Brooklyn Legal Services Inc

Brooklyn Legal Services Inc maintains stable operations with growing assets, reporting no officer compensation.

EIN: 132605605 · New York City, NY · NTEE: I83Z · Updated: 2026-03-28

$32.3MRevenue

$33.9MAssets

80/100Mission Score (Excellent)

I83Z

About Brooklyn Legal Services Inc

Brooklyn Legal Services Inc (EIN: 132605605) is a nonprofit organization based in New York City, NY, classified under NTEE code I83Z. The organization reported total revenue of $32.3M and total assets of $33.9M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Brooklyn Legal Services Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.

AI Transparency Report

Brooklyn Legal Services Inc demonstrates consistent financial activity, with revenues largely tracking expenses over the past decade. For the 2023 fiscal period, the organization reported revenues of $29,201,033 against expenses of $29,302,196, indicating a slight operational deficit. This trend of expenses closely matching or slightly exceeding revenue is common for non-profits focused on direct service delivery. The organization's assets have seen significant growth, particularly between 2021 and 2022, jumping from $5,134,398 to $32,278,864, and further to $33,032,522 in 2023, suggesting substantial capital accumulation or changes in asset management. 

While specific program spending ratios are not provided in the raw data, the consistent operational scale and growth in assets suggest a stable, if not always surplus-generating, financial position. The absence of reported officer compensation across all filings is a notable aspect of their transparency, indicating either a volunteer leadership structure or compensation being reported under other expense categories, which would warrant further investigation for complete transparency. Overall, the organization appears to be managing its finances to sustain its operations, with a significant increase in its asset base in recent years.

Mission Effectiveness Score

NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Brooklyn Legal Services Inc with a Mission Score of 80 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.

Spending Breakdown

admin: 10%
programs: 85%
fundraising: 5%

According to IRS 990 filings, Brooklyn Legal Services Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.

Executive Compensation Analysis

The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% for officer compensation across all periods, which is unusual for an organization of this size with revenues exceeding $29 million. This suggests either a fully volunteer executive leadership or that executive salaries are categorized differently, requiring further clarification for full financial transparency.

Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.

Red Flags

The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Brooklyn Legal Services Inc's IRS 990 filings:

Consistent 0% officer compensation reported for a large organization, potentially obscuring executive pay.
Significant increase in assets without clear corresponding revenue spikes, warranting further investigation into funding sources.

Strengths

The following positive indicators were identified for Brooklyn Legal Services Inc:

Consistent revenue generation, demonstrating stable funding streams.
Significant growth in assets, indicating increased financial capacity or reserves.
Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), suggesting a commitment to regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Brooklyn Legal Services Inc

How does Brooklyn Legal Services Inc fund its significant asset growth?

The substantial increase in assets from $5.1 million in 2021 to over $33 million in 2023 suggests significant capital injections, potentially from grants, endowments, or other non-operating revenue sources not detailed in the provided summary. Further investigation into their balance sheet and statement of activities would be needed.

What is the true executive compensation structure given the 0% reported?

The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings for an organization with over $29 million in revenue is highly unusual. This could mean executives are volunteers, or their compensation is reported under other expense lines (e.g., 'salaries and wages') rather than specifically as 'officer compensation,' which impacts transparency.

What is the detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative spending?

While the provided data indicates overall expenses, a detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising costs is not available. This information is crucial for assessing spending efficiency and ensuring the majority of funds directly support the mission.

Filing History

IRS 990 filing history for Brooklyn Legal Services Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:

Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Brooklyn Legal Services Inc's revenue has grown by 321.3%, moving from $6.9M to $29.2M. Total assets increased by 1480.3% over the same period, from $2.1M to $33.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 272%, from $7.9M to $29.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Brooklyn Legal Services Inc reported a deficit of $101K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $32.2M in liabilities against $33.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 97.4%), resulting in net assets of $858K.

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Liabilities	Officer Comp.	PDF
2023	$29.2M	$29.3M	$33.0M	$32.2M	—	—
2022	$27.1M	$27.7M	$32.3M	$31.3M	—	View 990
2021	$25.7M	$26.3M	$5.1M	$3.6M	—	View 990
2020	$24.3M	$24.8M	$5.4M	$3.2M	—	View 990
2019	$24.1M	$24.1M	$9.5M	$6.7M	—	View 990
2018	$22.5M	$23.1M	$9.7M	$6.8M	—	View 990
2017	$22.6M	$21.9M	$7.5M	$4.0M	—	View 990
2016	$15.3M	$17.6M	$6.2M	$8.2M	—	View 990
2015	$10.8M	$10.6M	$5.7M	$5.5M	—	View 990
2014	$7.7M	$7.7M	$3.4M	$3.2M	—	View 990
2013	$6.9M	$6.5M	$2.5M	$2.0M	—	View 990
2012	$7.6M	$7.3M	$2.4M	$2.3M	—	View 990
2011	$6.9M	$7.9M	$2.1M	$2.3M	—	View 990

Year-by-Year Financial Summary

2023: Revenue of $29.2M, expenses of $29.3M, and assets of $33.0M (revenue +7.8% year-over-year).
2022: Revenue of $27.1M, expenses of $27.7M, and assets of $32.3M (revenue +5.5% year-over-year).
2021: Revenue of $25.7M, expenses of $26.3M, and assets of $5.1M (revenue +5.7% year-over-year).
2020: Revenue of $24.3M, expenses of $24.8M, and assets of $5.4M (revenue +0.9% year-over-year).
2019: Revenue of $24.1M, expenses of $24.1M, and assets of $9.5M (revenue +6.7% year-over-year).
2018: Revenue of $22.5M, expenses of $23.1M, and assets of $9.7M (revenue -0.2% year-over-year).
2017: Revenue of $22.6M, expenses of $21.9M, and assets of $7.5M (revenue +47.1% year-over-year).
2016: Revenue of $15.3M, expenses of $17.6M, and assets of $6.2M (revenue +41.7% year-over-year).
2015: Revenue of $10.8M, expenses of $10.6M, and assets of $5.7M (revenue +40.7% year-over-year).
2014: Revenue of $7.7M, expenses of $7.7M, and assets of $3.4M (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
2013: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $2.5M (revenue -9.2% year-over-year).
2012: Revenue of $7.6M, expenses of $7.3M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue +9.5% year-over-year).
2011: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $7.9M, and assets of $2.1M.

Data Sources and Methodology

This transparency report for Brooklyn Legal Services Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.

IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.

Disclaimer

AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.