PLATINUM2023

The Milestone Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Keeping People out of Poverty while they Seek Justice

aka The Milestone Foundation   |   Buffalo, NY   |  www.themilestonefoundation.org

Mission

The Milestone Foundation provides financial support to people going through litigation who are having trouble making ends meet. Lawsuits can take months or even years, and we help keep families out of poverty by providing funding so they can cover their basic living expenses during this time. We also strengthen the civil justice system by enabling individuals to see their lawsuit through to its just end, instead of them having to take whatever is offered because they are pressed for cash. When someone suffers a catastrophic injury, not only do they have to cope with the injury or tragedy, but they also have to continue to pay the bills. The Milestone Foundation supports these individuals and helps them get past the tragedy and to the next steps of their lives.

Ruling year info

2018

President

John Bair

Main address

50 Fountain Plaza Suite 1300

Buffalo, NY 14202 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

The Bairs Foundation

EIN

81-1207829

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (I12)

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (R12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

We aim to help low income plaintiffs see their lawsuits through to settlement by providing non-recourse advanced with 10% simple interest. We provide an ethical alternative as the only nonprofit in an industry known for its predatory interest rates.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Supporting Plaintiffs in Need

Our program is to provide financial support to those who are going through litigation and need help covering their basic living expenses while they seek justice.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of clients served

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Supporting Plaintiffs in Need

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Leveling the playing field in civil justice by helping low income defendants afford their essential living expenses (housing, food, transportation) as they undergo lawsuits against deep-pocketed defendants.

We provide low interest loans to as many qualified plaintiffs as possible. Philanthropy helps us grow our program. We also seek to inspire legislation protecting consumers in the space, as well as hope to inspire others to join us with similar ethical lending programs.

Every repaid advance that comes in goes right back out the door to help the next qualified plaintiff.

To date we have advanced nearly $5 million to over 600 plaintiffs and their families, ensuring that their essential needs are met.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive, We share the feedback we received with the people we serve, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback

Financials

The Milestone Charitable Foundation, Inc.
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

The Milestone Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 08/23/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

John Bair

The Milestone Foundation

Term: 2016 -

Amy Bair

Rachel Mathews

John Abeel

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 5/31/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 05/01/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.