Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (i) Name of supported organization | (ii) EIN | (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) | (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? | (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) | (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | |||||
|
Total |
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Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | ||||||
| 2 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf.... | ||||||
| 3 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge.. | ||||||
| 4 | Total. Add lines 1 through 3 | ||||||
| 5 | The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose | 166,533,402 | 155,855,772 | 157,328,021 | 163,564,839 | 135,280,686 | 778,562,720 |
| 3 | Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 ..... | 0 | |||||
| 4 | Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf... | 0 | |||||
| 5 | The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge | 0 | |||||
| 6 | Total. Add lines 1 through 5 | 166,533,402 | 155,855,772 | 157,328,021 | 163,564,839 | 135,280,686 | 778,562,720 |
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | 0 | |||||
| b | Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year. | 0 | |||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | 0 | |||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | 778,562,720 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2015 | (b) 2016 | (c) 2017 | (d) 2018 | (e) 2019 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | 166,533,402 | 155,855,772 | 157,328,021 | 163,564,839 | 135,280,686 | 778,562,720 |
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | 6,525,771 | 11,774,550 | 9,783,775 | 13,060,891 | 11,939,401 | 53,084,388 |
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | 0 | |||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | 6,525,771 | 11,774,550 | 9,783,775 | 13,060,891 | 11,939,401 | 53,084,388 |
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on. | 107,679 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107,679 |
| 12 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) .. | 1,128,345 | 783,165 | 1,866,850 | 303,074 | 250,097 | 4,331,531 |
| 13 | Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.).. | 174,295,197 | 168,413,487 | 168,978,646 | 176,928,804 | 147,470,184 | 836,086,318 |
| Section A - Adjusted Net Income | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
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| 1 | Net short-term capital gain | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Other gross income (see instructions) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Add lines 1 through 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Depreciation and depletion | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Other expenses (see instructions) | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) | 8 | ||||
| Section B - Minimum Asset Amount | (A) Prior Year |
(B) Current Year (optional) |
||||
| 1 | Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): | 1 | ||||
| a | Average monthly value of securities | 1a | ||||
| b | Average monthly cash balances | 1b | ||||
| c | Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets | 1c | ||||
| d | Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) | 1d | ||||
| e |
Discount claimed for blockage or other factors (explain in detail in Part VI): |
|||||
| 2 | Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Subtract line 2 from line 1d | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Multiply line 5 by .035 | 6 | ||||
| 7 | Recoveries of prior-year distributions | 7 | ||||
| 8 | Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) | 8 | ||||
| Section C - Distributable Amount | Current Year | |||||
| 1 | Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Enter 85% of line 1 | 2 | ||||
| 3 | Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) | 3 | ||||
| 4 | Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 | 4 | ||||
| 5 | Income tax imposed in prior year | 5 | ||||
| 6 | Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) | 6 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | ||
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
||
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | ||
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | ||
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required) | ||
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | ||
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | ||
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
||
| 9 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | ||
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2019 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2019 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
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| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2019: | ||||
| a From 2014....... | ||||
| b From 2015....... | ||||
| c From 2016....... | ||||
| d From 2017....... | ||||
| e From 2018....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2014 not applied (see instructions) |
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| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2019 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2019 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2019, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
6
Remaining underdistributions for 2019. Subtract lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions. |
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|
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2020. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
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| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2015..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2016..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
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| Return Reference | Explanation |
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| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part III, Line 1 | Organization's Mission Accesslex 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. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4a | Statement of Program Service Accomplishment 1 The 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. The organization also works to ensure that its student loan borrowers are provided with quality and efficient service throughout the duration of the repayment period. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 4b | Statement of Program Service Accomplishment 2 The 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. The 2025 strategic plan enumerates four primary areas of focus to advance the organization's mission: Bar Exam Success: Supports development and distribution of information, education, data, interventions and programs to assist the organization's member law schools and their students in improving bar exam preparation, readiness and ultimate bar passage success. Diversity: Supports development and distribution of information, data, interventions and programs to assist the organization's member law schools and aspiring law students from historically underrepresented racial and socioeconomic backgrounds with increasing the diversity of law schools' admitted students, matriculants, and graduates, while also supporting inclusion and success intiatives. Actionable Data: Supports efforts to encourage the colletion, aggregation and sharing of relevant data by and among those entities which possess data that can advance the organization's mission-based objectives by providing a more data-informed basis for critical decision making by law schools, law student and aspiring law students. Financial Education: Supports development and distribution of information, data, interventions and programs to assist the organization's member law schools and aspiring law students with bridging existing financial literacy gaps and increasing financial capability and success. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 2 | Business Relationships Cynthia Cassity and James Cassity have a spousal relationship and both serve as officers of the organization. Form 990, Part VI, Line 6 Members or Stockholders AccessLex Institute is a Delaware nonprofit, non-stock corporation. It is a membership organization whose members, as more specifically defined in its bylaws, are state-operated or otherwise federally tax-exempt law schools located in the United States that are approved by the Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 7a | Members or Stockholders Who May Elect Pursuant to the Organization's bylaws, the Board of Directors may consist of not more than thirteen directors. The members elect the minimum number of directors necessary to constitute a majority of the total number of directors (the "Class A Directors") then authorized. The remaining directors (the "Class B Directors") are elected by the Class A Directors then serving. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 7b | Decisions Subject to Approval The Organization's bylaws provide that the members must approve the following actions of the board of directors: the revocation, repeal, amendment, or modification of certain provisions of the bylaws and the revocation, repeal, amendment or modification of Article X of the organization's Certificate of Incorporation, regarding distributions upon liquidation of the Organization. The Delaware General Corporation Law also provides that certain actions by the Board of Directors be approved by the members. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b | Form 990 Review Process This IRS Form 990 was prepared by the Organization's management, in consultation with the Organization's external tax accountants and attorneys. Pursuant to the provisions of its charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors reviewed a draft of this Form 990 at a meeting prior to filing. A complete copy of this Form 990, including all required schedules, was made available to each of the Organization's directors prior to its filing with the IRS. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c | Conflict of Interest Policy Monitoring & Enforcement The Organization's conflict of interest policy requires each interested person (defined as the Organization's directors, officers, and key employees) to disclose any financial interest (certain ownership interest or compensation arrangements) they may have in connection with a proposed transaction between the Organization and a third party. The Board of Directors will determine if such financial interest constitutes a conflict of interest and will employ the policy's procedures for addressing any such conflict. All interested persons provide a written certification annually affirming that they have received and understand the policy and agree to comply with it, and listing any conflicts, business relationships or family relationships that may give rise to a conflict. The Audit Committee of the Board considers all disclosed issues and management monitors and reports any actual or potential conflicts. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a | Process for Determining Compensation The process for determining the compensation of the President and CEO of the Organization is delegated by the Board of Directors to its Compensation and Benefits Committee, with such committee comprised of outside, independent Directors. It is the practice of the compensation and Benefits Committee to review the performance of the Organization's President and CEO periodically (generally on an annual basis) and to periodically engage a third-party, independent compensation consultant to establish the market compensation range for the position. This consultant generally establishes this range by identifying the compensation of a parallel position at comparable organizations and taking various factors into account, including but not limited to each applicable organization's industry, geographic region, complexity, size, and tax status. The Compensation and Benefits Committee reviews the information from its compensation consultant and any other relevant information, discusses such information outside of the presence of the President and CEO, and authorizes, on the record, any changes to such officer's compensation. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15b | Process for Determining Compensation The process for determining the compensation of other officers of the Organization generally follows the process used for all employees, except for the CEO as described in the answer to Part VI, line 15B herein. Generally, the CEO, or such other person as may be appropriate based on management reporting lines and other relevant factors, conducts an annual performance review of all other officers and key employees, and communicates the results of such review to the reviewed officer or key employee. In addition, the Organization periodically engages a third-party, independent compensation consultant to establish the market compensation range for the applicable positions. This consultant generally establishes this range by identifying the compensation of a parallel position at comparable organizations and taking various factors into account, including but not limited to each applicable organization's industry, geographic region, complexity, size, and tax status. The CEO, generally in consultation with the Human Resources division, approves the establishment of compensation levels for officers or key employees as follows: (1) directly for his/her direct reports, (2) in consultation with applicable officers, for officers and key employees who do not directly report to him/her, except that any changes to the compensation of the Vice President and Controller (as top financial executive) and the senior vice president and chief compliance officer (as top internal audit executive) are subject to the approval of the compensation and benefit committee. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 | How Documents are Made Available to the Public The Organization's Certificate of Incorporation is a public document on file with the Delaware Secretary of State. The Organization does not make its bylaws and conflict of interest policy available to the public. Its audited financial statements for the most recent three years are freely available on its website. |
| Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 | Other Changes in Net Assets Equity Contribution to AccessLex Bar Success, Inc $ -3,349,526 |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |