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Non-profit

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)

Website:

www.mlri.org
Location:

Boston, MA
Tax ID:

04-6004303
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $5,088,492
Expenses: $3,965,973
Assets: $8,872,944
Type:

Legal Advocacy Non-Profit
Founded:

1968
Executive Director:

Georgia Katsoulomitis
Budget (2021):

Revenue: $6,639,248
Expenses: $4,996,557
Net Assets: $9,512,784 1

References

  1. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.

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Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a Massachusetts-based legal advocacy group that provides legal advocacy for the poor. MLRI supports new taxes on home sales, rent control regulations, increased welfare assistance, and in-state tuition and financial aid to immigrants; opposes increased welfare work requirements; and approaches much of its work through a left-of-center racial-justice lens.

Major donors to MLRI include left-of-center nonprofits including Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Hyams Foundation, Barr Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and Tusk Philanthropies. 1

History

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute was formed in 1968 in response in President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs. 2 In 1964, Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act that established anti-poverty programs including civil legal services for the poor. 3 The law established local and state support centers, with MLRI established as the statewide support center for Massachusetts. 4 The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute initially focused on community lawyering, legislative and administrative advocacy, test-case and class-action litigation, and educating the public and policy makers on issues that affect low-income people. 5

Policy Advocacy

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute works on advancing economic, racial, and social justice issues for lower income people through a racial-justice lens. 6 Advocacy issues that are the focus of MLRI include increasing the rights of low-income renters and promoting equitable housing developments. 7 The organization supports allowing local towns to tax home sales to fund affordable housing projects. 8 MLRI supports rent control. 9

MLRI advocates for hunger and food security through increases in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and opposes increased work requirements for welfare recipients in the 2023 agreement to raise the United States debt ceiling. 10 MLRI heads a Massachusetts-wide coalition on immigrant advocacy to defend against what it calls “draconian federal policies” and to protect and expand immigrant access to welfare programs. 11 MLRI supports state legislation that would provide in-state tuition and financial aid to undocumented residents. 12

MLRI notes it challenges structural racism and implicit bias embedded within public systems, policies, and practices. 13 MLRI advances a social justice agenda working with statewide and national organizations to advance racial equity. 14 MLRI has become the largest child welfare advocate and agency watchdog organization in Massachusetts. 15 It provides support to victims of crime and co-manages a grant to assist criminal victims. 16 MLRI advocates for equal access for poorer people and immigrants to health care coverage. 17 It also supports expanded laws to require governments to offer services in languages other than English. 18

Finances

In 2021, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute had net assets of $9,512,784. 19 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 MLRI recorded $6,639,248 in revenue and $4,996,557 in expenses. 20 In 2020, it raised $5,088,492 in revenue and $3,965,973 in expenses. 21

Major donors to the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute include the left-of-center groups Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Hyams Foundation, Barr Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and Tusk Philanthropies. 23 From 2003 until 2008, Katsoulomitis was managing director at the Boston Bar Foundation. 24 Katsoulomitis was vice president at the communications firm Robinson Lerer and Montgomery from 1999 through 2001. 25 During the Clinton administration, Katsoulomitis was special assistant to Labor Secretaries Robert Reich and Alexis Herman. 26 Katsoulomitis holds a J.D. from Catholic University and B.S. from Tufts University. 27

References

  1. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “Models of Justice: MLRI Annual Report 2021-2022.” April 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MLRI-Annual-Rpt2021-22-digital-spreads.pdf.
  2. “History.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/history/.
  3. “History.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/history/.
  4.  “History.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/history/.
  5. “History.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/history/.
  6. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “Models of Justice: MLRI Annual Report 2021-2022.” April 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MLRI-Annual-Rpt2021-22-digital-spreads.pdf; “Georgia Katsoulomitis.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-katsoulomitis-259191/.
  7. “Housing.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/housing/.
  8. “Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.” Twitter. June 7, 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://twitter.com/MassLawReform/status/1666468347171467266?cxt=HHwWhMCz6byIvqAuAAAA.
  9. “Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.” Twitter. June 1, 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://twitter.com/MassLawReform/status/1664345262553178130?cxt=HHwWpICx4dfM-JguAAAA.
  10. Tomlinson, Matthew. “Law Reform Institute Opposition to Budget Deal SNAP Cuts.” CapeCod.com. June 14, 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.capecod.com/newscenter/law-reform-institute-voices-opposition-to-budget-deal-snap-cuts/; “Hunger and Food Insecurity.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/hunger-food-insecurity/.
  11. “Immigration.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/immigration/.
  12. “Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.” Twitter. June 14, 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://twitter.com/MassLawReform/status/1669076149979193345?cxt=HHwWgoCx6cn636kuAAAA.
  13. “Racial Equity and Justice.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/racial-equity-justice/.
  14. “Racial Equity and Justice.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/racial-equity-justice/.
  15. “Child Welfare.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/child-advocacy/.
  16. “Civil Aid for Victims of Crime.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/civil-legal-aid-for-victims-of-crime/.
  17. “Health Care.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/health-care/.
  18. “Language Access.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/advocacy-issue/language-access/.
  19. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  20. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2021.
  21. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2020.
  23. Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “Models of Justice: MLRI Annual Report 2021-2022.” April 2023. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MLRI-Annual-Rpt2021-22-digital-spreads.pdf.[/note]

    Leadership

    Georgia Katsoulomitis has been executive director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute since 2011. 22 “Staff.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/staff-member/georgia-katsoulomitis/.

  24. “Georgia Katsoulomitis.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-katsoulomitis-259191/.
  25. “Georgia Katsoulomitis.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-katsoulomitis-259191/; “Staff.” Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://mlri.org/staff-member/georgia-katsoulomitis/.
  26. “Georgia Katsoulomitis.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-katsoulomitis-259191/.
  27. “Georgia Katsoulomitis.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-katsoulomitis-259191/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1940

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $5,088,492 $3,965,973 $8,872,944 $683,851 N $3,978,957 $945,115 $1,770 $0
    2019 Dec Form 990 $4,426,236 $3,532,246 $7,218,566 $470,992 N $3,557,679 $831,115 $1,627 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $3,853,684 $3,035,624 $5,168,965 $364,905 N $3,286,766 $609,635 $986 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $3,826,228 $3,045,269 $4,418,139 $379,716 N $3,227,690 $616,543 $969 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $4,024,353 $2,666,809 $3,552,099 $294,506 N $3,200,243 $823,633 $421 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,972,904 $2,420,713 $2,100,294 $195,913 N $2,295,299 $683,392 $308 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $2,683,888 $2,224,784 $1,574,571 $252,530 N $2,165,470 $518,156 $262 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,401,951 $2,076,944 $1,248,762 $385,825 N $1,905,234 $496,542 $175 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,210,852 $2,004,062 $756,967 $219,037 N $1,800,132 $410,618 $102 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $2,253,286 $2,246,144 $550,469 $219,329 N $1,871,225 $381,914 $147 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)


    Boston, MA