Have Justice-Will Travel Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Have Justice Will Travel, Inc. (HJWT) is to stop the generational cycle of abuse in rural American families, including adults and children, by bridging the legal, geographical, cultural, psychological, and economic gaps that exist for victims of family violence by providing free legal and social services, in-home consultations, and transportation to victims and survivors of abuse. The best measure of HJWT's success is that 90% of the women served do not go onto or return to other abusive relationships.
- Income
- $411,672
- Spending
- $378,772
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 10.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 63%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 2
- Highest pay
- $78,000, attorney
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $72,556 spent. The HJWT model is a holistic, mobil, multi-service model that assists victimis of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by providing them with free legal representation, safety planing and supportive social services. A continum of in-office and on-the-road services offered by HJWT for victims that allow them to understand the roots of the abuse for themselves and their chilldren. HJWT provides free legal representation for protective order hearings and all family law matters, probate and other civil matters. Transportation to and from court hearings and in-home consultations are provided as are other social services. 1095 calls for legal representation were received by all HJWT offices from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Out of the 953 calls 229 were LEAP clients and many more were full representation clients. LEAP offers legal advice and direction thought the development of the client's cases. LEAP meets the needs of many disadvantaged Vermonters to whom HJWT cannot provide full representation because of limited number of attorneys HJWT is able to employ under current funding. Legal and social services are provided with matters such as relief from abuse, divorce, child support, visitation, and guardianship. Both telephone and in-person assistance is provided under the Legal Empowerment Assistance Program (LEAP). In addition to 1 attorney, 1 legal intern, and 1 administrative assistant who are paid employees, HJWT has law student interns volunteer each year.
- $201,742 spent. HJWT has a Southern Vermont office in Bennington and Rutland counties. The office is staffed by a full time attorney and a full time paralegal. The office is located in town for easy access for clients as well as providing on-the road services for more rural clients. Of all HJWT calls, this office provided 78 full services and 144 LEAP clients during this fiscal year. The attorney also travels to Rutland county which is adjacent to and North of Bennington once a week to provide legal advice and legal representation in the courtroom for clients who are requesting relief from abuse orders and other family court matters that they have. HJWT provides legal services to 70% of all victims that asked for a protection order in Souther Vermont. The southern office received a total of 425 calls from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The Southern office is funded by a three year grant from US DOJ Office of Violence Against Women. This office has provided services since 2001.
- $40,145 spent. HJWT provides program services in the North East Kingdom area in Vermont which serves Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille, and Orleans counties. The services are provided by a half time attorney and a paralegal client services coordinator that is housed in the Vershire Vermont office. With a total of 196 calls, the staff attorney provided full representation services for 34 clients. The Northeast Kingdomis the most rural and disadvantaged area in Vermont. Isolated living conditions and severely restricted resources combined with poverty, unemployment, and limited literacy, create a daunting set of obstacles for people trying to leave abusive situations. In many isolated Vermont villages, especially in the NEK area in Vermont, women are still seen as second class citizens whose purpose in life is to get married, raise children and be subservient to their husbands. HJWT gives abused women the opportunities, help them develop the skills they need, and encourage them along every step they need to take to become independent and self-sustaining.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.