Volunteer Lawyers Project

“The form 990 is discussed at a financial oversight committee meeting. Members of the financial oversight committee receive the form 990 in draft form from vlp staff in advance of the meeting and are invited to respond with concerns, changes, or corrections. After the financial oversight committee has reviewed the form 990, and any changes or corrections have been made, the financial oversight committee recommends approval of the form 990 to the executive committee or the board of directors. Members of the executive committee or the board of directors then receive the form 990 in draft form in advance of a committee or board meeting and are invited to respond with concerns, changes, or corrections. The executive committee or the board of directors approves the draft, and a final version is submitted.”

“The conflict of interest policy is reviewed annually at the board of directors meeting. Directors are sent compliance questionnaires in which they are required to disclose any related party transactions or potential conflicts of interest. When the questionnaires are returned, they are reviewed by the director of fianance and operations, executive director, or director of compliance and technology.”

“When the executive director was hired in 2016, the full board of directors approved her salary. The full board is ultimately responsible for the executive director's compensation. When the prior executive director was hired in 2009, comparable salary information was obtained and the current executive director was offered the same amount. To determine other executive staff compensation, the executive director polled other legal aid offices in massachusetts for comparable salary information. During 2017, the organization completed a formal salary survey, and comparable salary information was obtained for each position, to ensure reasonable compensation. In 2020, the human resources committee of the board evaluated similarly sized legal services organizations' form 990s and increased the executive director's salary in accordance with these comparables. The executive director and other executive staff members generally receive the same salary increase as all other eligible staff members, which is approved annually by the board during the budget process in november.”

“Financial statements are made available pursuant to our disclosure of information to the public policy. In addition, the governing documents and conflict of interest policy are made available upon request. The 990 is available on guidestar's website.”

“Process has not changed from prior years.”