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Human and Civil Rights : Advocacy and Education

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program

Promoting equal access to justice

three stars

86.33

1111 Bagby Suite FLB300
Houston, TX 77002
tel: (713) 228-0735   Web Site
EIN: 76-0090652

Board Leadership
Lauren H. Brogdon
Board Chair

CEO
Wafa Abdin
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 86.33 three stars
  Financial 84.11 three stars
  Accountability & Transparency 89.00 three stars
This rating was published 04/01/2019 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The mission of Houston Volunteer Lawyer Program (HVLP) is to provide pro bono legal services to low-income men and women of Harris County and to promote volunteerism among the legal community. Founded in 1981 by the Houston Bar Association, HVLP has delivered free legal services to low-income resident of Harris County for almost a quarter of a century by linking qualified applicants with attorneys volunteering their time on a pro bono basis. Volunteer attorneys assist clients who meet HVLP's eligibility standards and who have been screened and interviewed by HVLP staff members on their legal issues. Over 4,000 Harris County attorneys serve as HVLP volunteers, each making a difference in the lives of low-income clients, their families and communities.

The mission of Houston Volunteer Lawyer Program (HVLP) is to provide pro bono legal services to low-income men and women of Harris County and to promote volunteerism among the legal community. Founded in 1981 by the Houston Bar Association, HVLP has delivered free legal services to low-income resident of Harris County for almost a quarter of a century by linking qualified applicants with attorneys volunteering their time on a pro bono basis. Volunteer attorneys assist clients who meet HVLP's eligibility standards and who have been screened and interviewed by HVLP staff members on their legal issues. Over 4,000 Harris County attorneys serve as HVLP volunteers, each making a difference in the lives of low-income clients, their families and communities.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

three stars

84.11

Accountability & Transparency

three stars

89.00

This rating was published 04/01/2019 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 81.4%
  Administrative Expenses 17.6%
  Fundraising Expenses 0.9%
  Fundraising Efficiency < $0.01
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.53
  Program Expenses Growth 1.6%
  Liabilities to Assets 27.5%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (TX) 86.33 three stars
The Florence Project (AZ) 89.16 three stars
Greater Boston Legal Services (MA) 90.48 four stars
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia (DC) 99.46 four stars
Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (PA) 95.59 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $1,209,542
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $615,936
Total Contributions $1,825,478
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $1,825,478
   Other Revenue $776
TOTAL REVENUE $1,826,254
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $2,043,664
   Administrative Expenses $476,151
   Fundraising Expenses $24,119
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,543,934
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $-717,680
   
Net Assets $1,339,719

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Legal Aid $2,043,664 100.0%

Ratings History

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-12 04/01/2019 86.33 three stars
2016-12 04/01/2018 80.96 three stars
2015-12 06/01/2017 82.92 three stars
2014-12 06/01/2016 79.36 two stars
 
CN 2.0
2013-12 08/01/2015 75.71 two stars
2012-12 05/01/2014 77.00 two stars
2011-12 06/01/2013 80.46 three stars
2010-12 07/01/2012 83.83 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 76-0090652
Name in IRS Master File HOUSTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM INC
NTEE Code I80
NTEE Classification Legal Services
NTEE Type Crime, Legal-Related
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (462) Legal aid to indigents
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date September, 1987
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End December
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • December, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • December, 2013
  • December, 2012
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$19,962 0.78% Wafa Abdin Executive Director
Other Salaries of Note
$78,417 3.08% Alissa Rubin Gomez Former Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (TX) 86.33 three stars
D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center (DC) 93.74 four stars
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (WA) 92.21 four stars
Centro Legal De La Raza (CA) 92.22 four stars
Center for Constitutional Rights (NY) 91.62 four stars

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Charity Contact Info

Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
1111 Bagby
Suite FLB300
Houston, TX 77002
tel: (713) 228-0735
fax: (713) 228-5826
EIN: 76-0090652

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Lauren H. Brogdon
Board Chair

CEO

Wafa Abdin
Executive Director

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