IOWA LEGAL AID Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

IOWA LEGAL AID

EIN 42-1079227 · Legal Services (I80)

What they do

to Strengthen Iowas Families and Communities By Providing Free Legal Help That Protects Housing, Safety, and Income-and Empowers People to Build Stable, Independent Lives. With 10 Offices Serving All 99 Iowa Counties, Iowa Legal Aid Helps More Than 32,000 Individuals and Families Each Year Secure Their Basic Needs and Address Issues Such As Disaster Recovery, Protecting Older Iowans, and Supporting Veterans.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $85.80 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 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

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

They name their leaders24 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

88.58%of revenue went to mission work85.8% of expenses · Program services

4.22%of revenue went to fundraising4.1% of expenses

$103.27spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

10.47%of revenue went to management and office costs10.1% of expenses

$1.34in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

99.0%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.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $467,763 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $192,365 for NICHOLAS SMITHBERG (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 2024

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$14,284,776

Mission workProgram services$12,654,08888.58% of revenue85.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,495,24710.47% of revenue10.1% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$603,2044.22% of revenue4.1% of expenses

Total expenses$14,752,539103.27% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

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

2024CurrentExpense mix: 85.8% mission · 10.1% management · 4.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.27% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 86.0% mission · 10.0% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 85.44% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 85.1% mission · 10.9% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 114.34% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 87.6% mission · 9.3% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 86.30% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 88.0% mission · 9.0% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.18% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 87.6% mission · 9.1% management · 3.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.03% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 89.2% mission · 9.0% management · 1.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.42% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 85.4% mission · 12.3% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.78% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$14,284,776

Expenses$14,752,539

Annual shortfall $467,763 Expenses were higher than revenue 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)$12,654,088 · 85.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,495,247 · 10.1% of expenses

Fundraising$603,204 · 4.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$14,284,776

Expenses$14,752,539

Assets$19,814,605

Income$18,187,882

Contributions$14,144,503

Mission work (program services)$12,654,088

Fundraising$603,204

Management and general$1,495,247

Executive compensation (total)$225,570

Stocks and bonds$5,269,790

Accounting fees$47,273

Investing fees$15,199

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

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

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

NICHOLAS SMITHBERGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 46 hrs/week $192,365Base $143,659 · Other $48,706

KELLY MEINERSCFO · 40 hrs/week $152,165Base $117,016 · Other $35,149

FRANK TENUTAINTERIM DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION & ADVOCACY · 40 hrs/week $142,515Base $104,716 · Other $37,799

ANGELA BROUGHTON-ROMAINDEPUTY DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $137,097Base $127,796 · Other $9,301

JUSTIN RAYDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $126,948Base $108,672 · Other $18,276

ALEX KORNYALITIGATION DIRECTOR · 45 hrs/week $117,904Base $104,555 · Other $13,349

CARRIE OCONNERREGIONAL MANAGER · 40 hrs/week $114,251Base $105,486 · Other $8,765

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 (24)

NICHOLAS SMITHBERGEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KELLY MEINERSCFO

FRANK TENUTAINTERIM DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION & ADVOCACY

ANGELA BROUGHTON-ROMAINDEPUTY DIRECTOR

JUSTIN RAYDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

ALEX KORNYALITIGATION DIRECTOR

CARRIE OCONNERREGIONAL MANAGER

TIMOTHY KRUMMDIRECTOR

SHENIKA MCGILLDIRECTOR

SHAL-MARIE WINTERDIRECTOR

SCOTT FOLKERSDIRECTOR

SAMUEL JONESDIRECTOR

RICHARD DAVIDSONDIRECTOR

MICHAEL MAHAFFEYDIRECTOR

MELVIN SHAWTREASURER

MATTHEW CHAPMANSECRETARY

MARGARET SEYMOURDIRECTOR

KARIN GREGORDIRECTOR

KAREN SHAFFIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

ERIC NEMMERSDIRECTOR

DANIELLE YOUNG-KRUGERDIRECTOR

BRIAN HANSENDIRECTOR

AUNA GOODMANDIRECTOR

ALISON GUERNSEYPRESIDENT

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1977
Location: 606 WALNUT STREET 25 FL, DES MOINES, IA 50309-3978
County: Polk
In care of: % KELLY MEINERS
Primary officer: NICHOLAS SMITHBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(515) 243-2151

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: FORVIS MAZARS LLP
NTEE classification: Legal Services (I80)
IRS tax category: Legal Services