Public Justice Foundation, a nonprofit membership organization, educates the Public about a diverse set of issues and supports Public interest litigation in such areas.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
62¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 140 volunteers and 42 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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
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 $1.3M a year · 14% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
62%
of spending
Worth a look: 62% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $18.0M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
16
named funders · $1.3M
Looks good: 16 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.5M
24% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 24% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
89
of 89 voting members
Looks good: 89 of 89 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.7M
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$9.2M
To programs
62%
Net assets
$17.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$11.7M
FY2024▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.0M
FY2021$9.5M
FY2022$7.3M
FY2023$9.7M
FY2024$11.7M
Expenses
$9.2M
FY2024▲ +1.0%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$6.2M
FY2021$6.6M
FY2022$7.6M
FY2023$9.1M
FY2024$9.2M
Net assets
$17.4M
FY2024▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$11.7M
FY2021$15.1M
FY2022$13.2M
FY2023$14.8M
FY2024$17.4M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jun 1977.

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

Where the money goes

62 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 62% · $5.7M Management & general 26% · $2.4M Fundraising 12% · $1.1M

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

98 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Brandi
$200,590Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Development and Membership
$197,488Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Operations
$191,296Pt VII · Sec A
$183,367Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Finance
$167,736Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Finance
$157,323Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$147,550Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Committee Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Steve Ralls’s $201K as Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Brandi is at the 43rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 247 $10–100M crime & legal nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Frank Paul Bland—$272,325$274,983$262,892$255,109
Steve Ralls$200,590$185,010$171,511$163,069$158,377
Kelly Simon$197,488$182,992$170,058$160,410$158,795
Leroy Hughes$191,296$180,833———
Sharon M McGowan$183,367————
Victoria Ni$157,323$171,800$144,245$81,970$80,584
Joshua Craddock$167,736————
Frank Bland Thru 0524$147,550————

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 Public Justice Foundation 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

Educates the public and supports strategic public interest litigation to fight the criminalization of poverty and prevent the exploitation of low-income individuals.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Access to Justice

The access to justice project uses litigation, advocacy, and organizing to help people and workers harmed by corporate or governmental abuses by fighting against procedural and structural barriers that prevent them from seeking systemic change and vindicating their rights in transparent and publicly accountable forums.

$1.9Mprogram expense
02

Students' Civil Rights Project

Students' civil rights project combines high-impact litigation with other advocacy tools to combat harassment and other forms of discrimination in schools. We strive to create systemic change so all students can learn and thrive, and to secure justice for students who are denied educational opportunities based on their race, national…

$1.3Mprogram expense
03

Debtors' Prison Project

The debtors' prison project is dedicated to fighting the criminalization of poverty nationwide at every stage of the criminal legal process: from arrest through the imposition and collection of fines and fees.

$1.2Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 16 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Money outPt IX
$9.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.7M
Managementcol C$2.4M
Fundraisingcol D$1.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$17.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$22.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
98
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a89
IndependentVI 1b89
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.0M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$180K
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Gains on assetsLn 7$544K
Total revenueLn 12$11.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
SavingsLn 2$314K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$18.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$251K
Other assetsLn 15$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$22.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$17.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 542
VolunteersI 6140
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$14.7M$18.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$251K$251K
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M$22.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.1M$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32$14.8M$17.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$764K$223K$495K$47K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.5M$2.2M$798K$486K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$113K$71K$26K$16K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$568K$361K$126K$81K
Payroll taxesLn 10$327K$189K$96K$42K
Legal feesLn 11b$1.4M$1.4M
Investment management feesLn 11f$55K$55K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$657K$334K$175K$148K
Office expensesLn 13$138K$62K$32K$44K
Information technologyLn 14$86K$51K$25K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$593K$338K$181K$74K
TravelLn 17$107K$70K$10K$27K
InterestLn 20$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$86K$49K$26K$11K
InsuranceLn 23$70K$40K$21K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$644K$253K$270K$121K
All other expensesLn 24e$104K$77K$13K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.2M$5.7M$2.4M$1.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $11.7M$9.2M$2.5M$17.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $9.7M$9.1M$570K$14.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.3M$7.6M−$320K$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $9.5M$6.6M$3.0M$15.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.0M$6.2M$819K$11.7M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $11,730,058 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,453,528$10,964,816
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $340,871$1,000,834
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$88,584−$235,592
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,705,815$11,730,058
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,950,635$5,270,932
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,185,620$3,952,932
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,136,255$9,223,864
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $569,560$2,506,194
Part VI · Governance 89 of 89 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body89
VI-1b Independent voting members89
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 $11,730,058 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,475,164
VIII-1c Fundraising events$179,680
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,309,972
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,964,816
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $457,053$457,053
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $84,731$84,731
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $543,781$543,781
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$336,011−$336,011
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $15,688$15,688
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $765,242$11,730,058
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,223,864 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $222,737 · Management $494,861 · Fundraising $46,634$764,232
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,215,206 · Management $798,066 · Fundraising $485,866$3,499,138
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $70,838 · Management $26,142 · Fundraising $15,671$112,651
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $360,885 · Management $126,445 · Fundraising $80,758$568,088
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $189,281 · Management $95,786 · Fundraising $41,756$326,823
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $1,408,188$1,408,188
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $55,402$55,402
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $334,175 · Management $174,966 · Fundraising $147,811$656,952
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $62,156 · Management $31,651 · Fundraising $44,259$138,066
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $50,979 · Management $24,520 · Fundraising $10,102$85,601
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $337,582 · Management $181,332 · Fundraising $74,145$593,059
IX-17 TravelPrograms $69,582 · Management $9,607 · Fundraising $27,380$106,569
IX-20 InterestManagement $5,274$5,274
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $48,912 · Management $26,294 · Fundraising $10,752$85,958
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $39,830 · Management $21,413 · Fundraising $8,755$69,998
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $253,205 · Management $269,551 · Fundraising $121,008$643,764
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $77,016 · Management $12,715 · Fundraising $14,370$104,101
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,740,572 · Management $2,354,025 · Fundraising $1,129,267$9,223,864
Part X · Balance sheet $22,892,603 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,251,844$1,519,959
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $296,708$314,460
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,340,108$418,325
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $171,937$115,660
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $250,806$250,628
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $14,738,958$17,955,049
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,776,991$2,318,522
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $20,827,352$22,892,603
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $625,553$606,045
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,429,843$4,933,893
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,055,396$5,539,938
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $11,449,959$14,720,907
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,321,997$2,631,758
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $14,771,956$17,352,665
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $20,827,352$22,892,603
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $17,352,665 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,730,058
XI-2 Total expenses$9,223,864
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,506,194
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$14,771,956
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$74,515
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$17,352,665

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

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