Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$9,640,488

Total expenses

$9,534,901

Contributions and grants received

$1,847,242

Grants paid

$69,256

Program service revenue

$7,700,994

Investment income

$176,112

Other revenue

-$83,860

Total assets, end of year

$10,397,967

Total liabilities, end of year

$3,995,956

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$6,402,011

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$8,353,225

Management and general expenses

$743,460

Fundraising expenses

$438,216

Program service expenses (Part III)

$8,353,225

Program services were 87.6% 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 · 2024

• WORK FOR VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (FORMERLY 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 2024, NVLSP FILED OVER 850 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 $4,556,532 · Grants $69,256 · Revenue $4,752,736

• LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS (LSW) PRO BONO PROGRAM:NVLSP PROVIDES AT NO COST REPRESENTATION THROUGH LAWYERS SERVING WARRIORS (LSW), OUR NATIONAL PRO BONO PROGRAM. LSW OFFERS AT NO COST 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 FOUR DOD AREAS: 1) APPLICATIONS FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION; 2) APPLICATIONS FOR MILITARY MEDICAL RETIREMENT; 3) UPGRADING LESS THAN HONORABLE DISCHARGES AND STIGMATIZING NARRATIVE REASONS; AND 4) APPLICATIONS 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. LSW OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN TWO VA AREAS: 1) APPEALS TO THE US COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS (CAVC) AND 2) REMANDS FROM THE CAVC TO THE BOARD OF VETERANS' APPEALS. IN 2024, THE LSW PROGRAM PLACED OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL CASES FOR FULL REPRESENTATION. REMOTE CLINIC APPOINTMENTS WERE PROVIDED 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 $1,696,705 · Revenue $1,637,386

• CLASS ACTIONS (FORMERLY 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 2024, NVLSP'S DOCKET INCLUDED NINE 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 RE-ADJUDICATING THOUSANDS OF SAILORS' MEDICAL SEPARATIONS WHO MAY BE ENTITLED TO MEDICAL RETIREMENT PAY. NVLSP ALSO ENGAGED IN OTHER IMPACT LITIGATION, INCLUDING LITIGATION RELATING TO A RULEMAKING PETITION AND VARIOUS REQUESTS FOR RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. NVLSP CONTINUED TO REPRESENT VETERANS THROUGH ITS BURN PIT CLAIMS ASSISTANCE PROJECT, 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. IN SEPTEMBER 2024, NVLSP LAUNCHED ITS FAMILY CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, DEDICATED TO HELPING VETERANS AND FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACCESS THE VA'S PROGRAM OF COMPREHENSIVE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS (PCAFC) AND REPRESENTING THEM IN APPEALS FROM OF PCAFC DENIALS.

  Expenses $1,400,097 · Revenue $842,820

• PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING:NVLSP 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 VA AND MILITARY BENEFITS. NVLSP ACTS AS A FORCE MULTIPLIER, PROVIDING IN-PERSON AND WEBINAR TRAINING. 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. TOPICS IN 2024 INCLUDED: RECENT COURT DECISIONS ADVOCATES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT; EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER VA CLAIMS, VA BENEFITS FOR GULF WAR ILLNESS AND DISEASES CAUSED BY BURN PITS, NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY PENSION, UNDERSTANDING THE VA'S RATING OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, CHANGES TO VA'S CHARACTER OF DISCHARGE REGULATION, UNDERSTANDING CHANGES TO VA'S RATING OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISABILITIES, AND TOTAL DISABILITY RATINGS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY. NVLSP ALSO ADMINISTERS A 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 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 AUTHORED THE VETERANS BENEFITS MANUAL, THE COMPREHENSIVE TREATISE ON VETERANS LAW. NVLSP UPDATES AND REVISES THE VETERANS BENEFITS MANUAL ANNUALLY.

  Expenses $699,891 · Revenue $468,052

As filed on the 2024 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

• BURN PITS 360

  $20,000

  GENERAL SUPPORT

• NASDVA

  $11,500

  CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

13 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202523179349306047

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.