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

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$971K 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

FY2023 · 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
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$971K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $4.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 4.2 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
$529K
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% 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
$4.1M
-15% vs prior year
Spent
$5.5M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$6.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.1M
FY2023▼ -15%
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
$5.5M
FY2023▲ +48%
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
$6.7M
FY2023▼ -12%
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 FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $4.0M Management & general 14% · $762K Fundraising 14% · $749K

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; $971K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director 01/01/23-06/30/23
$174,708Pt VII · Sec A
Interim Executive Director
$167,759Pt VII · Sec A
Development Director
$132,034Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Director of Research
$130,832Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Advocacy
$130,363Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Director of Research
$119,578Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Youth Justice
$115,330Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$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 · $3.4M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

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…

$2.0Mprogram expense
02

Voting Rights

The organization is a leader in national efforts to educate the public about the disenfranchisement of justice-involved people, the racially disparate impacts of current felony disenfranchisement laws and jail practices, and the need to implement universal suffrage for all citizens in order to end the role of the criminal legal system in…

$885Kprogram expense
03

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.

$544Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$163K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$29K
Money outPt IX
$5.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.0M
Managementcol C$762K
Fundraisingcol D$749K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$7.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$529K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$29K
Investment incomeLn 3$163K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$20K
Total revenueLn 12$4.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$166K
Other assetsLn 15$87K
Total assetsLn 16$7.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$529K
Net assetsLn 32$6.7M
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$3.8M$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$267K$166K
Total assetsLn 16$8.4M$7.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$692K$529K
Net assetsLn 32$7.7M$6.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$279K$279K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$381K$159K$192K$29K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.3M$174K$230K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$63K$44K$6K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$213K$144K$53K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$168K$121K$27K$21K
Management feesLn 11a$15K$987$13K$173
Legal feesLn 11b$30K$13K$17K
Accounting feesLn 11c$137K$137K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$154K$154K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$85K$85K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$965K$911K$38K$16K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$133K$50K$105$83K
Office expensesLn 13$68K$20K$16K$33K
Information technologyLn 14$88K$59K$3K$26K
OccupancyLn 16$140K$106K$15K$19K
TravelLn 17$179K$156K$16K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$327K$318K$7K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$101K$77K$11K$13K
InsuranceLn 23$6K$155$5K$27
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$216K$47K$31K$138K
All other expensesLn 24e$21K$16K$4K$427
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.5M$4.0M$762K$749K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $8.3M$5.6M$2.7M$9.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $4.1M$5.5M−$1.4M$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.9M$3.7M$1.2M$7.7M 990 PDF
FY2021 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,149,060 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,852,090$3,955,725
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $9,260$29,269
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $38,889$162,937
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$1,129
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,900,239$4,149,060
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $184,120$279,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,049,670$2,562,908
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $46,925$84,845
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,441,301$2,578,595
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,722,016$5,505,348
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,178,223−$1,356,288
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 $4,149,060 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,955,725
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,955,725
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $29,269$29,269
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $182,759$182,759
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $1,129$1,129
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$19,822−$19,822
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $29,269 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $164,066$4,149,060
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,505,348 across 22 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $279,000$279,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $159,350 · Management $192,317 · Fundraising $29,317$380,984
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,333,452 · Management $173,996 · Fundraising $229,702$1,737,150
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $43,913 · Management $6,129 · Fundraising $13,295$63,337
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $144,378 · Management $53,206 · Fundraising $15,695$213,279
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $120,591 · Management $26,979 · Fundraising $20,588$168,158
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $987 · Management $13,412 · Fundraising $173$14,572
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $12,879 · Fundraising $17,173$30,052
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $136,753$136,753
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $153,534$153,534
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $84,845$84,845
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $910,948 · Management $37,948 · Fundraising $15,957$964,853
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $49,647 · Management $105 · Fundraising $83,028$132,780
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $19,752 · Management $15,955 · Fundraising $32,711$68,418
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $59,030 · Management $3,098 · Fundraising $26,367$88,495
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $106,187 · Management $14,797 · Fundraising $18,649$139,633
IX-17 TravelPrograms $156,340 · Management $16,190 · Fundraising $6,872$179,402
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $317,524 · Management $6,760 · Fundraising $2,636$326,920
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $76,679 · Management $10,685 · Fundraising $13,467$100,831
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $155 · Management $5,332 · Fundraising $27$5,514
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $46,666 · Management $31,421 · Fundraising $137,755$215,842
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $16,132 · Management $4,437 · Fundraising $427$20,996
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,994,265 · Management $762,399 · Fundraising $748,684$5,505,348
Part X · Balance sheet $7,274,373 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,209,222$1,931,844
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,804,825$1,004,648
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $48,594$66,056
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $267,320$166,489
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $3,811,791$4,018,417
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $209,853$86,919
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,351,605$7,274,373
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $175,134$165,728
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $516,604$363,489
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $691,738$529,217
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,729,454$4,303,910
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,930,413$2,441,246
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $7,659,867$6,745,156
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,351,605$7,274,373
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,745,156 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,149,060
XI-2 Total expenses$5,505,348
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,356,288
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$7,659,867
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$441,577
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,745,156

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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