Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) advocates for the cancellation of all federal student loan debt in the United States. SDCC opposes means-testing for debt forgiveness, seeks an immediate overhaul of income-based repayment systems, and wants student debt repayment postponed until that overhaul is completed.

History

Student Debt Crisis Center was established in 2014 as Student Debt Crisis, a 501(c)(4) advocacy corporation. ¹ As of May 2022, the group is in the process of establishing a charitable arm. ² SDCC claims to have more than two million members. ³

Views and Programs

Student Debt Crisis Center seeks the permanent cancellation of more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt financed through federal loans in the United States. ⁴ SDCC calls the federal student loan system a “crisis” and worsens inequalities for black, indigenous, and people of color. ⁵ SDCC president Natalia Abrams said that any loan forgiveness should not be means-tested and should be automatic. ⁶ SDCC has stated that any loan re-payments, after a COVID-related suspension, should not resume until there is an overhaul with any income-based repayment system for federal student debt. ⁷ The group claims that any halt to repayment should continue until all student loan debt is permanently canceled. ⁸

SDCC addresses student debt through three program areas: providing information to borrowers on tools and resources; collecting and providing narratives to policy makers and the media on student loan borrowers; and advocacy efforts to eliminate student loan debt. ⁹ SDCC provides information to borrowers on tools available such as forbearances and deferments for debt, links to Department of Education loan websites, links to outside debt assistance websites, and answers to frequently asked questions. ¹⁰ On a story section of the website, SDCC allows people to share and read student debt stories and claims to have more than 82,000 stories to share with policy makers and the media. ¹¹ Through advocacy, SDCC provides petitions, ways to contact legislators, and signing up for news from the group. ¹² SDCC claims to have sent more than 800,000 letters to legislators and has over 4 million people signing petitions on student loan debt. ¹³

Finances

In 2019, Student Debt Crisis had total assets of $22,538. ¹⁴ According to the organization’s tax returns from 2019, SDC recorded $63,253 in revenue and $56,001 in expenses. ¹⁵ In 2018, according to the IRS, the organization had receipts less than $50,000. ¹⁶

Leadership

Natalia Abrams is president and founder of Student Debt Crisis Center. ¹⁷ Previously, from 2012 through 2013 she was director of operations at Green Frog Media, a public relations firm in California. ¹⁸ In 2012, Abrams ran college social media accounts for Obama for America. ¹⁹ Abrams holds a B.A. in gender studies and media from University of California, Los Angeles. ²⁰

1. Internal Revenue Service letter to Student Debt Crisis. December 31, 2014. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_47-1565581_STUDENTDEBTCRISIS_09242014.tif.
2. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/about/.
3. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://linktr.ee/debtcrisisorg.
4. ^[1] “Statement: Biden extends student loan payment pause as calls for debt cancellation grow.” Student Debt Crisis Center. April 6, 2022. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/statement-biden-extends-payment-pause/.
5. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/about/.
6. Student Debt Crisis Center Twitter. Appearance on CNN. May 1, 2022. Accessed May 15, 2022. https://twitter.com/DebtCrisisOrg/status/1520846982645903362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1520846982645903362%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marca.com%2Fen%2Flifestyle%2Fus-news%2F2022%2F05%2F07%2F6276480837ff7b002386748a-directo.html.
7. Letter to President Biden. Student Debt Crisis Center. March 7, 2022. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/letter-extend-pause-cancel-student-debt/.
8. “Statement: Biden extends student loan payment pause as calls for debt cancellation grow.” Student Debt Crisis Center. April 6, 2022. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/statement-biden-extends-payment-pause/.
9.  Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/about/.
10. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/help/.
11. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/stories/.
12. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/action/.
13. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/action/.
14. Student Debt Crisis, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990-EZ), 2019.
15. Student Debt Crisis, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990-EZ), 2019.
16. ^[1] Student Debt Crisis, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990-N), 2018; Internal Revenue Service. www.irs.gov. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=471565581&name=STUDENT%20DEBT%20CRISIS&city=SHERMAN%20OAKS&state=CA&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=DETERMINATIONLETTERS,%20EPOSTCARD,%20COPYOFRETURNS&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=EPOSTCARD&orgTags=COPYOFRETURNS.
17. Student Debt Crisis Center. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://studentdebtcrisis.org/about/.
18. “Natalia Abrams.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-abrams-93ab4a8/.
19. “Natalia Abrams.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-abrams-93ab4a8/.
20. “Natalia Abrams.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 14, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-abrams-93ab4a8/.