To prevent and correct wrongful convictions.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
98¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 1 volunteers and 3 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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 $49K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
98%
of spending
Looks good: 98% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$140K
to officers and key staff · 25% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 25% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $16
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$10K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$455K
-46% vs prior year
Spent
$555K
To programs
98%
Net assets
$297K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$455K
FY2025▼ -46%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$351K
FY2021$324K
FY2022$426K
FY2023$713K
FY2024$836K
FY2025$455K
Expenses
$555K
FY2025▼ -32%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$282K
FY2021$298K
FY2022$350K
FY2023$517K
FY2024$811K
FY2025$555K
Net assets
$297K
FY2025▼ -25%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$72K
FY2021$98K
FY2022$174K
FY2023$371K
FY2024$397K
FY2025$297K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 2019.

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

Where the money goes

98 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 98% · $542K Management & general 2% · $13K

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

3 people listed on the 990; $140K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Dir.
$140,500Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Janis Puracal’s $140K as Executive Dir. is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1404 $100K–1M 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Janis Puracal$140,500$149,287$134,000$121,750$110,000$103,833

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 Forensic Justice 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

Works to prevent and correct wrongful convictions.

Questions for Forensic Justice Project

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Your first name shows with your question. Forensic Justice Project answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $542K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

The forensic justice project helps attorneys in oregon to understand and challenge faulty or misleading forensic evidence, or develope helpful forensic evidence, in criminal cases. During 2025, we provided direct representation, case support, or referrals in over 72 cases in oregon.

$408Kprogram expense
02

The forensic justice project works to improve oregon law through strategic litigation in select cases involving forensics.

$77Kprogram expense
03

The forensic justice project works to educate and train other lawyers to address forensics in criminal cases and to educate the courts on issues that relate to forensics. During 2025, we taught at least 9 seminar classes.

$57Kprogram 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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$16
Grants paid · 5 grants · $106K · 2024–2025

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$455K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$451K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4K
Money outPt IX
$555K
Ln 25
Programscol B$542K
Managementcol C$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$297K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$275K
Total assetsLn 16$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
PeoplePt VI, VII
3
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$451K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$455K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$275K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$275K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K
Net assetsLn 32$297K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 61
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$394K$275K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Total assetsLn 16$416K$306K
LiabilitiesLn 26$19K$10K
Net assetsLn 32$397K$297K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$40K$40K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$3K$3K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$140K$135K$5K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$231K$226K$5K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$7K$7K$201
Payroll taxesLn 10$31K$30K$864
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K$82
Lobbying feesLn 11d$48K$48K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K$2K$63
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0
Office expensesLn 13$9K$9K$260
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$0
TravelLn 17$3K$3K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$581$581
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0
InsuranceLn 23$10K$10K$283
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$27K$26K$97
All other expensesLn 24e$72$72
Total functional expensesLn 25$555K$542K$13K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $455K$555K−$100K$297K 990 PDF
FY2024 $836K$811K$26K$397K 990 PDF
FY2023 $713K$517K$197K$371K 990 PDF
FY2022 $426K$350K$76K$174K 990 PDF
FY2021 $324K$298K$26K$98K 990 PDF
FY2020 $351K$282K$69K$72K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $455,123 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $246,417$4,479
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $590,042$450,644
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $836,459$455,123
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $65,500$42,700
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $496,542$409,551
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $248,852$102,532
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $810,894$554,783
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $25,565−$99,660
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $455,123 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,479
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,479
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $450,644$450,644
VIII-3 Investment income$0
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $450,644$455,123
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $554,783 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $40,000$40,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $2,700$2,700
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $135,253 · Management $5,247$140,500
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $225,829 · Management $5,171$231,000
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $6,981 · Management $201$7,182
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $30,005 · Management $864$30,869
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $2,833 · Management $82$2,915
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $48,000$48,000
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $2,200 · Management $63$2,263
IX-12 Advertising and promotion$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,041 · Management $260$9,301
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 Occupancy$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,799$2,799
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $581$581
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortization$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,809 · Management $283$10,092
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,412 · Management $97$26,509
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $72$72
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $541,862 · Management $12,921 · Fundraising $0$554,783
Part X · Balance sheet $306,442 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $393,780$275,334
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $21,894$31,108
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$0
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $415,674$306,442
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $18,642$8,664
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $480$886
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $19,122$9,550
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $396,552$296,892
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $415,674$306,442
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $296,892 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$455,123
XI-2 Total expenses$554,783
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$99,660
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$396,552
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$296,892

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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