Research and education on criminal justice policy issues,advocacy for criminal justice reform.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$750K 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

FY2021 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.4M a year · 26% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$750K
to officers and key staff · 26% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 26% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $5.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $500
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$113K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.3M
+47% vs prior year
Spent
$2.8M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$7.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.3M
FY2021▲ +47%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.6M
FY2021$5.3M
FY2022$4.9M
FY2023$4.1M
FY2024$8.3M
Expenses
$2.8M
FY2021▲ +57%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.8M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$3.7M
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$5.6M
Net assets
$7.3M
FY2021▲ +50%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$7.3M
FY2022$7.7M
FY2023$6.7M
FY2024$9.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 1987.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $2.2M Management & general 9% · $260K Fundraising 14% · $405K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $750K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$174,700Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director
$124,608Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Ops and Finance
$121,058Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Research Analyst
$114,759Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Advocacy
$113,011Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Youth Justice
$101,625Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kara Gotsch$195,000$167,759$129,164$124,608$108,406
Amy Fettig—$174,708$181,772$174,700—
Ashley Nellis$142,061$130,832$119,329$114,759$109,864
Nicole Porter$137,580$130,363$123,200$113,011$104,853
Daniel Barash$136,643————
Nazgol Ghandnoosh$134,442$119,578———
Heather Koslov—$132,034$125,300——
Terry Nixon——$130,126$121,058$106,698

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 The Sentencing Project 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

Researches, educates, and advocates for criminal justice reform.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.6M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Research and Public Education

The organization monitors the criminal justice system and produces research and policy analyses to educate the public about the impact of criminal justice laws, policies, and practices. Findings are shared through highly visible public education campaigns that include earned media, webinars, newsletters, action alerts, and social media.

$620Kprogram expense
02

Extreme Sentencing

The organization plays a leadership role in campaigns and coalitions at the national, state, and local level in support of policies that expand the use of post-conviction release mechanisms, eliminate virtual life sentences and life sentences without parole, cap sentences at 20 years, and foster a culture that rejects excessive…

$486Kprogram expense
03

Youth Justice

The organization works to safeguard youth from the ravages of the adult criminal legal system and explore alternatives to youth involvement in both the juvenile and adult justice systems. In addition to advocating for an end to policies that transfer youth to the adult criminal legal system, the organization advocates for the shielding…

$478Kprogram expense

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$500
Grants paid · 63 grants · $921K · 2021–2024
Drop Lwop New EnglandMA · FY2024$20,000
Celwop INCMA · FY2024$15,000
TeamchildWA · FY2024$15,000
Connecticut Justice AllianceseeCA · FY2024$10,000
The Ole Education FundNM · FY2024$10,000
Healing Our Land INCFY2024$10,000
Pennfranchise ProjectPA · FY2024$10,000
Initiate JusticeCA · FY2024$10,000
Texas Civil Rights ProjectTX · FY2024$8,000
Youth Law CenterCA · FY2023$20,000
Chicago VotesIL · FY2023$20,000
Release Aging People in Prison (rapp)CA · FY2023$20,000
Aclu-RIRI · FY2023$15,000
See all 63 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$179K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4K
Money outPt IX
$2.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$260K
Fundraisingcol D$405K
Owns and owesPt X
$7.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$924K
Total assetsLn 16$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$113K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4K
Investment incomeLn 3$179K
Total revenueLn 12$5.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$924K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$924K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$99K
Other assetsLn 15$9K
Total assetsLn 16$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$113K
Net assetsLn 32$7.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 525
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M$924K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.9M$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$38K$99K
Total assetsLn 16$5.0M$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$113K$113K
Net assetsLn 32$4.9M$7.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$125K$125K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$199K$144K$14K$41K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.1M$56K$141K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$34K$29K$1K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$116K$97K$5K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$118K$98K$6K$15K
Management feesLn 11a$365K$352K$13K
Accounting feesLn 11c$96K$96K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$112K$112K
Investment management feesLn 11f$5K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$59K$24K$8K$27K
Information technologyLn 14$63K$53K$548$10K
OccupancyLn 16$133K$87K$33K$13K
TravelLn 17$28K$25K$2K$895
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$37K$28K$5K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$19K$13K$5K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$2K$853$332
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$58K$30K$6K$22K
All other expensesLn 24e$5K$4K$780$303
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.8M$2.2M$260K$405K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $8.3M$5.6M$2.7M$9.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.1M$5.5M−$1.4M$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.9M$3.7M$1.2M$7.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $5.3M$2.8M$2.5M$7.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.6M$1.8M$1.8M$4.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,349,405 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,579,122$5,166,558
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $28,729$4,275
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $41,586$178,572
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,649,437$5,349,405
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$125,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,194,073$1,729,305
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $64,708$112,276
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $545,892$873,309
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,804,673$2,839,890
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,844,764$2,509,515
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,349,405 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,166,558
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,166,558
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,275$4,275
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $178,572$178,572
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $4,275 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $178,572$5,349,405
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,839,890 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $125,000$125,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $143,591 · Management $14,233 · Fundraising $41,463$199,287
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,065,156 · Management $55,966 · Fundraising $140,675$1,261,797
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $29,084 · Management $1,465 · Fundraising $3,629$34,178
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $97,014 · Management $5,280 · Fundraising $13,427$115,721
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $98,041 · Management $5,651 · Fundraising $14,630$118,322
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $351,602 · Management $13,213$364,815
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $96,357$96,357
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $112,276$112,276
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $4,540$4,540
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $23,827 · Management $8,397 · Fundraising $27,174$59,398
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $53,055 · Management $548 · Fundraising $9,616$63,219
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $87,032 · Management $33,340 · Fundraising $12,988$133,360
IX-17 TravelPrograms $25,124 · Management $2,297 · Fundraising $895$28,316
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $28,184 · Management $5,360 · Fundraising $3,666$37,210
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $12,721 · Management $4,873 · Fundraising $1,898$19,492
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,227 · Management $853 · Fundraising $332$3,412
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $30,054 · Management $6,417 · Fundraising $21,794$58,265
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $3,842 · Management $780 · Fundraising $303$4,925
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,175,554 · Management $259,570 · Fundraising $404,766$2,839,890
Part X · Balance sheet $7,429,407 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,459,449$923,542
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $585,752$1,296,425
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,922$77,678
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $37,997$98,506
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,866,252$5,024,509
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $8,747$8,747
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,991,388$7,429,407
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $113,366$113,322
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $113,366$113,322
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,038,041$4,739,493
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $839,981$2,576,592
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,878,022$7,316,085
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,991,388$7,429,407
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,316,085 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,349,405
XI-2 Total expenses$2,839,890
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,509,515
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,878,022
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$71,452
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,316,085

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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