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Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Inc

EIN 41-1316151 · Saint Paul, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS AND ELIGIBLE CLIENT GROUPS IN CIVIL MATTERS, IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER WHICH ENABLES CLIENTS TO: 1.) ENFORCE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, 2.) OBTAIN EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND FORUMS WHICH CONSTITUTE OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE, 3.) MAINTAIN FREEDOM FROM HUNGER, HOMELESSNESS, SICKNESS AND ABUSE, AND 4.) EMPOWER PERSONS AND ASSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THUS HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES AND BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-RELIANT, TO THE EXTENT THEIR INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.

Income
$19.8 million
Spending
$18.3 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
146
Volunteers
78
Highest pay
$211,571, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $14.9 million spent. SOUTHERN MINNESOTA REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (SMRLS OR THE ORGANIZATION) WAS FORMED IN 1909 IN ST. PAUL AS A BRANCH OF ASSOCIATED CHARITIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. IN 1977, SMRLS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO 32 ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE STATE AND TO MIGRANT FARM WORKERS IN MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA. IN 2016, THE DEFINITION OF CLIENTS ELIGIBLE TO BE SERVED THROUGH THE MIGRANT PROGRAM WAS BROADENED TO AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN RENAMED.A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SMRLS' OPERATIONS IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC), A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1974 TO ASSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW FOR ALL AMERICANS. LSC IS HEADED BY A BIPARTISAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONFIRMED BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE.DURING 2024, SMRLS SERVED 11,939 CLIENTS (33,722 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS) WITH MORE THAN 13,610 LEGAL MATTERS. IN ADDITION, APPROXIMATELY 6,630 FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS BENEFIT FROM SMRLS' PREVENTATIVE LAW AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION WORK AND APPROXIMATELY 51,061 PEOPLE ACCESSED THE WEBSITE.SMRLS EMPLOYS 68 ATTORNEYS AND 57 NON-ATTORNEY STAFF. SMRLS CURRENTLY HAS OFFICES IN ST. PAUL, MANKATO, ROCHESTER, WINONA, ALBERT LEA, WORTHINGTON AND MOORHEAD, AS WELL AS WITHIN SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS AT A HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY CLINICS. SMRLS HAS GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS TRADITION OF SOUND MANAGEMENT AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE. SMRLS' NATIONALLY RESPECTED COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS, AND ITS DIVERSITY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORK, HAVE RESULTED IN AN EFFECTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED AND COLLABORATIVE LAW PRACTICE.IN JUNE 2024, THE SMRLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A PLAN FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF SMRLS' STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, 2024+ BEYOND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. THE STRATEGIC PLAN WILL FOCUS ON 5 KEY POINTS. TO IMPROVE SMRLS' ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEW NEEDS OF THE CLIENT POPULATION IN OUR SERVICES AREA. TO MAKE EFFORT AND KEEP SMRLS A DIVERSE, ADEPT, AND RESPONSIVE LAW FIRM TO FOCUS LEGAL WORK ON RACIAL JUSTICE. TO BE VIEWED AS THE STATEWIDE LEADER IN LEGAL AID. TO CREATE A CULTURAL VIBRANCY IN SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WORK/LIFE BALANCE AND PERSONAL WELLNESS FOR ITS STAFF. TO RETAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY ON EXISTING FUNDING WHILE ACTIVELY CULTIVATING NEW FUNDING SOURCES.SMRLS HAS STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATEWIDE LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS, LAWYERS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND CLIENT GROUPS. THROUGH A SERIES OF INNOVATIVE URBAN AND RURAL VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAMS, 80 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS DONATED APPROXIMATELY 1,543 HOURS OF CASE REPRESENTATION TIME TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS IN 2024.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1978.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.