Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc. faces recurring deficits and declining assets despite zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 134270862 · Birmingham, AL · NTEE: I80 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc (EIN: 134270862) is a nonprofit organization based in Birmingham, AL, classified under NTEE code I80. The organization reported total revenue of $474K and total assets of $263K according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc is a small nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.7%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $377K |
| Total Expenses | $770K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-392,159 |
| Total Assets | $249K |
| Net Assets | $249K |
| Operating Margin | -103.9% |
| Months of Reserves | 3.9 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc reported a deficit of $392K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 3.9 months of operating reserves (adequate).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.7%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -36.7% | +8.9% | -60.2% |
| 2022 | +19.6% | +-0.0% | -22.3% |
| 2021 | -39.2% | -3.6% | -16.5% |
| 2020 | +1.4% | -11.7% | +12.5% |
| 2019 | +53.8% | +40.5% | -4.4% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc with a Mission Score of 65 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $392K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that officers are either uncompensated or compensated through mechanisms not classified as officer compensation on the 990, which is a positive sign for minimizing administrative overhead relative to the organization's size and mission.
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 Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Recurring operational deficits, with expenses exceeding revenue in 7 of the last 10 reported periods.
- Significant decline in total assets from $967,036 in 2016 to $248,791 in 2023, indicating a draw-down of reserves.
- Large deficit in 2023, where expenses ($769,609) were more than double the revenue ($377,450).
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc:
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all available filings, suggesting efficient use of funds at the executive level.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings (13 filings), indicating transparency and compliance.
- Clear mission aligned with NTEE code I80 (Legal Services).
Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc
Is Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc (EIN: 134270862) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc spend its money?
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc tax-deductible?
Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 134270862). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc. financially sustainable given its recurring deficits?
The organization has reported expenses exceeding revenue in 7 out of the last 10 years, including a significant deficit of $392,159 in 2023 (Expenses $769,609 - Revenue $377,450). This trend raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability.
Why have the organization's assets declined so significantly?
Assets have decreased from a peak of $967,036 in 2016 to $248,791 in 2023. This decline likely reflects the consistent operational deficits, where the organization has drawn down its reserves to cover expenses.
What is the actual breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses?
The provided data does not offer a detailed functional expense breakdown. While the 0% officer compensation suggests low executive overhead, a full 990 would be needed to understand the specific percentages allocated to programs, administration, and fundraising.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc's revenue has declined by 7.9%, moving from $410K to $377K. Total assets increased by 29.5% over the same period, from $192K to $249K. Total functional expenses rose by 92.6%, from $400K to $770K. In its most recent filing year (2023), Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc reported a deficit of $392K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $377K | $770K | $249K | $0 | — | — |
| 2022 | $596K | $707K | $625K | $14K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $498K | $707K | $804K | $11K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $819K | $734K | $964K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $808K | $830K | $857K | $26K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $525K | $591K | $896K | $80K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $469K | $525K | $934K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $535K | $475K | $967K | $8K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $901K | $367K | $914K | $21K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $301K | $270K | $366K | $6K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $299K | $162K | $292K | $52K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $308K | $365K | $176K | $43K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $410K | $400K | $192K | $2K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $377K, expenses of $770K, and assets of $249K (revenue -36.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $596K, expenses of $707K, and assets of $625K (revenue +19.6% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $498K, expenses of $707K, and assets of $804K (revenue -39.2% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $819K, expenses of $734K, and assets of $964K (revenue +1.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $808K, expenses of $830K, and assets of $857K (revenue +53.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $525K, expenses of $591K, and assets of $896K (revenue +12.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $469K, expenses of $525K, and assets of $934K (revenue -12.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $535K, expenses of $475K, and assets of $967K (revenue -40.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $901K, expenses of $367K, and assets of $914K (revenue +199.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $301K, expenses of $270K, and assets of $366K (revenue +0.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $299K, expenses of $162K, and assets of $292K (revenue -2.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $308K, expenses of $365K, and assets of $176K (revenue -24.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $410K, expenses of $400K, and assets of $192K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham 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.