Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland does not meet the following 5 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
LASC does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization's effectiveness assessment policy does not specify that this assessment will take place at least once Every 2 Years.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
LASC does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
LASC does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided 2026 budget information, it indicated that the budget:
- Did not identify total projected program service expenses.
- Did not identify total projected fundraising expenses.
- Did not identify total projected administrative expenses.
Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.
LASC does not meet this Standard because the 2024 annual report did not include:
- Total expenses for each program in the same categories that appear in the organization’s financial statements (improve safety and health, promote education and economic stability, and secure decent affordable housing)
Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.
LASC does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://lasclev.org/, does not indicate:
- What specific security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 1, 15
Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland meets the remaining 13 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change."
Year, State Incorporated:
1905, OH
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (LASC) reports that it provides legal services at no cost to low-income clients in the service areas of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties in Ohio, and takes cases that impact basic needs such as health, shelter, economics, education, and access to justice. LASC states that its attorneys practice in the areas of consumer rights, domestic violence, education, employment, family law, health, housing, foreclosure, immigration, public benefits, utilities, and tax. Additionally, the organization provides information and resources to individuals through community presentations and resource fairs with the aim of enabling people to solve issues on their own or seek appropriate guidance. Finally, LASC states that it also conducts training sessions and consultations with community partners and service providers on how to refer clients to LASC's legal services.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland's program expenses were:
| Secure decent affordable housing | $7,670,257 |
| Promote education and economic stability | $6,186,120 |
| Improve safety and health | $5,301,953 |
| Total Program Expenses | $19,158,330 |
Chief Executive
Colleen M. Cotter, Esq., Executive Director
Compensation*
$280,725
Chair of the Board
Joeseph Rodgers, Esq.
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Attorney, Eaton Corporation
Board Size
21
Paid Staff Size
174
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements
Fundraising costs were 7% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $18,835,871, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on Legal Aid Society Of Cleveland's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Ohio Access to Justice Foundation | $7,850,933 |
| Legal Services Corporation – basic field grant | $3,178,825 |
| Foundations | $1,898,034 |
| Other governmental grants and contracts | $1,675,331 |
| In-kind contributions | $1,629,208 |
| Contributions | $1,376,479 |
| Partner agencies | $986,862 |
| Investment income, net | $963,763 |
| United Way services | $863,968 |
| Legal Services Corporation - other awards | $363,093 |
| Cy Pres funds | $135,493 |
| Other income | $74,245 |
| Litigation income | $11,156 |
| Total Income | $20,989,377 |
Programs: 82% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 12%
| Total Income | $20,989,377 |
| Total expenses: | $23,322,037 |
| Program expenses | $19,158,330 |
| Fundraising expenses | $1,300,520 |
| Administrative expenses | $2,863,187 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $-2,332,660 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $16,915,242 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $14,582,582 |
| Total Liabilities | $5,712,123 |
| Total Assets | $20,294,705 |
Note: According to LASC’s 2025 audited consolidated financial statements, the organization received in-kind contributions totaling $1,629,208 in the form of donated legal services.
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
RELATED CONTENT
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Serving Greater Cleveland