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National Civil Justice Institute

EIN 04-6079643 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF THE INSTITUTE SHALL BE TO RECEIVE AND ADMINISTER FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING AND SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR LAWYERS, LEGAL ACADEMICS, AND MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS WHICH WILL ADVANCE THE STUDY AND SCIENCE OF JURISPRUDENCE; AND TO PROMOTE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Income
$600,415
Spending
$651,606
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
28.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$180,530, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 July 31, 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 (5)
  1. $511,557 spent. 2025 JUDGES FORUM: JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION AND PRECEDENT - THE VITAL ROLE OF STATE COURTS (SAN FRANCISCO) NCJI'S 34TH ANNUAL JUDGES FORUM WAS HELD IN PERSON ON JULY 19, 2025 IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. NINETY-NINE JUDGES FROM 31 STATES, ALONG WITH ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS, PARTICIPATED IN A FULL-DAY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HOW STATE COURTS INTERPRET PRECEDENT IN AN ERA OF SHIFTING FEDERAL DOCTRINE AND HEIGHTENED PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THE JUDICIARY. THE PROGRAM EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL JURISPRUDENCE, HOW STATE COURTS CAN DEVELOP INDEPENDENT BODIES OF LAW UNDER THEIR OWN CONSTITUTIONS, AND THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRECEDENT FOR DAY-TO-DAY JUDGING. AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY OF JUDGES AND SCHOLARS LED SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOCUSED ON TWO ORIGINAL ACADEMIC PAPERS: POPULAR ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BY PROF. JONATHAN MARSHFIELD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LEVIN COLLEGE OF LAW; AND THE BOTTOM-UP CONSTITUTION: STATES AND THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BY DEAN GERALD DICKINSON OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW. JUDGES ALSO ENGAGED IN SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES ACROSS JURISDICTIONS. ATTENDING JUDGES GAVE THE FORUM AN OVERALL RATING OF 4.72 OUT OF 5. 2025 JUDGES FORUM: JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION AND PRECEDENT - THE VITAL ROLE OF STATE COURTS (SAN FRANCISCO) NCJI'S 34TH ANNUAL JUDGES FORUM WAS HELD IN PERSON ON JULY 19, 2025 IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. NINETY-NINE JUDGES FROM 31 STATES, ALONG WITH ACADEMICS AND PRACTITIONERS, PARTICIPATED IN A FULL-DAY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON HOW STATE COURTS INTERPRET PRECEDENT IN AN ERA OF SHIFTING FEDERAL DOCTRINE AND HEIGHTENED PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THE JUDICIARY. THE PROGRAM EXAMINED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL JURISPRUDENCE, HOW STATE COURTS CAN DEVELOP INDEPENDENT BODIES OF LAW UNDER THEIR OWN CONSTITUTIONS, AND THE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRECEDENT FOR DAY-TO-DAY JUDGING. AN OUTSTANDING FACULTY OF JUDGES AND SCHOLARS LED SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOCUSED ON TWO ORIGINAL ACADEMIC PAPERS: POPULAR ACCOUNTABILITY AND STATE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BY PROF. JONATHAN MARSHFIELD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LEVIN COLLEGE OF LAW; AND THE BOTTOM-UP CONSTITUTION: STATES AND THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BY DEAN GERALD DICKINSON OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF LAW. JUDGES ALSO ENGAGED IN SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES ACROSS JURISDICTIONS. ATTENDING JUDGES GAVE THE FORUM AN OVERALL RATING OF 4.72 OUT OF 5.
  2. $20,756 spent. 2025 CIVIL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. NCJI CONFERRED ITS 2025 CIVIL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ON THE AUTHORS OF TWO LAW REVIEW ARTICLES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL JURIES IN A DEMOCRACY AND HOW CERTAIN LARGE DEBT- COLLECTORS EXPLOIT THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROF. RICHARD JOLLY, PROF. VALERIE HANS AND ATTORNEY ROBERT PECK WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ARTICLE DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL AND THE CIVIL JURY 57 GA. L. REV. 79 (2022), WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE CIVIL JURY'S VITAL ROLE AS A CORNERSTONE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNANCE AND ITS POTENTIAL TO FOSTER SOCIOPOLITICAL RENEWAL. PROF. DANIEL WILF-TOWNSEND WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ARTICLE ASSEMBLY-LINE PLAINTIFFS 135 HARV. L. REV. 1704 (2022), WHICH ARGUES THAT STATE COURTS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE BEING OVERWHELMED BY A HIGH VOLUME OF LOW-VALUE CLAIMS FROM LARGE CORPORATE PLAINTIFFS, OFTEN TARGETING UNREPRESENTED AND VULNERABLE DEFENDANTS. THE AWARD RECIPIENTS RECEIVED MONETARY STIPENDS, FRAMED CERTIFICATES, AND A PAID TRIP TO BE HONORED AT THE NCJI FELLOWS RECEPTION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA IN FEBRUARY 2025. 2025 CIVIL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. NCJI CONFERRED ITS 2025 CIVIL JUSTICE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ON THE AUTHORS OF TWO LAW REVIEW ARTICLES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL JURIES IN A DEMOCRACY AND HOW CERTAIN LARGE DEBT- COLLECTORS EXPLOIT THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROF. RICHARD JOLLY, PROF. VALERIE HANS AND ATTORNEY ROBERT PECK WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ARTICLE DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL AND THE CIVIL JURY 57 GA. L. REV. 79 (2022), WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE CIVIL JURY'S VITAL ROLE AS A CORNERSTONE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNANCE AND ITS POTENTIAL TO FOSTER SOCIOPOLITICAL RENEWAL. PROF. DANIEL WILF-TOWNSEND WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS ARTICLE ASSEMBLY-LINE PLAINTIFFS 135 HARV. L. REV. 1704 (2022), WHICH ARGUES THAT STATE COURTS ACROSS THE U.S. ARE BEING OVERWHELMED BY A HIGH VOLUME OF LOW-VALUE CLAIMS FROM LARGE CORPORATE PLAINTIFFS, OFTEN TARGETING UNREPRESENTED AND VULNERABLE DEFENDANTS. THE AWARD RECIPIENTS RECEIVED MONETARY STIPENDS, FRAMED CERTIFICATES, AND A PAID TRIP TO BE HONORED AT THE NCJI FELLOWS RECEPTION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA IN FEBRUARY 2025.
  3. $1,154 spent. 2025 APPELLATE ADVOCACY AWARD. AT THE NCJI FELLOWS RECEPTION ON JULY 20, 2025 IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE INSTITUTE PRESENTED ITS 11TH ANNUAL APPELLATE ADVOCACY AWARD TO THREE ATTORNEYS FOR SIGNIFICANT PRO BONO VICTORIES ADVANCING CIVIL JUSTICE: JOSH DAVIS (BERGER MONTAGUE) AND SCOTT DODSON (UC LAW SAN FRANCISCO) FOR THEIR UNANIMOUS U.S. SUPREME COURT VICTORY IN HARROW V. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WHICH CLARIFIED THE AVAILABILITY OF EQUITABLE TOLLING IN CERTAIN MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD APPEALS; AND DENYSE CLANCY (KAZAN, MCCLAIN, SATTERLEY & GREENWOOD) FOR HER SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY IN CALIFORNIA CAPITAL INSURANCE V. HOEHN, IN WHICH THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT STRENGTHENED PROTECTIONS FOR LITIGANTS AGAINST DEFAULT JUDGMENTS ENTERED WITHOUT PROPER SERVICE.
  4. $1,500 spent. WEBINAR FOR JUDGES ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. NCJI PARTNERED WITH THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE TO PRESENT A COMPLIMENTARY WEBINAR FOR STATE JUDGES ON THE TOPIC "COURTS UNDER PRESSURE: STRATEGIES TO PROTECT JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE" ON DECEMBER 2, 2025. THIS JUDGES-ONLY PROGRAM -- ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 175 STATE COURT JUDGES -- FEATURED JUSTICE PAIGE PETERSEN OF THE UTAH SUPREME COURT, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRENNAN CENTER'S JUDICIARY PROGRAM, AND NCJI PRESIDENT ANDRE MURA IN A CANDID DISCUSSION OF LEGISLATIVE CHALLENGES FACING STATE COURTS AND HOW JUDGES ARE RESPONDING TO SAFEGUARD JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. JUDGES GAVE VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE WEBINAR, EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE TIMELY AND HIGHLY RELEVANT INFORMATION AND RATING IT 4.5 OUT OF 5 OVERALL.
  5. WEBINAR FOR JUDGES ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. NCJI PARTNERED WITH THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE TO PRESENT A COMPLIMENTARY WEBINAR FOR STATE JUDGES ON THE TOPIC "COURTS UNDER PRESSURE: STRATEGIES TO PROTECT JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE" ON DECEMBER 2, 2025. THIS JUDGES-ONLY PROGRAM -- ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 175 STATE COURT JUDGES -- FEATURED JUSTICE PAIGE PETERSEN OF THE UTAH SUPREME COURT, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRENNAN CENTER'S JUDICIARY PROGRAM, AND NCJI PRESIDENT ANDRE MURA IN A CANDID DISCUSSION OF LEGISLATIVE CHALLENGES FACING STATE COURTS AND HOW JUDGES ARE RESPONDING TO SAFEGUARD JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE. JUDGES GAVE VERY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THE WEBINAR, EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE TIMELY AND HIGHLY RELEVANT INFORMATION AND RATING IT 4.5 OUT OF 5 OVERALL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 April 1958.

    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.