AccessLex Institute is a nonprofit organization headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, dedicated to improving legal education and supporting law students. Founded in 1983, the organization operates in partnership with nearly 200 American Bar Association-approved law schools. AccessLex Institute employs 137 people and is the largest nonprofit organization in legal education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8B
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+17.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
+30.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
AccessLex Institute is committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional. The organization's core mission centers on improving access to legal education, increasing affordability, and enhancing the value of a legal degree.
The organization operates through several key initiatives:
AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence® — Conducts research on critical issues facing legal education and advocates for policies that make legal education work better for students and society. The organization focuses on improving access for diverse and underrepresented students.
AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability® — Offers on-campus and online financial education programming and resources to help students manage finances throughout law school and into their careers.
Helix Bar Review — A comprehensive bar prep program providing resources to bar exam candidates.
Grantmaking
AccessLex Institute operates a significant grantmaking program focused on legal education research and student success initiatives.
Ready to take the next step with Accesslex Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AccessLex Institute works with nearly 200 member law schools across the United States. The organization has international presence in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
MAX by AccessLex® — A personal finance program offered free of charge to AccessLex member law schools and their students. More than 80,000 law students have utilized MAX since its creation in 2017. The program provides informative lessons, live webinars and workshops, and one-on-one financial coaching from Accredited Financial Counselors.
In April 2025, AccessLex Institute received the Excellence In Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Organization of the Year Award from the Institute for Financial Literacy, recognizing innovation, dedication, and commitment to financial literacy education.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,785,535,287 | $1,820,687,091 | $2,183,370,969 |
| Revenue | $95,890,882 | $77,938,285 | $71,548,007 |
| Expenses | $101,842,774 | $76,455,750 | $67,049,586 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $12,875,427 | $12,119,366 | $23,403,754 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Accesslex Institute
AccessLex: Bar Success Research Grant Program
ACCESSLEX INSTITUTE
Amount
US $150,000 - US $300,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
AccessLex: Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program
ACCESSLEX INSTITUTE
Amount
US $200,000 - US $300,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Admission Innovation Project
ACCESSLEX INSTITUTE
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Arizona Law School - Jd-next Grant Agr (law College Associati ($180,000), The State Bar of California - Exam Features Experiment ($175,000), University of Miami - the Relationship Between Curriculum Selections and Ba ($157,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AASE 2023 - JD-NEXT GRANT AGR SAINT LOUIS, MO | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN BAR FOUNDATION - EMERGING SCHOLARS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN LEGAL AND CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $56,100 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW - AUWCL PLEDGE BAR PREP PROGR WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $15,000 |
| APPALACHIAN SCHOOL OF LAW - ASL BAR SUCCESS PROJECT GRUNDY, VT | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $15,000 |
| ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FOUNDATION INC - SCARLET TO BLACK PROGRA STATE UNIVERSITY, AR | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $25,076 |
| ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS (AALS) - CHALLENGE DIRECTED GRANT WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $50,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS (AALS) - RESEARCH DIRECTED GRANT WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $75,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS (AALS) - SPONSORSHIP DIRECTED GRANT WASHINGTON, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW - METHODOLOGIES OF LAW SCHOOL CURRICULUM AN WACO, TX | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $7,500 |
| CENTER FOR COMPUTER (CALI) -ASSISTED LEGAL EDUCATION - LAW SCHOOL SUCCESS CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT/RESEARCH | $29,869 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christopher Chapman serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of AccessLex Institute.
Aaron N. Taylor is identified as Senior leadership in relation to the organization's grant programs.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER P CHAPMAN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 37.5 | $689,873 |
| DEBRA SWARTZ | SVP GENERAL COUNSEL & CCO | 50 | $417,533 |
| CYNTHIA A CASSITY | SVP STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT & HELIX COO | 27.5 | $163,447 |
| AARON N TAYLOR | SVP, EXEC. DIRECTOR FOR LEGAL ED | 50 | $331,362 |
| DAVID J RAMAGE | SVP AND CIO | 50 | $286,191 |
| SAMUEL GREENHALGH JR | SVP AND CFO | 50 | $278,828 |
| JAMES R CASSITY | SVP CORP OPERATIONS AND CIO | 50 | $294,564 |
| ROBERT J GREENAWALT | MANAGING DIR - PORT MGMT | 50 | $183,223 |
| VALERIE YOUNG | VP HR | 50 | $176,653 |
| TIFFANE COCHRAN | VP RESEARCH | 50 | $200,400 |
| ERICK HNOSKO | MANAGING DIR - IT OPERATIONS | 50 | $159,711 |
| JOYCE GLANFIELD | MANAGING DIR - ASST CONTROLLER | 50 | $162,222 |
| EVNEET KHURANA | VP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS | 50 | $197,075 |
| OLGA O'DONNELL | MANAGING DIR - ASST GEN COUNSEL | 50 | $159,406 |
| JENNIFER SCHOTT | MANAGING DIR - FINANCIAL ED | 50 | $170,665 |
| DEBORAH A FABRYKA | EXEC ASST.& ASST SECRETARY | 50 | $111,010 |
| ROBERT K RASMUSSEN | BOARD CHAIR | 6 | — |
| MARY CROSSLEY | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 6 | — |
| DAVID BRENNEN | BOARD SEC/TREASURER | 6 | — |
| NEEL CHATTERJEE | BOARD MEMBER (BEG 09/2023) | 6 | — |
| DANIELLE M CONWAY | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| MARK C DAWKINS | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| VILAS DHAR | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| CHRIS GUTHRIE | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| RENEE MCDONALD HUTCHINS | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| MAUREEN A O'ROURKE | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| AUSTEN L PARRISH | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**April 2025:** AccessLex Institute received the 2025 Excellence In Financial Literacy Education (EIFLE) Organization of the Year Award from the Institute for Financial Literacy.
Wake Forest Law Awarded AccessLex Grant to Increase Pathways to Legal Education**July 2025:** AccessLex Institute celebrated the momentum and impact of its grant programs for the 2024-25 academic year, announcing over $2.6 million awarded in the past year and highlighting notable grantees including the Equity Accelerator, Association of Law School Diversity Professionals, and Penn State Dickinson Law School.
Wake Forest Law Awarded AccessLex Grant to Increase Pathways to Legal Education**2024-25 Academic Year:** Multiple grants announced including awards to Wake Forest Law, Seattle University School of Law, and Nevada bar exam development initiatives.
AccessLex Institute Issues Five Year Grant to Seattle University ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Accesslex Institute fund?
AccessLex Institute is committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional. The organization's core mission centers on improving access to legal education, increasing affordability, and enhancing the value of a legal degree. The organization operates through several key initiatives: **AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence®** — Conducts research on critical issues facing legal education and advocates for policies that ma…
How do I apply for a grant from Accesslex Institute?
AccessLex Institute operates a significant grantmaking program focused on legal education research and student success initiatives. **Grant Volume and History:** Since 2014, AccessLex has awarded over $26.4 million to initiatives centered on the empirical study of legal education and the legal profession. In the 2024-25 academic year alone, over $2.6 million was awarded. **Grant Programs:** Awards are made through the following programs: • Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program • Bar Succ…
Where does Accesslex Institute make grants?
AccessLex Institute works with nearly 200 member law schools across the United States. The organization has international presence in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.
What size grants does Accesslex Institute award?
In 2024, Accesslex Institute awarded 38 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Accesslex Institute's EIN?
Accesslex Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2719985. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Accesslex Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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