NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1701 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-3001

In care of

% JAMES C LAMB

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

AARON AMENT, 1701 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Signed the 990

AARON AMENT, PRESIDENT

Phone

(202) 734-7495

Website

WWW.DEFENDSTUDENTS.ORG

990-N for 2017 filed under this EIN

Most likely by a chapter, club or affiliate (it says receipts are normally $50,000 or less). Officer: Aaron Ament, 1015 15th Street NW Suite 600, Washington DC 20005. Mailing address: 1015 15th Street NW Suite 600, Washington DC 20005.

Return prepared by

JOHNSON HICKEY & MURCHISON PC

Mission

THE NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZED TO ADVANCE STUDENTS' RIGHTS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTING STUDENT' ECONOMIC MOBILITY BY USING IMPACT LITIGATION AND ADVOCACY TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM PREDATORY LENDING AND ABUSIVE PRACTICES. OUR FOCUS SPANS THE ENTIRE STUDENT LIFECYCLE,FROM RECRUITMENT AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS' BASIC NEEDS TO EDUCATIONAL QUALITY TO COMPLETE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT.

Program accomplishments

• PURSUANT TO REV PROC. 92-59, 1992-C C.B.411, THE ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDING A LIST OF CASES LITIGATED DURING 2024.DURING 2024, THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATED SIX LAWSUITS AGAINST THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PURSAUNT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT ("FOIA"), 5 U.S.C. 552, ET SEQ., COVERING THIRTY-ONE REQUESTS SUBMITTED UNDER FOIA. AS A MATTER OF PRACTICE, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS A "FEE WAIVER" FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN CONNECTION WITH EACH REQUEST, ESTABLISHING THAT THE REQUESTED DISCLOSURE UNDER FOIA IS "IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST." SEE 5 U.S.C. 552(A)(4)(A)(III). THE ORGANIZATION HAS NEVER BEEN REQUIRED TO PAY FEES IN CONNECTION WITH ANY REQUEST. DURING 2024, THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATED THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL MATTERS, THE SELECTION OF WHICH WAS NOT MADE WITH A CONSIDERATION OF THE EXPECTATION OR POSSIBILITY OF A FEE AWARD. (1) BALTEZAR V. CARDONA & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, N.D. CAL.). THIS IS A CHALLENGE UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S 2019 REPEAL OF THE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT RULE, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM CAREER-ORIENTED HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDED LIMITED VALUE COMENSURATE TO STUDENT DEBT BURDENS INCURRED. (2) DUNAGAN V. ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF ART (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, N.D. ILL.). THIS IS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION AGAINST AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT MISLED STUDENTS ABOUT ITS STATUS AS AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION. THE SUIT SEEKS TO HOLD RESPONSIBLE BOTH THE INSTITUTION AND THE OWNERS AND EXECUTIVES WHO PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE DECEPTION. THIS IS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUAL WRONGDOERS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PREDATORY CONDUCT BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.(3) DIGITAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS LLC V. SOUTH UNIVERSITY OF OHIO ET AL. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, N.D. OHIO). THIS IS A FEDERAL COURT RECEIVERSHIP PROCEEDING INVOLVING CERTAIN OF THE DEFENDANTS IN THE DUNAGAN MATTER DESCRIBED ABOVE. IN 2022, STUDENT DEFENSE REPRESENTED STUDENTS TO PRESERVE THEIR RIGHTS, AND THE RIGHTS OF OTHER STUDENTS, AGAINST RECEIVERSHIP ENTITIES. (4) DETMER ET AL. V. LA'JAMES COLLEGE OF HAIRSTYLING, INC. ET AL (IOWA DISTRICT COURT FOR POLK COUNTY). THIS IS A CERTIFIED CLASS ACTION AGAINST AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT DELAYED DISBURSEMENT OF STUDENT CREDIT BALANCES, IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL REGULATION AND STATE LAW. (5) CARROLL ET AL. V. WALDEN UNIVERSITY ET AL (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D. MARYLAND). THIS IS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, THE EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT, AND STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THE CASE SEEKS TO AFFIRM THE USE OF CORE CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES IN THE CONTEXT OF FEDERAL STUDENT LENDING.(6) ARBITRATIONS AGAINST LAMBDA, INC. D/B/A/ LAMBDA SCHOOL OR BLOOM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED EIGHT INDIVIDUALS SEPARATELY PURSUING ARBITRATIONS AGAINST THE LAMBDA SCHOOL FOR MISREPRESENTATIONS REGARDING STUDENT OUTCOMES. THE CASES NOT ONLY SOUGHT REDRESS FOR THE CLIENT, BUT ALSO SOUGHT TO HIGHLIGHT PROBLEMS WITH REGULATIONS REGARDING UNACCREDITED "BOOT CAMPS AND THE USE OF "INCOME SHARE AGREEMENTS" TO FINANCE HIGHER EDUCATION. SEPARATELY, IN FULLER ET AL. V. BLOOM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (FORMERLY D/B/A LAMBDA SCHOOL) AND AUSTEN ALLRED, ET AL. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, N.D. CAL), THE ORGANIZATION LITIGATED A SIMILAR CLAIM AS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION AND TESTED THE EXTENT OF THE MANDATORY ARBITRATION CLAUSE THAT APPEARED IN THE "INCOME SHARE AGREEMENT." (7) DUNN ET AL. V. CARDONA & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D. MASS). THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN APRIL 2022 TO CHALLENGE, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S UNREASONABLE DELAY IN FAILING TO ADJUDICATE A 2016 GROUP APPLICATION FOR STUDENT LOAN DISCHARGES SUBMITTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS ON BEHALF OF A CLASS OF FORMER STUDENTS AT KAPLAN CAREER INSTITUTE IN MASSACHUSETTS. IN AUGUST 2022, THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD GRANTED THE APPLICATION. (8) HEMPHILL ET AL. V. CARDONA & U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D.D.C.) THIS LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN MAY 2022 TO CHALLENGE, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S UNREASONABLE DELAY IN FAILING TO ADJUDICATE A 2016 GROUP APPLICATION FOR STUDENT LOAN DISCHARGES SUBMITTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS ON BEHALF OF A CLASS OF FORMER STUDENTS AT WESTWOOD COLLEGE IN ILLINOIS. IN AUGUST 2022, THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BE PROVIDING $1.5 BILLION IN STUDENT LOAN DISCHARGES TO 79,000 BORROWERS WHO ATTENDED WESTWOOD COLLEGE BETWEEN JANUARY 2002 AND ITS CLOSURE IN 2016. (9) FAVELL ET AL. V. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, C.D. CAL). THIS IS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION FOR DEFRAUDING STUDENTS BY USING MISLEADING COLLEGE RANKINGS REGARDING THE ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THE CASE SEEKS TO HIGHLIGHT THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS AND ILLEGALITY OF "REVENUE SHARE" AGREEMENTS BETWEEN COLLEGES AND THIRD-PARTY ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE BOTH RECRUITING AND ONLINE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES. (10) NATALIA ORTIZ V. SABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & R3 EDUCATION, INC. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D. MASS). THIS WAS FILED AS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS LAW WITH RESPECT TO MARKETING AND ADVERTISING BY SABA UNIVERSITY. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THE CASE SEEKS TO HIGHLIGHT HOW INSTITUTIONS CAN MANIPULATE ADVERTISEMENTS OF STUDENT OUTCOMES THROUGH DECEPTIVE USE OF STATISTICAL REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING SUCCESS ON LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS.(11) ELVA LOPEZ V. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SIMPLILEARN AMERICAS, INC (SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO). THIS WAS FILED AS A PUTATIVE CLASS ACTION FOR VIOLATIONS OF CALIFORNIA LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING OF A SHORT-TERM BOOTCAMP BY THE DEFENDANTS. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THE CASE SEEKS TO HIGHLIGHT HOW CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS CONTRACT WITH THIRD-PARTIES TO DESIGN AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, WITHOUT ADEQUATELY DISCLOSING TO STUDENTS THE FACTS SURROUNDING THE PROGRAMS.(12) TANNER SMITH ET AL. V. GRAND CANYON EDUCATION INC. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, D. AZ). THIS CASE WAS FILED ON BEHALF OF A PUTATIVE CLASS OF FORMER DOCTROAL STUDENTS ALLEGING THAT DEFENDANT ORCHESTRATED A DECEITFUL RACKETEERING SCHEME BY MISLEADING PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS ABOUT THE TRUE COST OF DOCTORAL DEGREES. PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE THAT DEFENDANT DEFRAUDED STUDENTS OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL RICO STATUTE AS WELL AS STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THIS CASE SEEKS TO ALTER HOW OPERATORS OF LARGE FOR-PROFIT GRADUATE PROGRAMS RECRUIT AND ENROLL STUDENTS, WHILE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF NON-PROFIT CONVERSIONS AND SALES TO NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. (13) HAYLEY CLEMENTS V. XAVIER BECERRA, ET AL. (U.S. DISTRICT COURT, M.D. AL). THIS CASE WAS FILED AGAINST THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON BEHALF OF A NURSE PRACTIONER WHO JOINED THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS (NHSC) IN 2020. AFTER RECEIVING $25,000 IN STUDENT LOAN RELIEF UNDER THE NHSC PROGRAM, PLAINTIFF WAS FINED OVER $217,000 BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND A JOB THAT MET PROGRAM CRITERIA WITHIN COMMUTING DISTANCE OF HER HOME. PLAINTIFF BROUGHT SUIT UNDER THE EXCESSIVE FINES CLAUSE OF THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT, THE SEVENTH AMENDMENT, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT. IN ADDITION TO REDRESSING WRONGDOING, THIS CASE SOUGHT TO REFORM THE MANNER IN WHICH HHS LEVIES FINES IN ORDER TO BRING THE PROGRAM IN LINE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONGRESSIONAL INTENT. (14) NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK V. UNIV. OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS (SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA). THIS CASE WAS FILED IN STATE COURT UNDER THE DC CONSUMER PROTECTION PROCEDURES ACT FOR VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION BAN ARISING FROM DEFENDANT'S PAYMENTS TO THE ONLINE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PROVIDER COURSEA, INC. PLAINTIFF SOUGHT INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND NO MONETARY DAMAGES AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF THE "BUNDLED SERVICING" LOOPHOLE TO THE FEDERAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION BAN. SHOULD THE ORGANIZATION RECOVER ATTORNEY'S FEES, SUCH FEES WILL BE PAID TO THE ORGANIZATION AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEYS WHOSE COMPENSATION IS DETERMINED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO FEES RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH CASES HANDLED.
  Expenses $1,925,897 · revenue $2,749,729

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

82-3474942

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

2018

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R63)

Assets (IRS master file)

$4,629,178

Income (IRS master file)

$4,677,958

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 82-3474942).

Questions about NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK

What is the EIN of NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK?

The employer identification number (EIN) of NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK is 82-3474942.

Is NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2018.

Are donations to NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names AARON AMENT.

Who are the officers and directors of NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 9 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $228,072 (AARON AMENT, PRESIDENT).

How much revenue does NATIONAL STUDENT LEGAL DEFENSE NETWORK have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $4,677,958, expenses of $2,190,839 and total assets of $4,629,178 at year end.

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