GCS is part of a growing movement to break down these financial and knowledgebased barriers in order to increase access to legal services

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 51 volunteers and 2 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $5K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $10K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$62K
-28% vs prior year
Spent
$64K
To programs
76%
Net assets
$13K
By yearFY2019–FY2024
Revenue
$62K
FY2024▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$285K
FY2020$88K
FY2021$306K
FY2022$140K
FY2023$86K
FY2024$62K
Expenses
$64K
FY2024▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019$281K
FY2020$76K
FY2021$296K
FY2022$179K
FY2023$100K
FY2024$64K
Net assets
$13K
FY2024▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$46K
FY2020$57K
FY2021$68K
FY2022$29K
FY2023$15K
FY2024$13K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2017.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $49K Management & general 24% · $15K Fundraising 0% · $234

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

3 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elizabeth David-Dembrowsky’s $23K as Executive Director is at the 49th percentile of top reported officer pay among 157 <$100K crime & legal nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2022FY2021FY2020
Elizabeth David-Dembrowsky$23,400$73,575—
Hiro Mikuriya——$12,948

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Good Counsel Services INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo
  • Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed

Programs and updates

Increases access to legal services by breaking down financial and knowledge barriers.

Questions for Good Counsel Services INC

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $54K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Fiscal Sponsorship

Good Counsel provides fiscal sponsorship to groups aligned with its mission to support social entrepreneurs and emerging nonprofits. In 2024, we managed tax-deductible donations and grants for various charitable projects, including Bumble Bee Agency and Project Liberation.

$51Kprogram expense
02

One-On-One Legal Services

Good Counsel is a legal advocacy education organization dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs. We are committed to protecting start-up companies by providing education, consulting and counseling to leaders in the sector.

$2Kprogram expense
03

Internship Program

In 2024, Good Counsel Services completed its sixth year of partnership with Michigan State University Social Science Science Scholars Program. Through this collaboration, our internship program continues to launch legal careers, build student self confidence , and inspire undergraduates to pursue pro-social professions.

$250program expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$10K
Grants paid · 20 grants · $477K · 2019–2024
Art Above GroundCA · FY2024$26,905
Project LiberationFY2024$11,795
Project LiberationFY2023$9,898
BknaturedNY · FY2023$5,253
The Bumblebee AgencyFY2023$2,500
Elevated Access INCIL · FY2023$1,116
Elevated Access INCIL · FY2022$31,459
Ivy Woold Turk Project LibFY2022$17,960
Emerging LeadersFY2022$5,220
Indie LivingFY2022$4,778
Kurani LLCFY2022$2,760
Martha's Vineyard BlmFY2021$60,132
Artists' Literacies InstFY2021$51,760
Ivy Woolf Turk Project LibFY2021$6,015
Renew TodayNY · FY2021$2,314
Individual RecipientFY2020$12,460
Integratenyc INCNY · FY2019$142,728
Art Above GroundCA · FY2019$59,419
See all 20 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$62K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$53K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Investment incomeLn 3$1
Money outPt IX
$64K
Ln 25
Programscol B$49K
Managementcol C$15K
Fundraisingcol D$234
Owns and owesPt X
$13K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$13K
Total assetsLn 16$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$1K
PeoplePt VI, VII
3
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$53K
Government grantsLn 1e$53K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8K
Investment incomeLn 3$1
Total revenueLn 12$62K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$13K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$13K
Total assetsLn 16$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$1K
Net assetsLn 32$13K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 52
VolunteersI 651
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$18K$13K
Total assetsLn 16$19K$14K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K$1K
Net assetsLn 32$15K$13K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$40K$40K
Management feesLn 11a$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$2K$2K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$348$184$157$7
Office expensesLn 13$5K$2K$2K$128
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$747$23
InterestLn 20$30$30
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$13K$2K$10K$76
Total functional expensesLn 25$64K$49K$15K$234

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $62K$64K−$3K$13K 990 PDF
FY2023 $86K$100K−$14K$15K 990 PDF
FY2022 $140K$179K−$39K$29K 990 PDF
FY2021 $306K$296K$10K$68K 990 PDF
FY2020 $88K$76K$12K$57K 990 PDF
FY2019 $285K$281K$4K$46K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $61,693 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $70,877$53,287
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $14,425$8,405
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2$1
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $285$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $85,589$61,693
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $21,416$40,455
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $33,546$0
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $44,647$23,779
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $99,609$64,234
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$14,020−$2,541
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $61,693 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$53,287
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$53,287
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,405$8,405
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $1$1
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,406 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$61,693
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $64,234 across 8 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $40,455$40,455
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $1,846$1,846
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $1,530$1,530
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $184 · Management $157 · Fundraising $7$348
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,230 · Management $2,422 · Fundraising $128$4,780
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,507 · Management $747 · Fundraising $23$2,277
IX-20 InterestManagement $30$30
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,489 · Management $10,403 · Fundraising $76$12,968
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $48,711 · Management $15,289 · Fundraising $234$64,234
Part X · Balance sheet $13,729 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $18,214$12,922
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $623$807
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $18,837$13,729
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,948$1,125
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,707$1,140
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $15,130$12,589
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,130$12,589
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $18,837$13,729
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $12,589 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$61,693
XI-2 Total expenses$64,234
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,541
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,130
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$12,589

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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