Give.org logo
Support Give.org
Support Give.org
CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2024 Expires: July 2026

Mountain States Legal Foundation

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
9 16 18
(303) 292-2021
2596 South Lewis Way
Lakewood, CO, 80227
https://mslegal.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Mountain States Legal Foundation does not meet the following 3 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 9 (Fund Raising Expense Ratio)
Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

MSLF does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to its 2023 audited financial statements, the organization's fundraising costs were 44% ($1,043,880) of related contributions, which totaled $2,385,314.

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.

MSLF does not meet this Standard because the 2022 annual report did not include:

  • A roster of the board of directors.
  • Total end of year net assets.

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.

MSLF does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://mslegal.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: 8, 13

Mountain States Legal Foundation meets the remaining 15 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to protect and restore those rights enshrined in the Constitution of the United States of America through pro bono litigation."

Year, State Incorporated:
1977, CO

Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) is a non-profit law firm that litigates cases in the Mountain West and beyond at no cost to their clients. The organization reports that it focuses on protecting property rights and economic liberty, defending the right to keep and bear arms, championing free speech and association, and upholding the principle of equal protection. MSLF accepts cases that seek to establish legal precedent to benefit the individual and his or her constitutional rights. Some ($283,369 or 10%) of MSLF's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, Mountain States Legal Foundation's program expenses were:

Communication and education $1,036,436
Legal $1,781,442
Total Program Expenses $2,817,878

Chief Executive
Cristen Wohlgemuth, President and Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$231,489

Chair of the Board
Richard R. Fletcher

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Chief Legal Officer, Anthem Ventures, LLC

Board Size
18

Paid Staff Size
17

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Telemarketing, Print advertisements

MSLF incurred joint costs of $566,738 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $283,369 was allocated to fundraising expenses and $283,369 was allocated to program expenses.

Fundraising costs were 44% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,385,314, 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 Mountain States Legal Foundation's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
In-kind contributions $3,995
Special events $9,428
Other income $15,518
Investment return $798,754
Contributions $2,371,891
Total Income $3,199,586

Programs: 66% Fundraising: 24% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $3,199,586
Total expenses: $4,290,398
  Program expenses $2,817,878
  Fundraising expenses $1,043,880
  Administrative expenses $428,640
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-1,090,812
Beginning Net Assets $8,390,980
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $7,300,168
Total Liabilities $945,149
Total Assets $8,245,317

Note: According to the organization's 2023 audited financial statements, MSLF received in-kind contributions totaling $3,995 in the form of an event.

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

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance