Ascend Justice FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)EIN 36-3647731

Empowering individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence or the child welfare system to achieve safety and stability through holistic legal advocacy and system reform.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$343K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $114K a year · 4% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$343K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
19
named funders · $1.7M
Looks good: 19 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.8M
59% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 59% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.2M
+17% vs prior year
Spent
$4.3M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.2M
FY2024▲ +17%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.2M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$5.1M
Expenses
$4.3M
FY2024▲ +27%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.7M
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$4.8M
Net assets
$1.2M
FY2024▼ -9%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$896K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.5M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 1994.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $3.3M Management & general 17% · $736K Fundraising 5% · $211K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $343K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$133,000Pt VII · Sec A
Associate Director
$106,450Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director
$103,614Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Margaret Duval$134,480$133,000$117,048$85,060$104,037$101,250
Ashley Olsen$103,700$106,450————
Danielle Parisi Ruffatto$102,637$103,614————
Sara Gilloon$100,222—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Ascend Justice executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for safety and stability for those affected by gender-based violence or child welfare issues.

Provided by the organization

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1 program service account for $3.3M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2023.
01

In our most recent fiscal year, ascend justice provided comprehensive legal services to approximately 1,000 victims of gender-based violence and families impacted by the child welfare system.

$3.3Mprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 19 funders →
Grants paid · 9 grants · $254K · 2021–2022
A Safe PlaceIL · FY2022$77,400
Safer FoundationIL · FY2022$51,000
Illinois Legal Aid OnlineIL · FY2022$8,000
A Safe PlaceIL · FY2021$67,567
Remedies Renewing LivesIL · FY2021$13,610
Sarah's InnIL · FY2021$12,500
Family Rescue INCIL · FY2021$12,500

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$116K
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Money outPt IX
$4.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$736K
Fundraisingcol D$211K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$585K
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$49K
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Other incomeLn 4–11$116K
Total revenueLn 12$4.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$484K
SavingsLn 2$101K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$585K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Other assetsLn 15$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 526
VolunteersI 6125
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$627K$585K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5K$6K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$13K$2K
Total assetsLn 16$1.5M$3.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$204K$1.8M
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$5K$5K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$136K$108K$20K$7K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.9M$2.3M$429K$150K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$309K$247K$46K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$225K$179K$34K$12K
Legal feesLn 11b$16K$8K$8K
Accounting feesLn 11c$91K$43K$47K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$1K$523$571
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$92K$44K$48K
Office expensesLn 13$37K$30K$6K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$28K$23K$4K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$276K$220K$41K$15K
TravelLn 17$19K$15K$3K$983
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$10K$8K$2K$539
InsuranceLn 23$42K$34K$6K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$111K$97K$10K$4K
All other expensesLn 24e$31K$31K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.3M$3.3M$736K$211K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $5.1M$4.8M$298K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $4.2M$4.3M−$115K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.6M$3.4M$187K$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.2M$2.1M$90K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.9M$1.8M$164K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.8M$1.7M$61K$896K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,176,124 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$49,073
VIII-1e Government grants$2,922,908
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,084,432
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,056,413
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,002$4,002
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $110,658$110,658
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $5,051$5,051
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $119,711$4,176,124
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,291,228 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,746$4,746
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $108,454 · Management $20,364 · Fundraising $7,135$135,953
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,283,011 · Management $428,673 · Fundraising $150,205$2,861,889
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $246,584 · Management $46,301 · Fundraising $16,223$309,108
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $179,357 · Management $33,677 · Fundraising $11,800$224,834
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $7,739 · Management $8,455$16,194
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $43,365 · Management $47,376$90,741
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $523 · Management $571$1,094
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $43,953 · Management $48,019$91,972
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $29,631 · Management $5,566 · Fundraising $1,949$37,146
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $22,631 · Management $4,249 · Fundraising $1,489$28,369
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $220,479 · Management $41,399 · Fundraising $14,506$276,384
IX-17 TravelPrograms $14,943 · Management $2,806 · Fundraising $983$18,732
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $8,193 · Management $1,538 · Fundraising $539$10,270
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,650 · Management $6,318 · Fundraising $2,214$42,182
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $97,026 · Management $10,340 · Fundraising $3,624$110,990
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $30,624$30,624
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,344,285 · Management $736,276 · Fundraising $210,667$4,291,228
Part X · Balance sheet $3,000,673 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $480,733$483,821
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $146,484$100,856
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $859,760$802,275
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $15,372$49,794
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $12,648$2,377
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,061$5,538
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $22,639$1,556,012
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,542,697$3,000,673
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $181,587$169,716
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $22,752$1,607,226
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $204,339$1,776,942
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $951,358$796,064
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $387,000$427,667
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,338,358$1,223,731
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,542,697$3,000,673
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,223,731 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,176,124
XI-2 Total expenses$4,291,228
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$115,104
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,338,358
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$477
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,223,731

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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