COURT CHANGES, IMMIGRATION POLICY CHANGES, FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AND FEDERAL CASELAW ON TOPICS THAT IMPACT DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS. 186498 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 MN X RANA ALEXANDER 6123439842 1611 PARK AVENUE SOUTH 2 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55404 HANNAH SKILDUM CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 SHANNON CAREY FORMER CHAIR 2.00 X 0 0 0 NADIA HASAN VICE CHAIR 2.00 X X 0 0 0 MAUREEN CARLSON SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 LISA LAMM BACHMAN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BETH T MORRISON MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ANA VOORHEES MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 RANA ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 38962 0 448 LAUREL MOHAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (THROUGH 6/10/16) 40.00 X 46427 0 2048 85389 0 2496 0 0 0 0 0 136240 36908 173148 TRAINING FEES 611430 8831 8831 ATTORNEY FEES 541100 3880 3880 PROGRAM FEES 900099 1720 1720 14431 12 12 9864 6805 3059 3059 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 900099 2337 2337 2337 192987 14431 0 5408 93055 82819 10236 54805 47935 6870 3988 3988 16033 14644 1389 12673 3360 9313 15792 7910 2519 5363 2967 852 2115 4825 2434 2391 19800 9900 9900 10296 9291 1005 2543 2505 38 3126 514 2612 2032 2132 -100 EQUIPMENT RENTAL & MAIN 3643 321 3322 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSE 1832 381 1451 STAFF DEVELOPMENT 1500 1500 248910 186498 57049 5363 26672 1789 28493 0 2 0 1688 2108 579 0 57434 3897 9788 16537 4124 4124 35000 31383 48912 52044 X -40638 -55147 49160 7000 8522 -48147 57434 3897 -55923 -746 0 X 0 0 0 X 403889 206699 170900 191907 173148 1146543 403889 206699 170900 191907 173148 1146543 1146543 56 37 23 16 12 144 180 4079 4259 1150946 111432 0.99620 0.97840 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 X 0 PART IV, LINE 2B: INTEREST ON LAWYERS TRUST ACCOUNTS (IOLTA) IS A CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT FOR PAYMENTS RECEIVED FROM CLIENTS FOR RETAINERS SIGNED WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CONTRACTUAL ATTORNEY FOR REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT. THE FUNDS ARE MAINTAINED IN A CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT UNTIL THE CASE IS FINALLY CLOSED. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 2 THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE MSBA AND HCBA, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO EXPAND ITS IMMIGRATION AND TRAFFICKING WORK INTO A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM STAFFED BY A BI-LINGUAL LEGAL ADVOCATE WHO IS A PARALEGAL AND TRAINED INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT ADVOCATE. THE PROGRAM SERVES THE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING BY PROVIDING REPRESENTATION IN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS TO OBTAIN THE PROPER IMMIGRATION REMEDIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE EACH CLIENT'S NON-LEGAL NEEDS ARE MET. THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONSULTATION AND TRAINING, SIMILAR TO THE ORGANIZATION'S OTHER PROGRAMS. THE THIRD COMPONENT IS FOCUSED ON COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS SUCH AS THE STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE AND A MORE INFORMAL COLLABORATION WITH THE AGENCIES WE WORK WITH THE MOST CLOSELY IN THIS FIELD. THE LEGAL ADVOCATE STAFFING THIS PROGRAM IS TRAINING TO BECOME BIA (BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS) CERTIFIED TO REPRESENT CLIENTS IN THE IMMIGRATIONS LEGAL PROCESS WITHOUT THE SUPERVISION OF A LAWYER. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT HAVE ANY COMMITTEES WITH AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DURING THE YEAR COVERED BY THIS RETURN. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REVIEWS THE FORM 990 DRAFT, AND THEN TWO BOARD MEMBERS REVIEW THE FINAL FORM 990 PRIOR TO FILING. IT IS THEN PROVIDED TO THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR NEXT BOARD MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL DISCLOSE ALL ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO THE BOARD AS SUCH ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARISE. EACH DIRECTOR SHALL ANNUALLY COMPLETE THE DISCLOSURE FORM IDENTIFYING ANY RELATIONSHIPS, POSITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE DIRECTOR IS INVOLVED THAT HE OR SHE BELIEVES COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISING. PRIOR TO BOARD OR COMMITTEE ACTION ON A CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION INVOLVING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, A DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND WHO IS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING SHALL DISCLOSE ALL FACTS MATERIAL TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SUCH DISCLOSURE SHALL BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. A DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE IN OR BE PERMITTED TO HEAR THE BOARD'S OR COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER EXCEPT TO DISCLOSE MATERIAL FACTS AND TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. SUCH PERSON SHALL NOT ATTEMPT TO EXERT HIS OR HER PERSONAL INFLUENCE WITH RESPECT TO THE MATTER, EITHER AT OR OUTSIDE THE MEETING. A DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER WHO HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH RESPECT TO A CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION THAT WILL BE VOTED ON AT A MEETING SHALL NOT BE COUNTED IN DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM FOR PURPOSES OF THE VOTE. THE DIRECTOR OR COMMITTEE MEMBER HAVING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST MAY NOT VOTE ON THE CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION AND SHALL NOT BE PRESENT IN THE MEETING ROOM WHEN THE VOTE IS TAKEN, UNLESS THE VOTE IS BY SECRET BALLOT. SUCH DIRECTOR'S OR COMMITTEE MEMBER'S INELIGIBILITY TO VOTE SHALL BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD UPON HIRING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICIES, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.