Accesslex Institute FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

West Chester, PA501(c)(3)Since 1993Public & Societal BenefitEIN 23-2719985Revenue $95.7M in FY2021

On file with the IRS10 N High Street Fourth, 19380-3014 · West Chester, PATax-exempt since Jun 1993Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

Tell your story. Claim this org

Please refer to schedule oaccesslex Institute is an organization underpinned by a membership comprised of approximately 200 american bar association (aba)-approved nonprofit and state-affiliated law schools and is dedicated to improved educational access for diverse and underrepresented students, increased affordability, and enhanced and lasting value in legal education. This commitment is actualized through our research, grantmaking, policy analysis and advocacy, and educational services activities. Throughout its history, Accesslex Institute has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges and needs of the students and institutions of higher education that we serve. As a strong and leading voice in each of our focus areas, we are driven by strategic initiatives and expanded programs designed to maintain the vibrancy and dynamism of our mission.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$3.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $214K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.4M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2.2B
71% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 71% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$95.7M
Spent
$83.5M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$865.8M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$95.7M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$95.7M
FY2022$71.5M
FY2023$77.9M
FY2024$95.9M
FY2025$72.1M
Expenses
$83.5M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$83.5M
FY2022$67.0M
FY2023$76.5M
FY2024$101.8M
FY2025$83.2M
Net assets
$865.8M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$865.8M
FY2022$871.5M
FY2023$813.5M
FY2024$948.7M
FY2025$998.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending March 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

990 PDF Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1993.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $76.2M Management & general 9% · $7.3M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to fix it

Who runs it and what they're paid

27 people listed on the 990; $3.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President, CEO
$816,177Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, General Counsel and Cco
$302,790Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, Exec. Director for Legal Ed
$297,127Pt VII · Sec A
SVP, Education and Strategic Engt
$275,471Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Investments and Corporate Devel
$224,954Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Corporate Operations
$220,191Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President & Controller
$213,379Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director, Helix
$171,665Pt VII · Sec A

Christopher P Chapman’s $719K as President & CEO is at the 90th percentile of top reported officer pay among 232 $10–100M public & societal benefit nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Christopher Chapman———$761,248$816,177
Christopher P Chapman$718,790$689,873$697,770——
Debra Swartz$423,238$417,533$348,983$317,562$302,790
Aaron N Taylor$342,193$331,362$327,142$315,938—
James R Cassity$309,126$294,564$266,616$245,434—
David J Ramage$298,560$286,191$258,484$242,630—
Aaron Taylor————$297,127
Samuel Greenhalgh JR$296,805$278,828—$242,389$213,379

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Accesslex Institute executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to fix it

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports diverse law students and improves legal education affordability and access through research, grantmaking, policy advocacy, and specialized educational services.

Questions for Accesslex Institute

Tap to ask. Accesslex Institute sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Accesslex Institute answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

2 programs · $76.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Please refer to schedule othe organization supports its student loan borrowers by facilitating timely repayment through interest rate reduction incentives and providing quality customer service, counseling, issue resolution, default aversion and post default management.

$61.1Mprogram expense
02

Please refer to schedule othe organization conducts and sponsors research, policy analysis, services and projects that seek to further its 2025 strategic plan to enhance access, affordability and value of legal education.

$15.1Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 230 grants · $11.8M · 2020–2024
The State Bar of California - Exam Features ExperimentFY2024$175,000
University of Arkansas - Sppark Grant AgrFY2024$160,000
New York Law SchoolNY · FY2024$150,000
American Bar FoundationIL · FY2024$150,000
Pennsylvania State University - Antiracist Development Initiative for Law SFY2024$125,000
University of MiamiFL · FY2024$92,500
Indiana UniversityIN · FY2024$91,438
University of UtahUT · FY2024$75,000
See all 230 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$95.7M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$78.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$15.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.2M
Money outPt IX
$83.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$76.2M
Managementcol C$7.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$865.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.9M
Total assetsLn 16$3.0B
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2B
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A14
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Fees for servicesLn 2g$78.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$15.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$2.2M
Gains on assetsLn 7$7.9M
Total revenueLn 12$95.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.0M
SavingsLn 2$6.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$780.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$923K
Other assetsLn 15$167.7M
Total assetsLn 16$3.0B
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2B
Net assetsLn 32$865.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5111
VolunteersI 611
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$10.4M$7.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$569.7M$780.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.5M$923K
Total assetsLn 16$3.26B$3.03B
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.63B$2.16B
Net assetsLn 32$620.5M$865.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$1.7M$1.7M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$331K$331K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.3M$819K$1.5M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.7M$5.3M$1.4M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$531K$138K$393K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.6M$1.2M$442K
Payroll taxesLn 10$676K$248K$427K
Legal feesLn 11b$2.1M$1.8M$331K
Accounting feesLn 11c$199K$199K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$105K$105K
Investment management feesLn 11f$500K$500K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$11.3M$10.5M$740K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$934K$753K$180K
Office expensesLn 13$65K$49K$16K
Information technologyLn 14$1.4M$1.0M$410K
OccupancyLn 16$824K$494K$331K
TravelLn 17$407K$402K$6K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$164K$163K$1K
InterestLn 20$45.5M$45.5M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$829K$312K$517K
InsuranceLn 23$405K$405K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4.8M$4.8M$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$83.5M$76.2M$7.3M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $72.1M$83.2M−$11.2M$998.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $95.9M$101.8M−$6.0M$948.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $77.9M$76.5M$1.5M$813.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $71.5M$67.0M$4.5M$871.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $95.7M$83.5M$12.2M$865.8M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $95,736,485 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $0$0
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $135,356,383$78,135,230
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $17,575,263$15,431,468
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $358,859$2,169,787
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $153,290,505$95,736,485
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $2,219,295$2,073,460
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $12,060,639$11,809,171
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $117,870,758$69,631,197
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $132,150,692$83,513,828
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $21,139,813$12,222,657
Part VI · Governance 11 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members11
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $95,736,485 across 5 lines filed
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $78,062,892 · Unrelated business $72,338$78,135,230
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business −$11,556 · Excluded from tax $7,538,582$7,527,026
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $7,904,442$7,904,442
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,169,787$2,169,787
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $80,232,679 · Unrelated business $60,782 · Excluded from tax $15,443,024$95,736,485
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $83,513,828 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $1,742,638$1,742,638
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $330,822$330,822
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $819,461 · Management $1,501,841$2,321,302
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $5,283,018 · Management $1,386,569$6,669,587
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $137,972 · Management $393,465$531,437
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,169,454 · Management $441,821$1,611,275
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $248,243 · Management $427,327$675,570
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,793,125 · Management $330,941$2,124,066
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $198,667$198,667
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $105,018$105,018
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $500,000$500,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $10,531,660 · Management $739,882$11,271,542
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $753,427 · Management $180,144$933,571
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $49,410 · Management $15,607$65,017
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,014,192 · Management $410,366$1,424,558
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $493,644 · Management $330,652$824,296
IX-17 TravelPrograms $401,623 · Management $5,695$407,318
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $163,082 · Management $1,409$164,491
IX-20 InterestPrograms $45,546,163$45,546,163
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $312,099 · Management $516,954$829,053
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $405,373$405,373
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,832,064 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$4,832,064
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $76,227,115 · Management $7,286,713 · Fundraising $0$83,513,828
Part X · Balance sheet $3,025,741,930 assets, 17 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $2,067,626,355; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $283,949$1,020,152
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,161,555$6,846,062
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $43,549,229$386,952
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $30,757,717$875,834
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,470,435$922,994
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $566,317,044$774,903,142
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $3,350,000$5,500,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $162,905,970$167,660,439
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,255,011,264$3,025,741,930
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,343,071$10,183,177
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $2,625,175,018$2,148,271,779
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,986,673$1,493,154
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,634,504,762$2,159,948,110
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $620,506,502$865,793,820
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $620,506,502$865,793,820
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,255,011,264$3,025,741,930
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $865,793,820 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$95,736,485
XI-2 Total expenses$83,513,828
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$12,222,657
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$620,506,502
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$233,064,661
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$865,793,820

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.