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James D Stclair Court Public Education Project Boston Bar Fnd

EIN 04-3580231 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DISCOVERING JUSTICE BRINGS STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO EXAMINE THE WORKINGS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, EXPLORE THE IDEALS OF JUSTICE, AND PREPARE THEM TO ENGAGE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO BUILDING THE NATION'S CAPACITY TO PROTECT AND STEWARD OUR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE SYSTEM. AMERICA'S YOUTH CAN PLAY A KEY ROLE, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, BY ENGAGING IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO CONFRONT RACIAL INJUSTICE AND BUILD MORE EQUITABLE, HEALTHY, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES. INVESTMENT IN CIVIC EDUCATION WILL HELP SAFEGUARD THE TORCH OF DEMOCRACY BY SETTING UP FUTURE GENERATIONS TO DO JUST THAT. FOR OVER TWO DECADES, DISCOVERING JUSTICE HAS PROVIDED CIVIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. OUR MISSION IS ROOTED IN THE FOUNDING VISION OF BOSTON'S JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY U.S. COURTHOUSE, DESIGNED AS A VIBRANT CENTER FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
15
Volunteers
625
Highest pay
$199,836, executive director

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $225,523 spent. CHILDREN DISCOVERING JUSTICE CURRICULUM FOR GRADES K-4 PROVIDES EDUCATORS WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO TEACH YOUNG STUDENTS ABOUT FAIRNESS, COMMUNITY, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND OTHER BIG IDEAS CONNECTED TO JUSTICE. THROUGH THIS STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM, STUDENTS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF JUSTICE BOTH IN THEIR OWN LIVES AND IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THEY LEARN THROUGH INQUIRY, CASE STUDY EXAMPLES, AND DISCOURSE THAT THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IS ONGOING, COMPLEX, AND INVOLVES MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES. THIS CURRICULUM IS OPEN SOURCED AND AVAILABLE ONLINE TO ALL INTERESTED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. TEACHERS IN MORE THAN 49 SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE THIS CURRICULUM INCLUDING THE BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE, AND SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
  2. $266,319 spent. THE MOCK TRIAL AND MOCK APPEAL PROGRAMS, OFFERED EACH SEMESTER (MOCK TRIAL IN THE FALL; MOCK APPEAL IN THE SPRING), IS A TEN-WEEK, AFTER-SCHOOL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM WHICH INVITES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BECOME TRIAL LAWYERS IN THE FALL, AND APPELLATE LAWYERS IN THE SPRING. WITH THE SUPPORT OF LEGAL MENTORS, STUDENTS TACKLE AGE-APPROPRIATE LEGAL ISSUES, ENGAGE IN LEGAL ANALYSIS, TRY CASES IN REAL COURTROOMS BEFORE FEDERAL OR STATE JUDGES AND JURIES IN THE FALL, AND DELIVER ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE SPRING. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, 775 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED ON 32 MOCK TRIAL TEAMS AND 27 MOCK APPEAL TEAMS. WE HOSTED 14 FINAL EVENTS IN THE FALL AND 12 FINAL EVENTS IN THE SPRING ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING: BOSTON, BROCKTON, BROOKLINE, CAMBRIDGE, FRAMINGHAM, LOWELL, MEDFORD, NEW BEDFORD, SPRINGFIELD, WALTHAM, WEST SPRINGFIELD, AND WORCESTER.
  3. $83,759 spent. OUR COURTHOUSE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT. WE OFFER DIFFERENTIATED TOURS FOR MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS AND COURTROOM-BASED ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12. IN FY2025 2,016 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 56 FIELD TRIPS. OF THESE PARTICIPANTS, 23% WERE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS (1ST5TH GRADE), 43% WERE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS (6TH8TH GRADE), AND 34% WERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (9TH12TH GRADE).

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.