National Employment Law Project
National Employment Law Project shows fluctuating annual finances with recent deficit spending, but maintains strong asset growth and reports no officer compensation.
EIN: 132758558 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $10.6M |
| Total Expenses | $15.5M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $10 |
| Net Assets | $22.3M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is National Employment Law Project Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
National Employment Law Project directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About National Employment Law Project
National Employment Law Project (EIN: 132758558) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $10.6M and total assets of $19.7M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of National Employment Law Project's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
National Employment Law Project is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 52 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $11.7M |
| Total Expenses | $15.5M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-3,862,007 |
| Total Assets | $26.2M |
| Total Liabilities | $3.9M |
| Net Assets | $22.3M |
| Operating Margin | -33.1% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 15.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 20.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, National Employment Law Project reported a deficit of $3.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 20.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 15.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), National Employment Law Project's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +40.5% | -10.1% | -11.1% |
| 2022 | -70.8% | +14.9% | -20.3% |
| 2021 | +131.7% | +32.9% | +68.7% |
| 2020 | +15.8% | +11.0% | +6.9% |
| 2019 | +124.2% | +17.9% | +7.9% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1974 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates National Employment Law Project with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 10%
According to IRS 990 filings, National Employment Law Project allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 10%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $3.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 15.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The National Employment Law Project consistently reports 0% for officer compensation across all available filings, which is a strong indicator of fiscal responsibility and a commitment to directing resources towards its mission rather than high executive salaries, especially for an organization with annual expenses often exceeding $10 million.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of National Employment Law Project's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent deficit spending in recent years (e.g., 2022 and 2023)
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility (e.g., $28.4M in 2021 vs. $8.3M in 2022)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for National Employment Law Project:
- Strong and growing asset base ($10.7M in 2014 to $26.1M in 2023)
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating fiscal prudence regarding executive pay
- Ability to sustain operations despite revenue fluctuations, suggesting robust financial planning or reserves
Frequently Asked Questions about National Employment Law Project
Is National Employment Law Project a legitimate charity?
National Employment Law Project (EIN: 132758558) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $10.6M. 2 red flags identified. 3 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does National Employment Law Project spend its money?
National Employment Law Project directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 10%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to National Employment Law Project tax-deductible?
National Employment Law Project is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132758558). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the National Employment Law Project CEO make?
National Employment Law Project's highest-compensated officer earns $10 annually. The organization reported $10.6M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of National Employment Law Project's spending goes to programs?
National Employment Law Project directs 80% to programs, 10% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is National Employment Law Project located?
National Employment Law Project is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 132758558.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does National Employment Law Project have?
National Employment Law Project has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $10.6M in total revenue.
Why has NELP experienced significant deficit spending in recent years, such as in 2022 and 2023?
In 2022, expenses ($17,262,542) were more than double the revenue ($8,303,395), and in 2023, expenses ($15,524,881) significantly outpaced revenue ($11,662,874). This could be due to strategic investments, timing of grant receipts, or drawing from reserves.
How does NELP fund its operations when expenses exceed revenue?
Given the substantial asset base growth from $10.7M in 2014 to $26.1M in 2023, NELP likely utilizes accumulated reserves or draws on multi-year grants to cover operational deficits in years where current revenue is insufficient.
What is the actual executive compensation structure, given the 0% reported officer compensation?
The consistent 0% reported for officer compensation suggests either that executive salaries are extremely low, or that compensation for key executives is categorized differently within the IRS 990, warranting further investigation into Part VII, Section A of their full 990 forms.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for National Employment Law Project showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), National Employment Law Project's revenue has grown by 85.7%, moving from $6.3M to $11.7M. Total assets increased by 189.3% over the same period, from $9.1M to $26.2M. Total functional expenses rose by 188.3%, from $5.4M to $15.5M. In its most recent filing year (2023), National Employment Law Project reported a deficit of $3.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $3.9M in liabilities against $26.2M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 15.0%), resulting in net assets of $22.3M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $11.7M | $15.5M | $26.2M | $3.9M | — | — |
| 2022 | $8.3M | $17.3M | $29.5M | $4.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $28.5M | $15.0M | $36.9M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $12.3M | $11.3M | $21.9M | $934K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $10.6M | $10.2M | $20.5M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $4.7M | $8.6M | $19.0M | $969K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $16.8M | $8.6M | $23.8M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $8.3M | $6.5M | $14.7M | $860K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $8.2M | $6.2M | $12.8M | $689K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $6.9M | $5.5M | $10.8M | $645K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.0M | $5.2M | $9.3M | $535K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $6.8M | $6.2M | $9.8M | $765K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $6.3M | $5.4M | $9.1M | $680K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $11.7M, expenses of $15.5M, and assets of $26.2M (revenue +40.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $8.3M, expenses of $17.3M, and assets of $29.5M (revenue -70.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $28.5M, expenses of $15.0M, and assets of $36.9M (revenue +131.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $12.3M, expenses of $11.3M, and assets of $21.9M (revenue +15.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $10.6M, expenses of $10.2M, and assets of $20.5M (revenue +124.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $8.6M, and assets of $19.0M (revenue -71.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $16.8M, expenses of $8.6M, and assets of $23.8M (revenue +103.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $8.3M, expenses of $6.5M, and assets of $14.7M (revenue +1.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $8.2M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $12.8M (revenue +19.0% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $6.9M, expenses of $5.5M, and assets of $10.8M (revenue +38.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.0M, expenses of $5.2M, and assets of $9.3M (revenue -27.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $6.8M, expenses of $6.2M, and assets of $9.8M (revenue +9.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $5.4M, and assets of $9.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for National Employment Law Project:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for National Employment Law Project is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.