2014-05-12T16:24:21-05:00 2013-09-30 363990892 Capin Crouse LLP 972 Emerson Parkway STE A Greenwood IN 46143 990 2012-10-01 133910567 Legal Information for Families Today LEGA 6466139633 32 Court Street No 1208 Brooklyn NY 11201 Sharon Myrie 6466139633 2014-05-12 1 David C Moja P00747006 3178852620 2012 2015-11-30 17:44:51Z Sharon Myrie 32 Court Street No 1208 Brooklyn NY 11201 1630916 0 X www.LIFTonline.org X 1996 NY Provide legal information & community education & promote reform of the courts & public agencies 15 15 23 30 0 0 2130059 1180085 0 0 505 370 -8395 450461 2122169 1630916 0 0 0 0 1380940 1169968 0 0 135262 480002 420206 1860942 1590174 261227 40742 1325076 1336571 88622 59375 1236454 1277196 X Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT) is an award-winning non-profit dedicated to empowering unrepresented litigants so that they may successfully self-advocate in the New York Family Courts. 0 0 448732 Family Legal Center (FLC) - Launched in 2007, the FLC - the only program of its kind in New York - empowers unrepresented litigants to access justice by learning how to act as their own lawyer and improve their families' long-term stability and well-being. Through this program, LIFT provides in-depth, ongoing support to litigants proceeding without a lawyer in child support, custody and visitation cases over a period of weeks or months. These litigants have no other place to turn to receive the critical tools and support they need to represent themselves - from assistance completing a petition, to moot court opportunities where they can practice what they want to say to the judge. The FLC has become an important resource for thousands of families. In the past year, the FLC enrolled 745 participants while providing ongoing support to nearly 800 litigants whose matters continued from prior enrollment. (Family Court matters often take more than one year to resolve due to the slow pace of the system.) Nearly 90% of participants reported that as a result of the FLC they knew what to do next in their case. 299421 Family Court-based Education & Information Sites - LIFT operates five comprehensive sites inside the Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island Family Courts. At the Sites, bilingual (Spanish/English) staff and law student volunteers work with hundreds of people each day, answer a range of questions pertaining to family law, and distribute LIFT's original multilingual Legal Resource Guides. During 2013, the Sites served 14,500 people and answered 104,000 inquiries. More than 95% of survey respondents reported the services were "extremely helpful." 260263 The Family Law Information Telephone, Email, and Live Chat Hotlines - LIFT's Hotlines enable all Family Court-involved people - including those in New York City and elsewhere - to benefit from LIFT's support, guidance, and expertise. Bilingual (Spanish/English) Hotline Associates staff provide information regarding family law along with referrals to community-based social and legal services. In 2013, the Telephone Hotline served over 10,100 callers, and the Email Hotline received over 1,750 inquiries. LIFT also added the Live-Chat Hotline in 2012, thereby offering Family Court litigants another entry point for service. Survey respondents overwhelmingly (99%) rated the Hotlines' assistance as "extremely helpful". 182764 Online Legal Education Program (OLEP): OLEP provides free webinars on a wide range of family law topics. By utilizing web-based technology, OLEP reaches a wider city and statewide audience in a more cost-effective model. Our first webinar "The Rights of Relatives in Family Court," was recorded in 2012 and made available on LIFT's website. That webinar was viewed 72 times in 2013. In the coming year we will present new webinars on a quarterly schedule.Production of Legal Resource Guides: LIFT produces original multilingual Legal Resource Guides - nearly 40 in all. Available in eight languages at all programs and on our website, the guides cover a wide range of family law issues, and are written at the fifth grade level (the national standard) in an easy-to-understand Q&A format. In 2013, LIFT distributed nearly 170,000 paper or electronic copies of the guides. Family Court Judge for a Day Program: Run in partnership with the Courts, the program provides public officials and private sector executives with a unique opportunity to shadow judges and observe proceedings. In addition to raising awareness of Family Court conditions, the program helps bring resources to Family Court and LIFT. In 2013, LIFT hosted two Judge for a Day events.Public Policy: LIFT engages in system reform initiatives to catalyze significant and lasting change in the Family Court system. In 2013, LIFT was honored by an invitation to serve on a new committee created by New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. The Committee on Non-Lawyers and the Justice Gap is examining how to expand the role of non-lawyer advocates in the delivery of legal services. In addition, LIFT serves on the New York City Family Court Advisory Council, the New York City Bar Association's Family Court and Family Law Committee, and the City Bar's Council on Children. 182764 1191180 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 1 23 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 15 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 NY X X Sharon Myrie 6466139633 32 Court Street No 1208 Brooklyn NY 11201 Stephen McGrath 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Stephen Moore 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Liberty Aldrich Esq 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Leslie Abbey Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Peter Braus 1.00 X 0 0 0 Sara DiLeo Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Lisa Peck Goldberg Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Karen Greenstein Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Roy Haynes Jr 1.00 X 0 0 0 Thomas Ostrander 1.00 X 0 0 0 Glenn Pollner Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jennifer Rubin Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Anthony Schlesinger 1.00 X 0 0 0 William Silverman Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Julie Kinch Esq part year 1.00 X 0 0 0 Nicole Berlin Marra Esq 1.00 X 0 0 0 Melissa Beck part year 50.00 X 178772 0 32305 Melanie Hart part year 50.00 X 113881 0 13168 Sharon Myrie 50.00 X 0 0 0 292653 0 45473 2 0 1 0 0 605127 574958 1180085 370 370 Lease Buyout 900099 450461 450461 450461 1630916 0 0 450831 235513 164004 27761 43748 744408 622880 73994 47534 23703 20212 2314 1177 91586 75864 9124 6598 74758 60270 7726 6762 10550 10550 134246 35882 91853 6511 74410 59991 7690 6729 123729 99750 12788 11191 1503 1212 155 136 7554 6090 781 683 11408 9197 1179 1032 11395 9187 1177 1031 Dues and subscriptions 14767 11906 1525 1336 Moving expense 14207 14207 Program expense 7655 7655 8782 7080 908 794 1590174 1191180 263732 135262 307243 363922 512768 512698 429250 392753 9042 28718 166452 144526 33334 21926 33439 16554 1325076 1336571 88622 59375 88622 59375 X 847638 882653 388816 394543 1236454 1277196 1325076 1336571 40742 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1410624 1631038 1788034 2130059 1180085 8139840 1410624 1631038 1788034 2130059 1180085 8139840 540520 7599320 6925 2901 1432 505 370 12133 1287 192058 237919 595285 450461 1477010 9628983 0.78920 0.94130 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: Other income - 2008 Amount: $ 1,287. 2009 Amount: $ 1,590. 2012 Amount: $ 450,461. Fundraising events - 2009 Amount: $ 190,468. 2010 Amount: $ 237,919. 2011 Amount: $ 595,285. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 19910 12225 7685 140532 127731 12801 6010 4570 1440 21926 X 1652632 21716 21716 1630916 0 1630916 1611890 21716 21716 1590174 0 1590174 Description of Uncertain Tax Positions Under FIN 48: Part X, Line 2: The effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Interest and penalties, if any, are included in expenses in the statements of activities. As of September 30, 2013 and 2012, LIFT had no uncertain tax positions that qualify for recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. LIFT files returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and the state of New York. With few exceptions, LIFT is no longer subject to investigation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for years before 2009. X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Melissa Beck part year 178772 0 0 0 0 0 9443 0 22862 0 211077 0 0 0 Volunteers Form 990, Part I, Line 6 LIFT is fortunate to have a large number of unpaid trained volunteers who perform many of LIFT's key program services. The value of these services is not recognized under generally accepted accounting principals or in this Form 990. The use of volunteers for program services results in a significant cost savings for LIFT. However, because these values are excluded, LIFT's program service expenses as reflected in the Form 990 are not a true measure or representation of the organization's operational efficiency if viewed in comparison to total expenses. If the value of volunteer services was recognized in the Form 990, the organization's true operational efficiency would be higher. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11 The Form 990 is prepared by an independent CPA firm. Prior to filing, a draft of the 990 is reviewed and approved by the Finance and Audit Committee. That Committee then reports to the full Board that they have approved the 990 for filing. A copy of the final 990 is provided to the Board before filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c The Board of Directors, Officers, and key employees are required to review annually an updated conflict of interest policy and disclosure, with a statement, that is required to be signed and returned to the organization and kept on file. The signed statements are reviewed by the Board Governance Committee. If a conflict should arise, the individual would abstain from voting. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a 15a - The CEO's compensation is determined on the basis of performance evaluation, seniority, and compensation comparisons to other not-for-profit entities. The Executive Committee performs research then submits to the full Board of Directors for review and final approval. The process was documented in the minutes and was last completed during the fiscal year. 15b - The organization does not compensate any other officers or key employees. Therefore, the question was answered no in accordance with the instructions. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are made available upon request. In addition, the financial statements are made available on LIFT's website. Executive Committee Form 990, Part VI, Line 1a The Executive Committee is currently comprised of the Chairperson of the Board, who serves as Chair of the Executive Committee, and three elected officers of the Board of Directors. The President/CEO shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide leadership to the Board and to handle administrative matters related to the Board and the organization that do not need to be decided by the entire Board or by the Chief Executive Officer. This committee can make decisions on the Board's behalf.