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Nonprofiteer
← NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$19,660,295
Total expenses
$14,132,327
Contributions and grants received
$4,409,519
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$14,150,568
Investment income
$1,100,208
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$43,334,375
Total liabilities, end of year
$4,137,194
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$39,197,181
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$11,238,874
Management and general expenses
$1,920,014
Fundraising expenses
$973,439
Program service expenses (Part III)
$11,238,874

Program services were 79.5% 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.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $60,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,349,519

  • 2a · Program service revenue: ATTORNEY FEE AWARDS

    total $10,503,005 · related or exempt $10,503,005

  • 2b · Program service revenue: PUBLICATIONS

    total $2,451,508 · related or exempt $2,451,508

  • 2c · Program service revenue: CONFERENCES

    total $948,475 · related or exempt $948,475

  • 2d · Program service revenue: RENTAL INCOME

    total $216,048 · related or exempt $216,048

  • 2e · Program service revenue: ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE

    total $27,993 · related or exempt $27,993

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $3,539 · related or exempt $3,539

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,066,995 · excluded $1,066,995

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,645,000

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,611,787

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $33,213

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $33,213 · excluded $33,213

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,814,490 · program services $835,806 · management and general $708,752 · fundraising $269,932

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $6,383,889 · program services $5,508,253 · management and general $493,876 · fundraising $381,760

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $251,441 · program services $218,491 · management and general $16,628 · fundraising $16,322

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,138,724 · program services $989,395 · management and general $85,681 · fundraising $63,648

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $597,535 · program services $470,619 · management and general $81,321 · fundraising $45,595

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $45,200 · management and general $45,200

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $108,001 · management and general $108,001

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $765,142 · program services $709,556 · management and general $33,871 · fundraising $21,715

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $372,932 · program services $167,742 · management and general $130,103 · fundraising $75,087

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $256,740 · program services $188,009 · management and general $33,597 · fundraising $35,134

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,009,118 · program services $884,803 · management and general $84,761 · fundraising $39,554

  • 17 · Travel

    total $196,767 · program services $141,782 · management and general $51,834 · fundraising $3,151

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $616,537 · program services $615,710 · management and general $495 · fundraising $332

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $296,228 · program services $267,311 · management and general $19,716 · fundraising $9,201

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $79,102 · program services $53,510 · management and general $17,449 · fundraising $8,143

  • 24a · Other expenses: PUBLICATIONS

    total $157,785 · program services $157,785

  • 24b · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $21,106 · program services $14,999 · management and general $4,306 · fundraising $1,801

  • 24c · Other expenses: PERIODICALS

    total $20,052 · program services $13,565 · management and general $4,423 · fundraising $2,064

  • 24d · Other expenses: LITIGATION EXPENSE

    total $1,538 · program services $1,538

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,281,841 · end of year $511,086

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $100 · end of year $100

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,090,000 · end of year $2,557,595

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $542,853 · end of year $137,231

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $282,068 · end of year $280,223

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $1,819,559

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $684,963

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $1,271,200 · end of year $1,134,596

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $29,603,848 · end of year $37,884,773

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $960,465 · end of year $828,771

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,549,874 · end of year $2,619,006

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,032,298 · end of year $976,190

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $690,208 · end of year $541,998

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $26,594,767 · end of year $33,639,865

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $5,165,228 · end of year $5,557,316

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE NATIONAL CONSUMER LAW CENTER WORKS FOR CONSUMER JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE IN THE U.S. THROUGH ITS EXPERTISE IN POLICY ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY, PUBLICATIONS, LITIGATION, EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES, AND TRAINING.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE SCHEDULE O

  • PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOMES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP, UTILITIES, AND CAR OWNERSHIP.TO REDUCE THE OBSTACLES PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES ENCOUNTER IN OBTAINING SAFE HOUSING AND ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION, NCLC DEVELOPS AND ADVOCATES REFORMS TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO FAIR LENDING AND HOUSING LAWS, FORECLOSURE AVOIDANCE PROGRAMS, AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO UTILITIES. CARS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MANY FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, SO NCLC ALSO PROMOTES EFFECTIVE CAR OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS AND COMBATS MISLEADING AND DISCRIMINATORY SALES AND LENDING PRACTICES. A FOCUS ON ADVANCING EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE IS INTEGRAL TO THIS ADVOCACY, AS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN HOUSING, MORTGAGE AND AUTO LENDING HAS LONG PREVENTED CONSUMERS OF COLOR FROM ACCESSING ECONOMIC AND WEALTH-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, LEADING TO HIGHER RATES OF POVERTY, LACK OF HOUSING, A PERSISTENT WEALTH GAP, COMMUNITY DISINVESTMENT, AND OTHER ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.

    Expenses $4,409,610 · Revenue $3,679,148

  • PROTECTING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FROM PREDATORY LENDING, RISKY FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, ABUSIVE CREDIT REPORTING AND DEBT COLLECTION, AND OTHER FORMS OF ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION. TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES FROM EXPLOITATION, DECEPTION, AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, NCLC PURSUES REFORMS TO FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY, REGULATION, AND LEGISLATION, CRAFTING MODEL LEGISLATION AND PROPOSING REGULATORY REFORM. BY ENGAGING THE CONSUMER LAW COMMUNITY, LAWMAKERS, REGULATORS, AND THE MEDIA, NCLC HELPS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY HAVE ACCESS TO SECURE BANK ACCOUNTS; SAFE ACCESS TO CREDIT WITH INTEREST RATE CAPS; AND A PATH FOR FAMILIES IN DEBT TO PURSUE A FRESH START THROUGH A REASONABLE BANKRUPTCY PROCESS. WE ADVANCE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT: PREDATORY LENDING; ABUSIVE OVERDRAFT FEES AND INTEREST RATES; SCAM ROBOCALLS AND TEXTS; IRRESPONSIBLE CREDIT REPORTING THAT REDUCES ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT; CRIPPLING MEDICAL DEBT; FORCED ARBITRATION; EXCESSIVE JUNK FEES; EXCESSIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT; AND UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.

    Expenses $2,684,500 · Revenue $5,377,216

  • EDUCATING FRONT-LINE LEGAL SERVICES AND NON-PROFIT LAWYERS, PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS, REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND COURTS ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE CONSUMER LAW ISSUES THROUGH CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS, EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES, AND IN-DEPTH TREATISES, REPORTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS. TO FURTHER ITS GROUNDBREAKING CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK, NCLC PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSUMER LAW ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES. NCLC PUBLISHES 21 CONSUMER LAW TREATISES ON EVERY ASPECT OF CONSUMER LAW. NCLC ADVOCATES UPDATE ITS DIGITAL LIBRARY REGULARLY AND PROVIDE SAMPLE PLEADINGS, TIMELY ARTICLES, TRIAL TIPS, AND STRATEGIES. NCLC PRODUCES THREE ANNUAL CONFERENCES, WHICH IN 2023 PROVIDED HIGH-LEVEL, IN-PERSON TRAINING TO NEARLY 1,000 LAWYERS AND PROVIDED ONLINE TRAINING AND WEBINARS TO THOUSANDS OF ADVOCATES. THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM, LEGAL AID LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS NEWER TO PRACTICE RECEIVE DISCOUNTED TUITION. IN ADDITION TO LITIGATING CONSUMER LAW CASES ON BEHALF OF ITS LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, NCLC ATTORNEYS ALSO PROVIDE EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES AND CONSULTING ON CONSUMER LAW AND UTILITY ISSUES. FREE MATERIALS ON NCLC.ORG ARM ADVOCATES WITH POWERFUL ANALYTICAL REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, AND TESTIMONY.

    Expenses $4,144,764 · Revenue $5,094,204

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Michael Ferry

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Dancy McKinney-Parker

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Beverly Courtney

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • David Vladeck

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dolores S Smith

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jonathan L Kravetz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark E Budnitz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Latryna D Carlton

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • Deepak Gupta

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Martha Tamayo

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nancy Barron

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Richard Dubois

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $313,772
    From this org
    $270,699
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,073
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $270,699
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,435
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,638
    Filer's total
    $313,772

  • Carolyn Carter

    DEPUTY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $250,303
    From this org
    $228,091
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,212
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,091
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,210
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,002
    Filer's total
    $250,303

  • Stephen Hurley

    CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $238,061
    From this org
    $198,245
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,816
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,245
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,178
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,638
    Filer's total
    $238,061

  • Margaret Kohler

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $238,447
    From this org
    $197,745
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,702
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $196,745
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,064
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,638
    Filer's total
    $238,447

  • Svetlana Ladan

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND IT

    Total calculated
    $203,596
    From this org
    $164,366
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,230
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $163,366
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,592
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,638
    Filer's total
    $203,596

  • Odette Williamson

    SECRETARY/CLERK/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lauren Saunders

    ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $199,306
    From this org
    $185,626
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,680
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,626
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,147
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,533
    Filer's total
    $199,306

  • Jonathan Sheldon

    PUBLISHER STAFF ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $174,637
    From this org
    $140,995
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,642
    Hours/week
    32

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,995
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $14,069
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,573
    Filer's total
    $174,637

  • Michelle Bates Deakin

    CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $181,313
    From this org
    $180,581
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $732
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,581
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $732
    Filer's total
    $181,313

  • Stuart Rossman

    DIRECTOR OF LITIGATION

    Total calculated
    $216,697
    From this org
    $185,506
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,191
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,506
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,894
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,297
    Filer's total
    $216,697

  • Margot Saunders

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $218,871
    From this org
    $190,659
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,212
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,659
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,935
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,277
    Filer's total
    $218,871

  • Karen Lusson

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $213,873
    From this org
    $182,930
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,943
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,930
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,179
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,764
    Filer's total
    $213,873

  • Jeremiah Battle

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $210,146
    From this org
    $179,889
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,257
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,889
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,932
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,325
    Filer's total
    $210,146

  • Andrea Bopp Stark

    SENIOR ATTORNEY

    Total calculated
    $210,053
    From this org
    $171,746
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $38,307
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,746
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,684
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,623
    Filer's total
    $210,053

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

Answered yes

  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 August 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202432289349301473

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