Pisgah Legal Services

“The return was prepared by an independent accountant with assistance and oversight by management. Upon completion and review, the return was reviewed and approved by the executive committee, followed by a full distribution to all voting board members, prior to submission to the irs.”

“All board members are required annually to disclose any conflicts of interest that may exist between themselves and the organization. Any conflicts noted are reported, discussed, and any action determined necessary is taken by the executive committee of the board.”

“Compensation for the executive director is determined by the executive committee of the board of directors using an externally-prepared compensation study/survey and market data. Independent approval by the full board is required. As of the filing of this return, compensation for the executive director was last reviewed summer of 2024.”

“The organization's financial statements, conflict of interest policy, bylaws, and certain other governing documents and policies are available for inspection by request at the organization's administrative offices.”

“Pisgah legal services pursues justice to improve lives for low-income people in western north carolina through legal assistance and advocacy. Pisgah legal services envisions a community where all people have access to civil legal assistance when they need it to protect their basic rights and secure essentials, such as housing, health care, income, and safety from abuse. We envision a community with policies and services in place that reduce poverty and ease the burdens of poverty on our neighbors. The organization tracked 35 million in quantifiable benefits secured for its clients in 2024, although many legal outcomes cannot be valued in dollars, such as escaping from domestic violence or homelessness. More than 25,800 people were served at no charge. The organization played a vital role in immediate tropical storm helene recovery efforts and will contine to do so in the future .”

“It was an unprecedented year for pls, with a surge in funding during the last quarter of 2024 in response to the hurricane. While this income was booked in calendar year 2024, the surplus is being carried over to 2025 to cover personnel and operating expenses which will support ongoing community needs.”

“Total hours for all volunteers was approximately 9,000, including 2,218 attorney hours donated by 200+ attorneys and 50 emeritus attorneys.”

“Domestic violence and child abuse prevention services: in 2024, the organization provided free legal advice and representation to help more than 5,622 adults and children who were victims of domestic or sexual violence to escape abuse and rebuild their lives. Staff and volunteer attorneys help victims/survivors secure court protective orders to improve safety, and address barriers to independence, such as child custody, division of marital property, housing problems, income, and consumer protection so that victims can establish new lives apart from their abusers. The organization also collaborates with domestic violence shelters, law enforcement, and other community partners to reduce domestic violence in area communities and to improve services for victims. 28% of the organization's closed legal cases involved issues related to domestic violence and child abuse.”

“- legal services to the poor: helps low-income individuals address consumer protection issues, income shortfalls, and manage their limited resources. This work includes helping restore drivers' licenses and expunge criminal records so that people can increase their incomes. - elder law: helps seniors live independently in their homes as long as possible. Protects seniors from financial or physical abuse or harassment and assists with end-of-life planning. 2024 expenditures: 413,609. - children's law project: helps disadvantaged children avoid homelessness, access essential services such as medical care and public education, and escape situations of abuse. 2024 expenditures: 348,686. - benefits law: obtains and protects public benefits for low-income people, including food and nutritional services, medicaid, social security, and others. Pisgah legal assists medicaid beneficiaries and applicants to protect medicaid rights. 2024 expenditures: 161,138. - justice for all project: assists eligible immigrants with securing legal immigration status or work authorization and addresses other basic needs like safety and housing so that immigrants may lift themselves and their families out of poverty. This program serves 18 of the westernmost counties of north carolina. Some immigrants are served in other programs, including domestic violence prevention. 2024 expenditures: 453,066. - volunteer lawyers/hotline: recruits and trains a network of volunteer lawyers to provide pro bono legal services to the organization's clients; cases are screened for income and case type and referred by pisgah legal services. 2024 expenditures: 496,565 (not including 554,500 donated attorney professional time). - community economic development: increases jobs and affordable housing through advocacy and technical, legal assistance to support and build capacity of nonprofits, faith groups, small businesses and local governments. 2024 expenditures: 213,638. - low-income taxpayer clinic (litc): the litc program provides legal assistance in tax disputes with the irs, community tax education and systemic advocacy to low-income taxpayers in eighteen counties in wnc. - north carolina medicaid ombudsman (ncmo): in partnership with the charlotte center for legal advocacy and legal aid of nc, the ncmo program provides support to medicaid managed care beneficiaries and communications with the state regarding issues learned from medicaid members. All amounts above are adjusted to remove the value of donated services not reported as income on form 990.”