People who have just been released from prison are typically stigmatized, overlooked, and pigeonholed by society. When they walk(continued on schedule o)into Project Return, they discover that here they are valued, heard, and encouraged. While reduction of incarceration and other criminal justice reform continues to elude the u.s., Project Return serves as part of the solution. Project Return is solely dedicated to the successful new beginnings of people returning to our community after incarceration. Now in its 45th year of service to tennessee, Project Return provides reentry assistance, including workforce development, to hundreds of men and women each year.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
68¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$218K 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $724K a year · 10% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
68%
of spending
Fine: 68% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$218K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.4 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $144K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.6M
39% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 39% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$6.3M
-19% vs prior year
Spent
$6.9M
To programs
68%
Net assets
$5.7M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$6.3M
FY2024▼ -19%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$6.9M
FY2022$9.3M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$6.3M
FY2025$4.9M
Expenses
$6.9M
FY2024▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$5.0M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$7.5M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$5.3M
Net assets
$5.7M
FY2024▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$3.8M
FY2022$6.2M
FY2023$6.5M
FY2024$5.7M
FY2025$5.3M

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 Jul 1980.

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

Where the money goes

68 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 68% · $4.6M Management & general 30% · $2.0M Fundraising 3% · $195K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $218K 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
$117,802Pt VII · Sec A
$100,000Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Rico X$153,334$100,000———
Bettie Kirkland———$148,800$140,000
Elizabeth Hayes$117,727$117,802$110,896——
Rosalie Russo$60,867————

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 Project Return INC 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

Helps formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs and rebuild their lives.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.6M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Job Readiness Program and Wraparound Services

Every week, project return conducts a 2.5-DAY course that equips our participants with the soft skills needed to be successful in the workplace. For people being released from prison and returning to the community, this program provides skills, individualized support, and oportunities to find and keep a job.

$2.9Mprogram expense
02

Pro Employment (proe) and Pro Property Solutions (props)

Despite increasing awareness and willingness of employers to hire people with conviction histories, there is still tremendous reluctance to hire people immediately after their release from incarceration. Project return offers innovative, employment-creating social enterprises as a solution.

$1.6Mprogram expense
03

Pro Housing

The typical housing trajectory we see for our people is that they are fortunate to reside in temporary housing for the first few months of their release, but it eventually comes to an end and they must look for affordable rental opportunities.

$139Kprogram 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$144K
Grants paid · 47 grants · $1.5M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$26,487
Unitemized GrantFY2024$11,852
Unitemized GrantFY2024$10,284
Unitemized GrantFY2024$9,895
Unitemized GrantFY2024$6,548
Unitemized GrantFY2023$102,641
Unitemized GrantFY2023$66,983
Unitemized GrantFY2023$63,388
Unitemized GrantFY2023$52,900
Unitemized GrantFY2023$37,844
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,966
Unitemized GrantFY2023$11,658
Unitemized GrantFY2023$8,274
Unitemized GrantFY2023$5,974
Unitemized GrantFY2022$112,613
Unitemized GrantFY2022$101,495
Unitemized GrantFY2022$98,166
Unitemized GrantFY2022$60,872
See all 47 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$6.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$35K
Money outPt IX
$6.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.6M
Managementcol C$2.0M
Fundraisingcol D$195K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$202K
Total assetsLn 16$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$22K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Other incomeLn 4–11$35K
Total revenueLn 12$6.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$159K
SavingsLn 2$43K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$202K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$82K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7.6M
Total assetsLn 16$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.6M
Net assetsLn 32$5.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5300
VolunteersI 620
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$456K$202K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$50K$82K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8.0M$7.6M
Total assetsLn 16$9.6M$9.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$3.6M
Net assetsLn 32$6.5M$5.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$362K$362K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$268K$213K$45K$10K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.3M$2.7M$564K$120K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$714K$491K$193K$30K
Payroll taxesLn 10$292K$230K$52K$10K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$248K$45K$196K$8K
Office expensesLn 13$101K$7K$88K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$384K$120K$264K
TravelLn 17$72K$40K$29K$4K
InterestLn 20$163K$100K$63K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$392K$392K
InsuranceLn 23$164K$124K$35K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$290K$218K$72K
All other expensesLn 24e$51K$14K$35K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.9M$4.6M$2.0M$195K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $4.9M$5.3M−$374K$5.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $6.3M$6.9M−$558K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.8M$7.5M$325K$6.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $9.3M$7.0M$2.4M$6.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $6.9M$5.0M$1.9M$3.8M 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 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $6,292,553 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,950,382$4,126,515
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,813,791$2,123,424
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $20,260$7,569
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $12,276$35,045
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,796,709$6,292,553
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $482,843$361,628
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,935,876$4,623,138
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,053,314$1,865,614
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,472,033$6,850,380
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $324,676−$557,827
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $6,292,553 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$175,000
VIII-1c Fundraising events$21,645
VIII-1e Government grants$2,905,994
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,023,876
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,126,515
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,123,424$2,123,424
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $7,569$7,569
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events−$5,866
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $40,911$40,911
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,164,335 · Excluded from tax $7,569$6,292,553
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,850,380 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $361,628$361,628
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $212,965 · Management $45,009 · Fundraising $9,554$267,528
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,666,577 · Management $563,564 · Fundraising $119,638$3,349,779
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $490,688 · Management $193,349 · Fundraising $30,224$714,261
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $229,778 · Management $51,914 · Fundraising $9,878$291,570
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $44,938 · Management $195,769 · Fundraising $7,735$248,442
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,726 · Management $88,076 · Fundraising $6,269$101,071
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $120,137 · Management $263,670$383,807
IX-17 TravelPrograms $39,743 · Management $28,535 · Fundraising $4,176$72,454
IX-20 InterestPrograms $99,693 · Management $62,985$162,678
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $392,402$392,402
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $123,828 · Management $34,764 · Fundraising $5,178$163,770
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $217,509 · Management $72,466$289,975
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $13,931 · Management $35,178 · Fundraising $1,906$51,015
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,628,141 · Management $2,027,681 · Fundraising $194,558$6,850,380
Part X · Balance sheet $9,242,533 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $281,569$158,934
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $174,052$42,748
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $147,051$781,448
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $887,214$396,860
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $75,308$156,966
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $10,654$12,314
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $7,955,899$7,610,844
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $50,020$82,419
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $9,581,767$9,242,533
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $232,708$340,470
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,058,477$3,588,410
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,136,198$5,439,746
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $387,092$214,377
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,523,290$5,654,123
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $9,581,767$9,242,533
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,654,123 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$6,292,553
XI-2 Total expenses$6,850,380
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$557,827
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,523,290
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$34,888
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$346,228
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,654,123

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

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