Family Legal Care
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Accredited Charity
Meets Standards
Standards Legend
- Meets Standards
- Standards Not Met
- Did Not Disclose
- Review In Progress
- Unable to Verify
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1
Description
Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fundraising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Size
Number of Board Members: Standard 2
Description
Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Meetings
Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3
Description
An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.The organization meets this standard.
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Board Compensation
Compensated Board Members: Standard 4
Description
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.The organization meets this standard.
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Conflict of Interest
Conflict of Interest: Standard 5
Description
No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.The organization meets this standard.
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6
Description
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.The organization meets this standard.
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Effectiveness Report
Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7
Description
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.The organization meets this standard.
Finances
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Program Expenses
Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8
Description
Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.The organization meets this standard.
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Fundraising Expenses
Fundraising Expense Ratio: Standard 9
Description
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fundraising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fundraising efforts.The organization meets this standard.
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Accumulating Funds
Ending Net Assets: Standard 10
Description
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.The organization meets this standard.
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Audit Report
Financial Statements: Standard 11
Description
Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $1 million, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $1 million, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12
Description
Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fundraising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.The organization meets this standard.
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Accurate Expense Reporting
Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13
Description
Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fundraising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fundraising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.The organization meets this standard.
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Budget Plan
Budget: Standard 14
Description
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fundraising, and administration.The organization meets this standard.
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
Misleading Appeals: Standard 15
Description
Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.The organization meets this standard.
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Annual Report
Annual Report: Standard 16
Description
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fundraising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.The organization meets this standard.
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Website Disclosures
Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17
Description
Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.The organization meets this standard.
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Donor Privacy
Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18
Description
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.The organization meets this standard.
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19
Description
Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).The organization meets this standard.
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Complaints
Complaints: Standard 20
Description
Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fundraising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.The organization meets this standard.
Conclusion
Family Legal Care meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Purpose
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Year, State Incorporated
1996, NY
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Stated Purpose
Family Legal Care’s mission is to increase access to justice in New York State Family Court. We combine legal guidance, easy-to-access technology, and compassionate support to help unrepresented parents and caregivers self-advocate on critical family law issues, while working on reform that improves the system for everyone.Our organization was founded inside the Manhattan Family Courthouse in 1996, where we answered questions and distributed Know Your Rights pamphlets from a table in the lobby. Before Family Legal Care, sources of information or guidance for pro se litigants in the Family Courts were essentially nonexistent despite the overwhelming need for this information: over half a million parents and caregivers come to Family Court in New York State each year, and 80% come without a lawyer. Due to decades of underfunding, Family Court is overburdened and under-resourced. Unrepresented litigants may have mere minutes in front of a judge to decide on issues with incredibly high stakes, like child support, custody and visitation, and domestic violence. This could mean a parent having enough child support money to put food on the table or a safe place for their child to live.Today, we are the only legal services organization dedicated solely to empowering parents and caregivers to represent themselves in Family Court. Our limited-scope representation model is the only one of its kind in New York. Unlike other legal services organizations, we do not restrict services by income level, case type, or client demographics. We serve litigants with a case in New York Family Court no matter where they currently live, including out-of-state and international litigants. Our services are always free. Because the Family Courts are overburdened and understaffed, it can be hard for litigants to find caring support. One of our guiding principles is to provide compassionate care so litigants feel heard, understood, and confident in their ability to advocate for their families in Court.
Programs
Legal Consultations: Pro se litigants meet with a Family Legal Care staff attorney for about an hour to receive in-depth advice and counsel to prepare a case. Many return for follow-up advice and support.Family Law Information Services: Our Telephone, Email and Live-Chat Helplines are the primary point of entry for legal support and guidance. Helpline services are available in English and Spanish, and we use a translation service for callers who speak additional languages. We also provide legal information in-person at NYC’s borough Family Courthouses.Pro Bono Program: This unique program leverages the resources and legal experience of the private bar. Clients receive legal advice from Family Legal Care-trained volunteer attorneys on their mobile devices or computers, eliminating the need for long-distance trips to the courthouse and mitigating expensive burdens like taking time away from work and securing childcare.Legal Resource Guides (LRGs): Our 60 unique guides cover a range of family law issues in nine languages. They are available in courthouses and through community partners.Legal Education and Community Outreach: We work with community partners to present virtual family law clinics in English and Spanish. We prioritize outreach to key constituent groups with specific needs, including: veterans/active military service-members; Spanish-speaking and immigrant families; currently/previously incarcerated parents; and domestic violence survivors.Digital Justice Initiative: We have developed innovative tools that address the gaps in the Family Court’s online resources. Family Law Navigator builds a customized report that can be a helpful starting point for people beginning to address their family law issue. Our Guided Court Forms make it easy for litigants to understand, complete, and upload essential court documents from any web-connected device without a computer or extra PDF-editing software.Tech Hubs: At our Brooklyn, Queens, and Bronx Tech Hubs, we help pro se litigants impacted by the digital divide to access the hybrid court system. Litigants who may not have access to technology, a stable internet connection, or a private space can conduct their virtual hearings and upload documents related to their case.
For the year ended September 30, 2022, Family Legal Care program expenses were:
Programs | $2,843,695 |
Program Expenses | $2,843,695 |
Governance & Staff
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Board Chair
Ms. Gabriella Nawi, Senior Vice President, Personal Insurance Distribution & Strategy
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Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Travelers Insurance
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Board Size
20
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Paid Staff Size
28
Fundraising
Method(s) Used:
Invitations to fundraising events, Grant proposals, Internet, Appeals via Social Media (Facebook, etc.).
% of Related Contributions on Fundraising: 8.63%
Tax Status
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
Financial
The following information is based on Family Legal Care's Audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022
Source of Funds | |
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Government grants | $1,839,675 |
Contributions | $1,345,253 |
Special events, net of direct expenses | $725,570 |
Paycheck Protection Program grant | $285,837 |
In-kind contributions | $201,351 |
Other | $622 |
Total Income | $4,398,308 |
Breakdown of Expenses
Total Income | $4,398,308 |
Total Expenses: | $3,679,915 |
Program Expenses | $2,843,695 |
Fundraising Expenses | $362,245 |
Administrative Expenses | $473,975 |
Other Expenses | $0 |
Income in Excess of Expenses | $718,393 |
Beginning Net Assets | $1,953,142 |
Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
Ending Net Assets | $2,671,535 |
Total Liabilities | $240,064 |
Total Assets | $2,911,599 |
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