Nonprofit · EIN 38-2156874
LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN
Tax-exempt · GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $7,252,997 | $7,125,144 | $127,853 | $6,108,433 | $2,218,474 | $3,889,959 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $7,231,577 | $7,141,229 | $90,348 | $5,935,841 | $2,173,735 | $3,762,106 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $7,427,957 | $7,192,866 | $235,091 | $6,033,667 | $2,361,909 | $3,671,758 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $7,053,980
- of which government grants
- $6,162,055
- Program service revenue
- $49,428
- Investment income
- $149,589
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $197,637
- Other salaries and wages
- $4,438,076
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $5,790,125
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $313,327
- Travel
- $65,525
- Depreciation
- $79,850
- Program services (functional)
- $6,039,254
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,082,409
- Fundraising (functional)
- $3,481
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,935,841
- Total assets, end of year
- $6,108,433
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,218,474
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,889,959
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $272,835
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,502,472
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $387,487
- Gross receipts
- $7,252,997
- Employees
- 86
- Volunteers
- 116
- Year formed
- 1977
- State of legal domicile
- MI
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Hoekwater | Executive Director Officer | 35 | $146,687 | $31,133 |
| Karen Diesing | Director of Litigation Highest-paid employee | 35 | $112,127 | $27,988 |
| John Smith | Managing Attorney Highest-paid employee | 35 | $112,290 | $26,349 |
| Donald Roberts | Managing Attorney Highest-paid employee | 35 | $101,512 | $26,439 |
| Jason O'Brien | Director of Operations Highest-paid employee | 35 | $100,071 | $26,497 |
| Deborah Nichols | Finance Manager Officer | 35 | $16,170 | $3,647 |
| Hannah Earl | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jacque Schafer | At Large Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jim Boerigter | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tracey W Brame | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Caressa Bryant | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mike Callahan | Attorney Member Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Angelique Camfield | Attorney member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mike Campbell | Board Vice President Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Chris Meyer | Board President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
9 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damien Sanchez | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Cindy VanderKodde | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Konjoh Konjoh | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Rich Cherry | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Angela Zuniga | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Alvin Bacon Jr | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Mary Alice Adams | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| James Brunner | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Hon Susan Dobrich | Attorney member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 23 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Hoekwater | Executive Director Officer | 35 | $142,555 | $30,427 |
| Karen Tjapkes | Dir. Of Litigation Highest-paid employee | 35 | $107,049 | $28,862 |
| John Smith | Managing Attorney Highest-paid employee | 35 | $100,633 | $23,036 |
| Mary Schroeder | Director of Finance Officer | 35 | $106,767 | $9,452 |
| James Brunner | Board President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jenny McNeill | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Alvin Bacon Jr | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Angela Zuniga | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Rich Cherry | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Konjoh Konjoh | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Cindy VanderKodde | Board Officer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Kathryn Teeter | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tia Shaw | Board Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Damien Sanchez | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Chris Meyer | Board Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hon Susan Dobrich | Attorney member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mike Campbell | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Angelique Camfield | Attorney member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Mike Callahan | Board Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Caressa Bryant | Community Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Tracey W Brame | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Jim Boerigter | Attorney Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Hannah Earl | At Large Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 27 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA HOEKWATER | EXECUTIVE DI Officer | 35 | $146,434 | $25,437 |
| KAREN TJAPKES | DIR. OF LITI Highest-paid employee | 35 | $104,480 | $23,850 |
| MARY SCHROEDER | DIRECTOR OF Officer | 35 | $42,118 | $2,831 |
| RANDY SMITH | PAST DIR. OF Officer | 35 | $37,769 | $4,557 |
| JIM BOERIGTER | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TRACEY W BRAME | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JAMES BRUNNER | BOARD VICE P Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CARESSA BRYANT | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE CALLAHAN | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ANGELIQUE CAMFIELD | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MIKE CAMPBELL | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HON SUSAN DOBRICH | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HANNAH EARL | AT LARGE MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MELODY WASHINGTON HANNIBAL | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALVIN BACON JR | BOARD SECRET Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KONJOH KONJOH | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DIANN LANDERS | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JENNY MCNEILL | BOARD TREASU Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRIS MEYER | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MELISSA NECKERS | BOARD PRESID Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAMIEN SANCHEZ | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TIA SHAW | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HELEN SIMIC | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBERT STEINHOFF | ATTORNEY MEM Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KATHRYN TEETER | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CINDY VANDERKODDE | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WALDRIDGE WITHERSPOON | COMMUNITY ME Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 25 DIVISION AVE S STE 300, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503-4229
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Pamela Hoekwater, 25 Division Ave South Suite 30, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Signed the 990
- Pamela Hoekwater, Executive Director
- Phone
- (616) 774-0672
- Website
- www.lawestmi.org
- Return prepared by
- YEO & YEO PC
Mission
We protect rights, challenge injustice, and fight poverty through freelegal advocacy for people and families.
Program accomplishments
- See Schedule OOur legal services' greatest impact is outside the justice system, helping low-income families live and work with stable schedules, ensuring seniors live safely and healthily, and empowering people to access better jobs and life opportunities. We closed 6,016 cases, and our services helped 13,025 clients and their household members. These people include working families threatened with losing their homes, seniors suffering from abuse or preyed upon by scammers, taxpayers with IRS disputes, and survivors of domestic abuse achieving safety for themselves and their children. 466 military veterans and their household members were among those benefiting from our services. We continued our long-time partnership with private-sector attorneys through our Pro Bono Program, referring 165 cases to volunteers. We continued delivering legal information and education to lower-income West Michigan communities through in-person programs and by recording a series of legal explainer videos to answer frequently asked client questions. We produced a professional development program for non-attorney professionals at other nonprofit organizations, offering an overview of landlord/tenant law.Expenses $6,039,254 · revenue $49,428
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 38-2156874
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1977
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Crime and legal-related (I80)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $6,108,433
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,252,997
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $7,252,997 | $7,125,144 | $6,108,433 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $7,231,577 | $7,141,229 | $5,935,841 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $7,427,957 | $7,192,866 | $6,033,667 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $6,734,940 | $6,454,832 | $4,980,669 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 38-2156874).
Questions about LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN
- What is the EIN of LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN is 38-2156874.
- Is LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1977.
- Are donations to LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Pamela Hoekwater.
- Who are the officers and directors of LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 24 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $146,687 (Pamela Hoekwater, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does LEGAL AID OF WESTERN MICHIGAN have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $7,252,997, expenses of $7,125,144 and total assets of $6,108,433 at year end.
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All nonprofits in GRAND RAPIDS · Michigan · Crime and legal-related