Mountain States Legal Foundation does not meet the following 4 Standards for Charity Accountability:
Standard 6 (Board Policy on Effectiveness)
Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
MSLF does not meet this Standard because:
- The board of directors does not have a written policy stating that, at least every two years, an appraisal be done assessing the organization’s performance and effectiveness and determining future actions required to achieve its mission.
Standard 7 (Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness)
Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.
MSLF does not meet this Standard because:
- The organization has not completed an effectiveness assessment in the last two years.
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 2021 annual report did not include:
- A roster of the board of directors.
- Ending 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
9
13
15
Mountain States Legal Foundation meets the remaining 12 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) reports that it litigates cases in the Mountain West and beyond at no cost to the organization's clients. The organization accepts cases that seek to establish legal precedent to benefit the individual and his or her constitutional rights. Some ($113,660 or 6%) of MSLF's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fundraising appeals.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Mountain States Legal Foundation's program expenses were:
| Legal |
$1,342,890 |
| Communication and education |
$560,516 |
| Total Program Expenses: |
$1,903,406 |
-
Chief Executive
Cristen Wohlgemuth, President and Chief Executive Officer
-
Compensation*
$213,763
-
Chair of the Board
Roger Cymbaluk
-
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Broker and Owner, Basin Brokers
-
Board Size
21
-
Paid Staff Size
20
*2020 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Invitations to fund raising events, Planned giving arrangements, Cause- related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)
MSLF incurred joint costs of $227,321 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $113,661 was allocated to fundraising expenses and $113,660 was allocated to program expenses.
Fundraising costs were 35% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,720,275, 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, 2020.
| Source of Funds |
| Contributions |
$1,720,275 |
| Investment return, net |
$908,463 |
| Total Income |
$2,628,738 |
- Programs: 65%
- Fundraising: 21%
- Administrative: 14%
| Total Income |
$2,628,738 |
| Program expenses |
$1,903,406 |
| Fundraising expenses |
$605,739 |
| Administrative expenses |
$420,864 |
| Other expenses |
$0 |
| Total expenses: |
$2,930,009 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses |
$-301,271 |
| Beginning Net Assets |
$10,635,109 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets |
$0 |
| Ending Net Assets |
$10,333,838 |
| Total Liabilities |
$349,136 |
| Total Assets |
$10,682,974 |