Tristar Legal Services

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
812992991
IRS 990-EZ coverage
2018–2024
Forms available
Form 990-EZ 2024
Location
Sevierville, TN, USA
Phone
8653663324
Rating
88
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Crime, Legal Related N.E.C.

Reported finances

Revenue
$150,570
Expenses
$165,228
Assets
$124,087
Liabilities
$71,383

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

5 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • SARA K PIERCE (PRESIDENT)

People named in this filing

  • SARA K PIERCE (PRESIDENT)
  • SUSAN H HARMON (TREASURER)
  • SHANNON J HOLT (SECRETARY)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

To provide criminal and civil representation for those of modest means in the appalachian region of sevier, jefferson, cocke, knox, and blount counties.

What it reported doing in 2024

Low cost legal representation: we offer sliding scale fee arrangements, payment plans, and pro bono services to clients who may not otherwise be able to afford legal representation. In addition to aiding clients through the legal process we also strive to help those who are in need beyond the courtroom.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 100% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Expenses are high relative to revenue and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 98
  • Transparency & Controls: 82
  • Sustainability: 24
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 93.6%; rating input score 94

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -9.7%; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.75; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.58; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 46.8%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.3% per year; rating input score 100; 45th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 93.6% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: Filed governance answers
  • Accomplishments: 1 filed program accomplishment · $155K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 5 people listed
  • Consistency: 7 of 7 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 2 filed schedules
  • Filing history: 6 filing years from 2018 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 16/100.
  • Review — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 50/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 5/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 9/100.