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William E Morris Institute for Justice

Phoenix, AZ · EIN 860817170 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE I80 · Crime & Legal-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.morrisinstituteforjustice.org
revenue
$319K
expenses
$471K
net assets
$277K
employees
5
volunteers
11
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

The William E. Morris Institute for Justice advocates on behalf of low income Arizonans and Arizonans in historically marginalized communities, protecting their most basic civil and human rights.

profile · synthesized from sources

The William E. Morris Institute for Justice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of low-income Arizonans. It primarily focuses on systemic issues through major impact and class action litigation, advocacy with federal and state administrative agencies, and legislative advocacy in Arizona. The Institute also provides technical assistance to legal services programs.

named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Advocacy at the Arizona Legislature
Working with the state legislature to promote policies beneficial to low-income Arizonans.
Advocacy with Federal and State Administrative Agencies
Engaging with government agencies to influence policies affecting low-income Arizonans.
Major Impact and Class Action Litigation
Representing the interests of low-income Arizonans through significant lawsuits on systemic issues.
Objections to AHCCCS Waiver Requests
Submitting comments in opposition to AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) Medicaid Section 1115 waivers that propose additional requirements on recipients and elimination of retroactive coverage.
Public Comments
Submitting comments to proposed federal and state rules that impact low-income and vulnerable Arizonans, covering issues like fair housing, child nutrition, tenant protections, and SNAP requirements.
Technical Assistance, Training and Support
Providing support to Arizona's three legal services programs.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Legal Challenges 10 activities
    • Administrative and legislative advocacy
      Engages in advocacy before the Arizona Legislature, federal and state administrative agencies, and through formal comment submissions on proposed rules. Focus areas include fair housing, child nutrition, tenant screening protections, SNAP policies, and Medicaid waivers.
    • Administrative and legislative advocacy
      Engages in advocacy before the Arizona Legislature and federal and state administrative agencies, including submitting formal comments on proposed rules related to fair housing, child nutrition programs, tenant screening protections, SNAP eligibility, and Medicaid waivers such as the AHCCCS Prior Quarter Coverage and Works Waivers.
    • Administrative and legislative advocacy
      Engages in advocacy before the Arizona Legislature and federal and state administrative agencies by submitting formal comments on proposed rules and policies, including those related to fair housing, child nutrition programs, SNAP eligibility, tenant screening protections, and Medicaid waivers.
    • Administrative and legislative advocacy
      Engages in advocacy before federal and state administrative agencies and at the Arizona Legislature, including submitting formal comments on proposed rules related to fair housing, child nutrition programs, tenant screening protections, and SNAP eligibility requirements. Also submitted opposition to AHCCCS waiver requests affecting healthcare access.
    • Advocacy with Administrative Agencies
      Engages in advocacy with federal and state administrative agencies, submitting comments on proposed rules related to fair housing, child nutrition, tenant protections, SNAP requirements, and healthcare waivers (AHCCCS).
    • Class action litigation for low-income and marginalized communities
      Files and litigates class action lawsuits to address systemic inequities in education, healthcare, housing, public benefits, and civil rights for low-income Arizonans and marginalized populations, including cases related to bilingual education funding, Medicaid administration, detention center conditions, and consumer protection.
    • Impact Litigation and Class Action Lawsuits
      Represents low-income Arizonans through major impact and class action litigation, addressing issues such as inadequate funding for limited English proficient students, discrimination, housing, consumer protection, and conditions in detention centers.
    • Impact litigation for low-income Arizonans
      Files class action lawsuits and legal complaints to challenge systemic inequities in areas including education funding, Medicaid administration, public housing, juvenile and adult detention conditions, bilingual education, and consumer protection. These efforts have resulted in court-ordered reforms such as new detention facilities and improved educational programs.
    • Major impact and class action litigation for low-income Arizonans
      Represents low-income Arizonans through major impact and class action litigation in areas including Medicaid, education funding, housing, civil rights, and public benefits. Cases have led to systemic reforms such as improved school facilities, new detention centers, and court rulings on bilingual education funding.
    • Major impact and class action litigation for low-income Arizonans
      Represents the interests of low-income Arizonans through major impact and class action litigation in areas including education funding, Medicaid administration, public housing conditions, consumer protection, and civil rights. Notable cases have led to court-ordered improvements in detention centers, school facilities, and bilingual education funding.
  • Legal Training & Technical Assistance 5 activities
    • Legal capacity building for Arizona legal services
      Provides technical assistance, training, and support to Arizona’s three legal services programs to strengthen their ability to serve low-income residents.
    • Legal services capacity building
      Provides technical assistance, training, and support to Arizona’s three legal services programs to strengthen statewide legal aid infrastructure.
    • Legal support and capacity building for legal services programs
      Provides technical assistance, training, and support to Arizona’s three legal services programs to strengthen their capacity to serve low-income communities.
    • Technical Assistance and Training for Legal Services
      Provides technical assistance, training, and support to Arizona's three legal services programs.
    • Technical assistance and capacity building for legal services programs
      Provides technical assistance, training, and support to Arizona’s three legal services programs to strengthen their ability to serve low-income communities.
  • Youth Internship Placement 3 activities
    • Volunteer and internship program
      Offers volunteer and internship opportunities to engage community members and students in supporting the organization’s operations and mission.
    • Volunteer and internship program
      Offers volunteer and internship opportunities to engage community members and students in supporting the organization’s operations.
    • Volunteer and internship program coordination
      Offers volunteer and internship opportunities to engage community members and students in supporting the organization’s operations and mission.
  • State Legislative Advocacy for Housing Tenants 1 activity
    • Legislative Advocacy
      Conducts advocacy at the Arizona Legislature to represent the interests of low-income Arizonans.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$319K
Contributions & grants$319K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$310%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$471K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$392K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$389K
Cash$333K
Investments$0
Liabilities$112K
Net assets$277K
Liquid reserves8.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +2.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Andrew P Schaffer Litigation Director 1 $112K
board members · 10
  • Barbara Atwood — Vice President
  • Eric Dahlstrom — Director
  • Gordon Lewis — Treasurer
  • Jared Sutton — Secretary
  • Leslie Nixon — Director
  • Mary Jo ONeill — Director
  • Randy McDonald — Director
  • Rebecca Pringle — Director
  • Ronda Beckerleg Thraen — Director
  • Veronika Fabian — President
relationships · 8

who they work with

  • AHCCCS Government — Submitted comments in opposition to AHCCCS's Medicaid Section 1115 waiver requests.
  • AZBF Funder — Hosts donation page for William E Morris Institute for Justice's general program support
  • AZBF Funder — Hosts donation processing for the William E Morris Institute for Justice
  • AZBF Funder — Processes donations for the William E Morris Institute for Justice through its General Program Support fund.
  • Arizona Bar Foundation Funder — Receives funding through contracts.
  • Arizona Bar Foundation Partner — Processes donations on behalf of the William E Morris Institute for Justice.
  • Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid (CMS) Government — AHCCCS submitted Medicaid Section 1115 waivers to CMS, which the Institute opposed.
  • Leslie Cohen Partner — Co-presented a class action suit challenging the State's administration of its Medicaid mental health program.