Iowa Legal Aid is incorporated as a nonprofit charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and Chapter 504 of the Iowa Code. It is exempt from state sales tax. Its 18-person Board of Directors includes at least 11 attorney members appointed by the Iowa State Bar Association and at least 6 eligible client members appointed by approved entities. Each regional office has an Advisory Council governed by bylaws consistent with Iowa Legal Aid's. Employees are represented by a labor union. HELP Legal Assistance subcontracts with Iowa Legal Aid to provide services in two counties.
2. Incorporated as a charitable organization
under Section501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Service regulations.
Incorporated as a nonprofit under Chapter
504 of the Code of Iowa.
Exempt from state sales tax under Section
422.45(37) of the Code of Iowa.
3.
4. Iowa Legal Aid’s Bylaws provide for an 18 person Board of
Directors.
At least 11 members are attorneys licensed in Iowa and
appointed to the Board by the Iowa State Bar Association.
At least 6 members are persons eligible to receive legal
services from Iowa Legal Aid and are appointed by entities
approved by the Board.
At least 1 member is appointed by the Board based on their
commitment to legal services.
5. Each regional office and some special
projects have an Advisory Council.
Most of theAdvisory Councils have their own
bylaws which govern membership, duties and
the conduct of meetings.
The bylaws of Advisory Councils must be
consistent with Iowa LegalAid’s corporate
bylaws.
6. Executive Committee - Composed of
President,Vice President,Treasurer, and
Secretary of the Board, the immediate past
President and one member of the Board
nominated by the President and approved by
the Board.
Development, Finance & Audit Committee
– Chaired by BoardTreasurer, with members
appointed by the Board President.
7. Personnel, Grievance and Governance
Committee –The chair and members are
appointed by Board President.
Programs and Planning Committee –The
chair and members are appointed by the
Board President.
Other committees may be created as ad hoc
committees to address specific objectives.
All standing committees have specific written
duties.
8. Employees who are part of the “bargaining unit”
are represented by the Legal ServicesWorkers of
Iowa, a unit of the National Organization of Legal
ServicesWorkers/UAW Local 320 AFL-CIO.
Bargaining unit employees include all full and
part-time employees, excluding the Executive
Director, Deputy Directors, Managing Attorneys,
Fiscal Manager, Project Managers, confidential
employees, temporary employees, AmeriCorps
members, volunteers, and employees of
subcontractors (HELP).
9. HELP Legal Assistance, Inc. – Iowa Legal Aid
subcontracts with HELP to provide services to low-
income people in Scott and Clinton Counties.
Other Legal Aid Programs – Story County and
Muscatine County Legal Aid serve residents of those
counties.Those two programs are not affiliated with
Iowa Legal Aid, although Iowa Legal Aid also serves
residents of Story and Muscatine Counties.
Iowa Legal Aid Foundation – A separate nonprofit
organization that raises funds for Iowa Legal Aid.
Iowa Friends of Legal Services – An independent
organization that works to promote and secure public
funding for civil legal aid programs.
10. More information about Iowa LegalAid’s
organizational structure and policies is
available on the Board andAdvisory Council
website at www.iowalegalaid.org/board.
Advisory Council members are invited to join
the website and will be sent a link with
instructions on how to do so.