EIN 16-1487925

Empire Justice Center

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
99
Year formed
1995
Most recent tax filings
2022-12-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
Empire Justice Center is a New York State organization providing legal assistance, advocacy, and training to low-income families and crime victims.
Total revenues
$9,213,262
2022
Total expenses
$9,567,671
2022
Total assets
$4,215,907
2022
Num. employees
99
2022

Program areas at Empire Justice Center

Crime victims and dv: Empire Justice leads the new york crime victims legal network, a partnership of civil legal organizations and victim assistance programs that connects victims of crime with information and assistance through its multifaceted online tool (ny crime victims legal help). In 2022, over 17,000 people used this tool to access know-your-rights resources and connect with agencies who could help them. In addition to leading the network, Empire Justice is also a direct services partner, providing legal services to more than 200 crime victims in monroe county, the hudson valley and on long island. An experienced domestic violence attorney provides technical assistance and training to legal services and domestic violence advocates statewide through state funding, reaching almost 1,500 advocates in 2022.
Public benefits and dap: Empire Justice contracts with new york state to provide training, support and technical assistance to disability advocacy program (dap) grantees, delivering 40 trainings and educating more than 2,000 statewide dap advocates in 2022. As a dap grantee, Empire Justice provides legal assistance to people in western new york who have been inappropriately denied or terminated from federal disability and supplemental security income programs, returning $382k to the state in interim assistance in 2022. Public benefits advocates help new york families access food stamps and cash assistance, and navigate the fair hearing process to challenge decisions about their benefits. As a result of a class action lawsuit filed in collaboration with the national Center for law and economic Justice, Empire Justice upheld the rights of 22,000 suffolk county residents with disabilities who have applied for or received public benefits. Public benefits staff are supported by office of court administration (oca) funding.
Cfh and immigration: since 2012 Empire Justice has managed more than 60 contracts with legal services and housing counseling agencies working in foreclosure prevention outside of nyc, in addition to providing extensive training and technical assistance, as part of the nys office of the attorney general's homeownership protection program (hopp). In 2022, Empire Justice's hopp team provided a dozen trainings to almost 500 advocates. As a direct services provider working in foreclosure with funding through hopp, united way and the city of rochester, Empire Justice helped more than 130 monroe county families facing foreclosure, avoiding or delaying loss of the home in two thirds of all cases. With state and private foundation funding, housing advocates in rochester work under the tenant defense project to identify and implement systemic solutions for tenants facing eviction with telesca Center for Justice partners, the legal aid society of rochester, lawny and justcause. On long island, advocates helped more than 100 undocumented immigrants facing eviction in 2022 with emergency rental assistance program funding through the office of temporary and disability assistance (otda), through a subcontract with nassau suffolk law servcies, providing a crucial service that they and other legal services corporation funded agencies cannot due to funder restrictions. Empire Justice is also contracted by the community service society to bring the education debt consumer assistance program (edcap) to the capital region, engaging in extensive outreach and providing tailored assistance to 51 clients on their student loan repayment options in 2022. With state funding, an attorney in westchester represents immigrants who are victims of domestic violence seeking representation in family matters.
Civil rights and health: Empire Justice protects the civil rights of people with disabilities, lgbtq+ individuals, limited english proficient people and the d/deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, leveraging the law to combat discrimination and assisting 180 people in 2022. Civil rights staff are supported with oca and private foundation funding. Empire Justice provides extensive training and technical assistance to advocates across nys who help low-income clients access healthcare, conducting 16 trainings and reaching almost 1,000 advocates statewide, while also providing direct services, working with more than 180 new yorkers to navigate and maximize their health insurance benefits in 2022. Health law staff are funded through various contracts, including with the community service society and the new york state office for the aging.
Creating assets savings and hope (cash) - to provide financial services to low-income families. Cash offers free, high-quality tax preparation services that makes tax filing easy to do and understand. It also includes year round financial advice and access to education and other resources that fulfill basic needs to help people plan for their future.
Other/general:this consists of various grants and contracts, attorney fees, and program income are used to provide a range of services and undertake various activites related to the provision of legal services, advocacy, training and assistance, and efforts to improve access to Justice for people who are poor, disabled, and/or disenfranchised.

Who funds Empire Justice Center

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger LakesAgency Allocation & Grant$232,154
EslLanguage Access Program$215,000
Community Service Society of New York (CSS)Direct Service$206,832
...and 8 more grants received

Personnel at Empire Justice Center

NameTitleCompensation
Kristin BrownPresident and Chief Executive Officer$139,727
Kristin LilleyPresident and Chief Executive Officer / Vice President for Policy and Government Relations$163,301
Kristin HughesChief Operating Officer / Vice President$118,016
Eden ForsytheVice President of Policy and Government Affairs$119,652
Jonathan FeldmanDirector - Attorney$120,512
...and 14 more key personnel

Financials for Empire Justice Center

RevenuesFYE 12/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$788,113
Program services$8,423,607
Investment income and dividends$1,542
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$0
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$9,213,262

Form 990s for Empire Justice Center

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-122023-11-13990View PDF
2021-122022-11-01990View PDF
2020-122021-11-01990View PDF
2019-122021-02-24990View PDF
2018-122020-01-17990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s
Data update history
January 23, 2024
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2022
December 29, 2023
Received grants
Identified 3 new grant, including a grant for $232,154 from United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes
October 21, 2023
Received grants
Identified 4 new grant, including a grant for $215,000 from Esl
July 18, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020
July 14, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021
Nonprofit Types
Crime and legal aid organizationsLegal service nonprofitsCharities
Issues
Human servicesCrime and lawPublic policyLegal servicesVoting rights
Characteristics
Political advocacyLobbyingState / local levelTax deductible donations
General information
Address
1 W Main St 200
Rochester, NY 14614
Metro area
Rochester, NY
Website URL
empirejustice.org/ 
Phone
(585) 454-4060
Facebook page
empirejustice 
IRS details
EIN
16-1487925
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1995
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
I80: Legal Services
NAICS code, primary
5411: Legal Services
Parent/child status
Independent
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