Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$7,697,962

Total expenses

$7,981,341

Contributions and grants received

$1,331,851

Grants paid

$8,000

Program service revenue

$6,298,299

Investment income

$161,178

Other revenue

-$93,366

Total assets, end of year

$10,259,592

Total liabilities, end of year

$4,297,604

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$5,961,988

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$6,907,113

Management and general expenses

$729,331

Fundraising expenses

$344,897

Program service expenses (Part III)

$6,907,113

Program services were 86.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• APPEALS TO THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS: NVLSP PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES SECURE DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. NVLSP'S INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION SERVICES INCLUDE PRO BONO REPRESENTATION BEFORE VA REGIONAL OFFICES, THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS, THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS (CAVC), OTHER FEDERAL COURTS, AND MILITARY DISCHARGE REVIEW AGENCIES. IN 2023, NVLSP FILED OVER 650 NEW INDIVIDUAL APPEALS IN THE CAVC ON BEHALF OF A VETERAN OR SURVIVOR DENIED BENEFITS BY THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS (BVA) AND CONTINUED LITIGATING HUNDREDS OF PENDING APPEALS. HISTORICALLY, IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE CASES THAT NVLSP HAS APPEALED TO THE CAVC, NVLSP HAS BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN AN ORDER SETTING THE BVA DENIAL ASIDE BASED ON ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR AND REMANDING FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS, OR AN ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS TO VETERANS OUTRIGHT.

  Expenses $3,520,068 · Grants $8,000 · Revenue $3,431,759

• LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS (LSW) PRO BONO PROGRAM:NVLSP PROVIDES FREE REPRESENTATION THROUGH LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS, OUR NATIONAL PRO BONO PROGRAM. LSW OFFERS FREE LEGAL HELP TO VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ON A NUMBER OF BENEFITS ISSUES; CASES ARE PLACED WITH VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS FROM LAW FIRMS AND CORPORATE LEGAL DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE. EACH VOLUNTEER RECEIVES TRAINING AND GUIDANCE BY NVLSP'S TEAM OF EXPERT ATTORNEYS, ENSURING THAT EVERY VETERAN RECEIVES TOP NOTCH LEGAL REPRESENTATION. LSW OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN SIX DISABILITY CLAIMS AREAS: 1) VA CLAIMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATED CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA; 2) APPLICATIONS FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION; 3) REPRESENTATION OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS SEEKING MILITARY MEDICAL RETIREMENT THROUGH THE INTEGRATED DISABILITY EVALUATION SYSTEM, APPLICATIONS TO THE PHYSICAL DISABILITY BOARD OF REVIEW FOR AN INCREASE IN THE DISABILITY RATING THAT THE MILITARY ASSIGNED AT THE TIME OF MEDICAL SEPARATION FROM SERVICE, AND CORRECTIONS OF MILITARY RECORDS TO GRANT MILITARY MEDICAL RETIREMENT; 4) APPEALS TO THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS AND THE US COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS; 5) UPGRADING LESS THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGES AND APPLICATIONS TO BOARDS FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS FOR VETERANS WHO WERE WRONGFULLY DISCHARGED FOR PERSONALITY DISORDER OR ADJUSTMENT DISORDER; 6) APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE TRAUMATIC INJURY PROTECTION (TSGLI) . THE PRO BONO PROGRAM ALSO HANDLES LITIGATION IN FEDERAL COURT TO APPEAL UNFAVORABLE DECISIONS AT ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS. IN 2023, THE LSW PROGRAM PLACED APPROXIMATELY 500 INDIVIDUAL CASES FOR FULL REPRESENTATION. IN-PERSON CLINICS WERE RESTARTED IN 2023, AND REMOTE CLINICS CONTINUED. CLINIC APPOINTMENTS (BOTH IN-PERSON AND REMOTE WERE PROVED TO APPROXIMATELY 200 VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS. WE ALSO PROVIDED VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS TO VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THE VETERANS COMMUNITY. WE TRAINED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TO ASSIST WITH BRIEF SERVICES AND FULL REPRESENTATION.

  Expenses $1,600,075 · Revenue $1,578,663

• IMPACT LITIGATION:NVLSP BRINGS CLASS ACTIONS AND OTHER LAW REFORM LITIGATION TO BENEFIT LARGE NUMBERS OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. BY COMPELLING THE VA AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS TO BRING THEIR REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS, ONE CASE CAN HELP THOUSANDS OF VETERANS OBTAIN THE FEDERAL BENEFITS THEY ARE DUE. IN 2023, NVLSP'S DOCKET INCLUDED ELEVEN CERTIFIED OR PUTATIVE CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST THE VA OR MILITARY BRANCHES. AS PART OF NVLSP'S WORK ON ITS LONGEST-RUNNING CLASS ACTION, NEHMER V. DEP'T OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS (N.D. CAL NO. 86-6160), NVLSP SUCCEEDED IN FORCING THE VA TO PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RETROACTIVE BENEFITS TO SURVIVORS OF DECEASED VIETNAM VETERANS WHO SUFFERED FROM DISEASES THAT WERE THE RESULT OF EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE. OTHER CLASS ACTIONS HAVE RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS GAINING ACCESS TO JUDICIAL REVIEW OF UNFAVORABLE DECISIONS RELATED TO CAREGIVING STIPENDS; VA EXPANDING ACCESS TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION MEDICAL CARE; AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY READ JUDICATING THOUSANDS OF SAILORS' MEDICAL SEPARATIONS WHO MAY BE ENTITLED TO MEDICAL RETIREMENT PAY. NVLSP ALSO ENGAGED IN OTHER IMPACT LITIGATION, INCLUDING AN ONGOING RULEMAKING PETITION AT THE VA AND RELATED LITIGATION, AND LITIGATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS RELATING TO VARIOUS REQUESTS FOR RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. NVLSP ALSO CONTINUED TO REPRESENT VETERANS THROUGH ITS BURN PIT CLAIMS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, IN WHICH NVLSP REPRESENTS VETERANS BEFORE THE VA IN THEIR CLAIMS FOR DISABILITY COMPENSATION FOR DISEASES RELATED TO EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS SPEWED BY OPEN-AIR BURN PITS USED BY THE MILITARY TO DISPOSE OF WASTE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA.

  Expenses $1,213,969 · Revenue $840,487

• PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING:NVLSP RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND MENTORS LAWYER AND NON-LAWYER ADVOCATES WHO REPRESENT VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ON A PRO BONO BASIS ON CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS. NVLSP ACTS AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, PROVIDING IN-PERSON AND WEBINAR TRAININGS. NVLSP'S WEBINAR AND IN-PERSON TRAINING PROGRAMS EDUCATE VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS, ATTORNEYS, AND CLAIMS AGENTS ABOUT THE LATEST COURT DECISIONS AND BEST PRACTICES IN VETERANS LAW. OUR TRAINERS SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WITH A BROAD AUDIENCE, HELPING TO EXPAND OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK THAT CONTINUALLY ASSISTS TOPICS INCLUDING: RECENT COURT DECISIONS ADVOCATES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT; VA BENEFITS FOR MENTAL DISORDERS; VA BENEFITS BASED ON NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE SERVICE; ENSURING VA PROPERLY RATES KNEE DISABILITIES; HOW INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPACTS VA BENEFITS; AND NAVIGATING THE MODERNIZED/AMA VA REVIEW SYSTEM. NVLSP ALSO ADMINISTERS THE BASIC TRAINING COURSE IN VETERANS BENEFITS, AN ONLINE COURSE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ADVOCATES NEW TO VETERANS LAW WITH A WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE VA BENEFITS SYSTEM. NVLSP CREATED THE VA BENEFIT IDENTIFIER APP TO HELP VETERANS AND ADVOCATES DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC VA BENEFITS TO WHICH A VETERAN IS LIKELY ENTITLED; THE APP IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. NVLSP ALSO PUBLISHES EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY MATERIALS THAT EMPOWER ADVOCATES FOR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS. SINCE 1991, WE HAVE PRODUCED THE VETERANS' BENEFITS MANUAL, THE COMPREHENSIVE TREATISE ON VETERANS LAW. NVLSP UPDATES AND REVISES THE VETERANS' BENEFITS MANUAL ANNUALLY.

  Expenses $573,001 · Revenue $447,390

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

• THE VETERANS CONSORTIUM

  $7,500

  GENERAL SUPPORT

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

24 October 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.1

Source object

202412989349300331

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