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Neighborhood Legal Services Inc

EIN 51-0198935 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS) SEEKS EQUITABLE JUSTICE BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO LEGAL ADVICE, REPRESENTATION, AND EDUCATION TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHO, DUE TO FINANCIAL VULNERABILITY, DISABILITY, DISCRIMINATION, OR ABUSE, REQUIRE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION OF THEIR CIVIL LEGAL RIGHTS. SERVING ERIE, NIAGARA, GENESEE, WYOMING, AND ORLEANS COUNTIES, NLS AIMS TO CREATE THE GREATEST ACCESS TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES TO PURSUE GOALS THAT WILL INCREASE BOTH THE STABILITY AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.

Income
$16.5 million
Spending
$16.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
155
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$211,158, director of finance

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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, 2025, 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. $14.2 million spent. NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (NLS), AS MEASURED BY PROGRAM EXPENSES, DELIVERED ITS LARGEST SERVICE IMPACT THROUGH ITS HOUSING PROGRAM, PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, AND EVICTION PREVENTION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES FACING EVICTION, HOMELESSNESS, UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS, AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION ACROSS ERIE, NIAGARA, GENESEE, WYOMING, AND ORLEANS COUNTIES. SINCE OCTOBER 2021, NLS HAS SUPPORTED THE WESTERN NEW YORK EVICTION PREVENTION PROJECT THROUGH NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE (OTDA) EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP) LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS. THE PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES AGENCIES, CLOSED 22,811 EVICTION MATTERS TO DATE, WITH 42% HANDLED BY NLS. IN ADDITION, 12,226 EVICTIONS WERE PREVENTED AND 3,917 WERE DELAYED, HELPING HOUSEHOLDS SECURE STABLE HOUSING AND AVOID HOMELESSNESS.NLS ALSO PROVIDED CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FACING DISABILITY-RELATED BARRIERS, POVERTY, DENIAL OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, UNSAFE HOUSING, AND FAMILY LAW ISSUES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THROUGH ITS PUBLIC BENEFITS AND ITS MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATED INITIATIVES, NLS ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ACCESSING SNAP, MEDICAID, SSI/SSDI, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS ADDRESSING OTHER HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL NEEDS. IN ITS FAMILY LAW PRACTICE, NLS PROVIDED TRAUMA-INFORMED REPRESENTATION IN MATTERS INVOLVING ORDERS OF PROTECTION, CUSTODY, CHILD SUPPORT, AND DIVORCE.ACROSS ALL PROGRAM AREAS, NLS DELIVERED INTEGRATED LEGAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY THROUGH COURT-BASED, OUTREACH, AND MOBILE LEGAL SERVICE MODELS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND IMPROVE HOUSING STABILITY, ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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