Judicial Fairness Project

Chicago, ILUnknown exempt organization EIN 85-1486800Latest return filed Nov 15, 2025

On file with the IRSjudicialfairnessil.comChicago, IL

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Educating the public as to 1 the importance of an independent competent judiciary and 2 the manner in which the judiciary in Illinois functions and working to advance the integrity and independence of the judiciary in Illinois

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 85-1486800) · Dispute this line
21¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 25 volunteers.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $42K a year · 11% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
21%
of spending
21% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$24K
to officers and key staff · 45% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 45% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
46.5 mo
of spending, in cash
46.5 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Liabilities are 0% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
3 of 3 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$0
-100% vs prior year
Spent
$54K
To programs
21%
Net assets
$208K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$0
FY2024▼ -100%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$541K
FY2021$768K
FY2022$588K
FY2023$100
FY2024$0
Expenses
$54K
FY2024▼ -66%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$424K
FY2021$294K
FY2022$758K
FY2023$159K
FY2024$54K
Net assets
$208K
FY2024▼ -21%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$116K
FY2021$591K
FY2022$421K
FY2023$262K
FY2024$208K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024.

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

Where the money goes

21 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 21% · $12K Management & general 74% · $40K Fundraising 4% · $2K

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

4 people listed on the 990; $24K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$24,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director and President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director and Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director and Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Nicholas Klitzing$24,000$120,000$110,000$110,000$30,000

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 Judicial Fairness Project executive salaries →

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 on judicial importance and function, advancing Illinois's judicial integrity.

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1 program · $12K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The organization engaged in general research regarding the Illinois judicial system. The organization provided the public with information promoting the virtues of an independent competent judiciary and sought to educate the public about the manner in which the judiciary functions.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 85-1486800) · Dispute this line
$12Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 1 grant · $200K · 2020–2020
Citizens for Judicial FairnessFY2020$200,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$0
Ln 12
Money outPt IX
$54K
Ln 25
Programscol B$12K
Managementcol C$40K
Fundraisingcol D$2K
Owns and owesPt X
$208K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$208K
Total assetsLn 16$208K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
4
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$0
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$208K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$208K
Total assetsLn 16$208K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$208K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 50
VolunteersI 625
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$262K$208K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$262K$208K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$262K$208K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$0$0$0$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0$0$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$0$0$0$0
Management feesLn 11a$25K$12K$11K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$12K$0$12K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$0$12K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$68$0$68$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$0$0$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$0$0$0$0
Information technologyLn 14$0$0$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$0$0$0$0
TravelLn 17$0$0$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$5K$0$5K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$0$0$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$54K$12K$40K$2K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 15, 2025 $0$54K−$54K$208K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2024 $100$159K−$158K$262K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 10, 2023 $588K$758K−$170K$421K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2022 $768K$294K$474K$591K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2021 $541K$424K$116K$116K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990
Part I · Summary $0 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $100$0
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $100$0
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 $0$0
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $158,573$53,800
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $158,573$53,800
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$158,473−$53,800
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $0 across 16 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$0
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$0
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $53,800 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $11,527 · Management $10,800 · Fundraising $2,400$24,727
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $12,000 · Fundraising $0$12,000
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $12,500 · Fundraising $0$12,500
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $68 · Fundraising $0$68
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $4,505 · Fundraising $0$4,505
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,527 · Management $39,873 · Fundraising $2,400$53,800
Part X · Balance sheet $208,295 assets, 31 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $262,095$208,295
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key peopleStart of year $0$0
X-6 Loans to other insidersStart of year $0$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $262,095$208,295
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $0$0
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-21 Escrow or custodial accountsStart of year $0$0
X-22 Loans from officers and insidersStart of year $0$0
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-29 Capital stock or trust principalStart of year $262,095$208,295
X-30 Paid-in or capital surplusStart of year $0$0
X-31 Retained earnings or endowmentStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $262,095$208,295
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $262,095$208,295
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $208,295 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$0
XI-2 Total expenses$53,800
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$53,800
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$262,095
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$208,295

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

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