VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT OF THE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT OF THE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION INC

EIN 22-2486215 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)

What they do

THE MISSION of THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT of THE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION is to INCREASE ACCESS to JUSTICE BY DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY PRO BONO CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES to ELIGIBLE CLIENTS IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $85.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders19 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

80.59%of revenue went to mission work85.2% of expenses · Program services

1.55%of revenue went to fundraising1.6% of expenses

$94.61spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

12.47%of revenue went to management and office costs13.2% of expenses

$1.23in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

95.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $208,360 for JOANNA ALLISON (EXEC. DIRECTOR & CLERK (THRU 10/25)). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$3,983,215

Mission workProgram services$3,210,09780.59% of revenue85.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$496,66312.47% of revenue13.2% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$61,5771.55% of revenue1.6% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$214,8785.39% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$3,768,33794.61% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 85.2% mission · 13.2% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.61% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 88.9% mission · 9.9% management · 1.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.79% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 91.5% mission · 7.5% management · 0.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.00% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 87.9% mission · 9.9% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 93.36% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 90.6% mission · 7.7% management · 1.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.13% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 86.3% mission · 10.9% management · 2.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 86.16% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 82.9% mission · 14.3% management · 2.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.16% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 77.6% mission · 18.9% management · 3.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 92.45% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$3,983,215

Expenses$3,768,337

Annual surplus $214,878 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$3,210,097 · 85.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$496,663 · 13.2% of expenses

Fundraising$61,577 · 1.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$3,983,215

Expenses$3,768,337

Assets$4,625,025

Income$4,005,115

Contributions$3,819,679

Mission work (program services)$3,210,097

Fundraising$61,577

Grants given$725,760

Average grant$45,360

Management and general$496,663

Stocks and bonds$3,245,167

Accounting fees$49,720

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

JOANNA ALLISONEXEC. DIRECTOR & CLERK (THRU 10/25) · 35 hrs/week $208,360Base $201,006 · Other $7,354

APRIL JONESCHIEF FINANCE & OPERATIONS OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $189,317Base $171,007 · Other $18,310

GERALDINE GRUVIS-PIZARROEXEC DIR/CLERK 10/25;DIR ADV PB 9/25 · 35 hrs/week $175,326Base $147,664 · Other $27,662

ILANA ZELTSERSR. MANAGER OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS · 35 hrs/week $122,287Base $105,931 · Other $16,356

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (19)

JOANNA ALLISONEXEC. DIRECTOR & CLERK (THRU 10/25)

APRIL JONESCHIEF FINANCE & OPERATIONS OFFICER

GERALDINE GRUVIS-PIZARROEXEC DIR/CLERK 10/25;DIR ADV PB 9/25

ILANA ZELTSERSR. MANAGER OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS

WILLIAM ROBERTSCHAIR

ANDREW H COHNDIRECTOR

STEVEN D POHLDIRECTOR

SARAH KELLYDIRECTOR

RICHARD FERGUSONTREASURER

JASON H LISSDIRECTOR

HANTZLEY AUDATEDIRECTOR

DEE MULLENDIRECTOR

DEBORAH HILL BORNHEIMERDIRECTOR

DAPHNE LOPESDIRECTOR

DANIELLE CUNNINGHAMDIRECTOR

CYNTHIA BELLDIRECTOR

CHRISTOPHER CLARKVICE CHAIR

CATHERINE LOMBARDODIRECTOR

BRIAN DUNPHYDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1984
Location: 7 WINTHROP SQ, BOSTON, MA 02110-1239
County: Suffolk
In care of: GERALDINE GRUVIS-PIZARRO
Primary officer: GERALDINE GRUVIS-PIZARRO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(617) 423-0648

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: LEONARD MULHERIN & GREENE PC
NTEE classification: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)
Grant-giving organization: Yes