The FFLA Board of Directors met in person on June 26, 2025, in connection with its annual breakfast and award ceremony during The Florida Bar Annual Convention in Boca Raton. The major actions of the board and reports received included:
Adoption of FYE 6-30-2026 (FY 25-26) Operating Budget
The Budget and Finance Committee recommended, and the board approved, the FY25-26 operating budget in the total amount of $2,601,750, which represents a 4% decrease from the previous year’s operating budget. The board also adopted a proposed capital budget in the amount of $35,500 for expenses associated with FFLA’s office building.
The committee also reported that projected actual expenses for FY 24-25 were expected to be under budget by about 7%, or roughly $192,000. This marks the seventh year in a row in which FFLA has come in under budget. Staff are available to answer questions or provide further documentation.
Eight Children’s Legal Services Grants Awarded
The Children’s Legal Services program provides funding for legal assistance to needy children in critical areas that affect their safety, well-being and future development. This annual competitive grant program centers on, but is not limited to, legal assistance to foster care children, children seeking and in need of health benefits and children needing special educational assistance.
The Board previously approved an allocation of $1,500,000 to fund the program for FY24-25, using $1,000,000 in IOTA collections and $500,000 of other collections. CLS grants are typically awarded in June for a grant period that runs from July 1 to June 30.
FFLA received 14 applications requesting a total of $2,305,022. A work group previously reviewed and scored applications independently then met to review scores and other financial and staffing data provided by applicants. The work group presented funding recommendations to the Grants Committee for consideration, which thereafter made recommendations to the board. The board reviewed and approved funding the following projects:
| Organization Name | Project Name | Grant Amount Requested | Review Team Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevard County Legal Aid* | 2025-26 Children's Legal Advocacy Project | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Catholic Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami | 2025 Displaced Youth Empowerment Project | $319,022 | $178,252 |
| CABA Pro Bono Legal Services* | 2025-26 Children's Legal Representation Program | $500,000 | $315,000 |
| Dade Legal Aid* | 2025-26 Children's Legal Collaborative | $125,000 | $125,000 |
| Florida Legal Services | 2025-26 Children’s Access Advocacy Project | $141,243 | $141,243 |
| Florida State University College of Law, Public Interest Center | 2025-26 Vulnerable Children’s Project | $180,505 | $180,505 |
| Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association | 2025-26 Special Education Advocacy Project | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Legal Services of North Florida | Panhandle Counsel for Children | $116,449 | $101,464 |
| Total | $1,166,464 |
- *Five applicants were funded with IOTA Collections. (The IOTA Rule was amended effective July 1, 2021. “IOTA Collections” are considered IOTA remittances received on or after that date. Funds received before that date or from other sources afterward are considered other collections. All projects funded at least in part with IOTA collections are required to comply fully with the IOTA Rule’s requirements and FFLA’s Objective Standards.)
- Other applications were respectfully declined. Three applicants were determined to not be qualified grantee organizations, but the board agreed that they should be invited to consider applying to become qualified grantee organizations so that FFLA may consider their qualifications for future grants.
FFLA appreciates the efforts of Laura Boeckman, Jessica Brown, Brian Currie, Deborah Giles, Mary Giraulo, and Donny MacKenzie who initially reviewed and scored all CLS applications.
Investment Committee Report
The Investment Committee recommended, and the Board approved, hiring BlackRock Low Duration Bond Fund to manage the Grantee IOTA Reserve, citing cost-effectiveness compared to other options.
Committee Chair Ian Comisky also advised that a report from Morgan Stanley/Graystone on the investment policy for the Operations Reserve was presented to it and approved in concept. The Committee will finalize the policy and return with details shortly.
IOTA Work Group Report
Stever Salzer, on behalf of IOTA Work Group #2 which is charged with an annual review of the Fair Distribution Plan and related objective standards, reported that dedicated work group was formed to assess the Fair Distribution Plan in preparation for the December 2024 IOTA distribution to our grantees. Following that, it was decided to continue the group’s work to conduct an overall review and potential update to the Work Plan, considering all the developments since its initial approval by the Executive Committee and adoption by the Board in October and November 2022.
The work group, comprised of Laura Boeckman, Brian Currie, Kyle Robisch,
Steve Salzer, Ashley Sybesma, Jessica Brown, Andrea De Voe, and Donny MacKenzie, met several times over six months. It began by reviewing the existing document for general updates, grammatical refinements, and stylistic enhancements. It then established four subgroups to focus on each of the Work Plan’s main sections: Background, Objective Standards, Fair Distribution Plan, and Compliance & Reporting.
As a result of this comprehensive process, the work group revised and approved the document on its first reading. The key proposed changes to the document are as follows:
1. Background
The Work Plan has been converted into an Implementation Policy and Guidelines document.
- FFLA’s current mission statement has been incorporated.
- Budget duties and compliance responsibilities under the IOTA rule have been clearly articulated for both FFLA and its grantees.
2. Objective Standards
- The required years of demonstrated successful experience in providing qualified legal services for grantee organization applicants have been reduced from five to three.
- The document reiterates FFLA’s commitment to expanding its grantee network to include a greater number of providers.
- Language in the Prohibited Area (g) section has been updated to reflect guidance provided by the Review Committee in response to a grantee inquiry.
- The term “Single Source audits” has been updated to “Use of IOTA Funds Audits” for greater clarity. Additionally, the submission requirements have been modified from 90 days after the end of each grant period involving IOTA funds to June 30 for all IOTA funds received and spent in the preceding calendar year.
- A reminder that grantees’ independent audited financial statements must be submitted within 120 days after the end of their fiscal year.
3. The Fair Distribution Plan
- Revised language to further articulate FFLA’s primary funding objective for IOTA collections, as well as the means available to achieve it.
- Timeline and distribution processes for grants and awards containing IOTA collections are clarified to maximize compliance with the IOTA Rule.
- Pro Bono Support & Enhancement Grants may, but are not required to, be determined on a case-by-case basis through an application process.
- Provides that Disaster Relief grants—classified as periodic grants for limited purposes—may be awarded differently depending on exigent circumstances.
4. Compliance and Reporting
- Updates and clarifies FFLA’s responsibilities for the separate IOTA audit per section (g)(10) of the IOTA Rule.
The work group respectfully requested, and the Board approved:
- The document on first reading.
- Returning the document to the work group for a second reading and final drafting, and that:
- The resulting document be submitted to the Executive Committee for review and consideration of final approval, so that the updated Implementation Policy and Guidelines can be in effect in time for the upcoming IOTA distributions related to FYE 6-30-25 collections pursuant to the IOTA Rule.
- Any board member wishing to participate in the second reading and submission to the Executive Committee may volunteer to join the work group.
Passing of the Gavel and Thanksgiving for Service
Because of a family emergency that prevented his presence, President Bob Pardo delegated Executive Director Donny MacKenzie to pass the President’s gavel to President-elect Ashley Sybesma. Ms. Sybesma presented her committee assignments and dates for board meetings for FY 2025-26, which were ratified by the board. Ms. Sybesma’s one-year term began July 1, 2025.
President-Elect Sybesma also recognized those members of the board and the Foundation Endowment Trust who were terming off on June 30, 2025, and thanked them for their service and commitment. They are:
- Murray Silverstein, Immediate Past President of FFLA, termed off the Board but will continue to serve as an Endowment Trustee.
- Bob Murphy concluded a three-year term on the Board.
- Katie Fackler termed off the Board after completing the remainder of a vacated three-year Bar-appointed seat.
- Min Cho concluded his second consecutive three-year term on the Board.
- Hala Sandridge termed off the Foundation Endowment Trust.
President-elect Sybesma also welcomed and introduced the following new directors:
- Lynn Drysdale was appointed by The Florida Bar to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
- Miriam Soler Ramos was appointed by The Florida Bar to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
- Laura Boeckman was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
- James Robinson was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to serve a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
Next Meeting
The Board’s next scheduled meetings will be on September 25-26, 2025, in Coral Gables. FFLA greatly appreciates the University of Miami hosting FFLA and these meetings at the Law Library.
