PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES INC

EIN 37-1030764 · International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)

What they do

to Educate and Provide / Coordinate The Delivery of High Quality Free Civil Legal Services to Low-income Individuals, Senior Citizens, Persons With Disabilities, and Other Vulnerable Persons

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $80.80 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 leaders28 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

77.73%of revenue went to mission work80.8% of expenses · Program services

3.97%of revenue went to fundraising4.1% of expenses

$96.25spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

14.55%of revenue went to management and office costs15.1% of expenses

$1.07in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

98.1%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

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 $194,852 for DENISE CONKLIN (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 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$23,752,745

Mission workProgram services$18,463,50277.73% of revenue80.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,456,13014.55% of revenue15.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$942,6153.97% of revenue4.1% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$890,4983.75% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$22,862,24796.25% 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: 80.8% mission · 15.1% management · 4.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.25% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 82.4% mission · 13.9% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.55% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 83.1% mission · 13.2% management · 3.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.28% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 84.8% mission · 12.2% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.37% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 85.5% mission · 11.5% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.85% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 85.2% mission · 11.3% management · 3.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 94.40% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 84.0% mission · 12.0% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 105.58% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 84.5% mission · 11.5% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.29% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$23,752,745

Expenses$22,862,247

Annual surplus $890,498 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)$18,463,502 · 80.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,456,130 · 15.1% of expenses

Fundraising$942,615 · 4.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$23,752,745

Expenses$22,862,247

Assets$24,458,121

Income$24,350,948

Contributions$23,311,339

Mission work (program services)$18,463,502

Fundraising$942,615

Management and general$3,456,130

Executive compensation (total)$499,911

Accounting fees$49,500

Investing fees$36,779

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

DENISE CONKLINEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 38 hrs/week $194,852Base $180,528 · Other $14,324

GRETCHEN FARWELLMANAGING ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $162,282Base $112,903 · Other $49,379

ADRIAN BARRMANAGING ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $161,364Base $112,603 · Other $48,761

JEAN RUTHEFINANCE DIRECTOR · 38 hrs/week $157,260Base $146,350 · Other $10,910

JESSICA HODIERNEDIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES · 38 hrs/week $155,641Base $118,479 · Other $37,162

JEROME DOMBROWSKIDIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY · 38 hrs/week $155,092Base $107,589 · Other $47,503

AMBER MOOREMANAGING ATTORNEY · 38 hrs/week $152,404Base $116,411 · Other $35,993

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 (28)

DENISE CONKLINEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

GRETCHEN FARWELLMANAGING ATTORNEY

ADRIAN BARRMANAGING ATTORNEY

JEAN RUTHEFINANCE DIRECTOR

JESSICA HODIERNEDIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

JEROME DOMBROWSKIDIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

AMBER MOOREMANAGING ATTORNEY

J MICHAEL BEANBOARD MEMBER

WILLIAM BECKMANPRESIDENT

SCOTT J SMITHBOARD MEMBER

REBECCA LEETREASURER

RANDA SALINASCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

LOUIS HOBSONCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

LISA RAE CORWINBOARD MEMBER

LEILA SIENABOARD MEMBER

KENNETH E DAVIESVICE PRESIDENT

JULIE OROURKEGENERAL BOARD DIRECTOR

AMBREA SAMUELSCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

ADAM M FLEMINGBOARD MEMBER

ERICKA HILLCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

DEBORAH GOLDBERGBOARD MEMBER

DEANNA HOYTBOARD MEMBER

DEAN DAVISBOARD MEMBER

CIERA MUNOZCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

CHRISTI ALEXANDERBOARD MEMBER

CAROL LOUGHRIDGECLIENT BOARD MEMBER

C GARRETT BONSELLSECRETARY

APRIL FOSTERCLIENT BOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1977
Location: 303 N MAIN ST STE 600, ROCKFORD, IL 61101-1050
County: Winnebago
In care of: % KELLY TRIPP
Primary officer: Jean Ruthe, Finance Director

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailadministration@pslegal.org Phone(815) 965-2134 Officer phone(815) 965-2902

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
NTEE classification: International, Foreign Affairs & National Security (I80Z)
IRS tax category: All Other Legal Services