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Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Inc

EIN 06-1647437 · Montgomery, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

APPLESEED CONFRONTS UNJUST SYSTEMS THROUGH RESEARCH, BRIDGE BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY TO CREATE AN ALABAMA THAT PRIORITIZES JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
16
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$138,205, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $456,801 spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICE - RESEARCHING AND ADVOCATING JUSTICE TO THOUGHTFULLY TACKLE AND IMPLEMENT NEW POLICIES THAT STOP THE POVERTY TO PRISON PIPELINE BY HIGHLIGHTING THE EFFECTS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEBT, COURT FINES AND FEES, AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THE JEFFERSON COUNTY EQUITABLE FINES AND FEES PROJECT (JEFF), DRIVER'S LICENSE REFORM, AND TRAFFIC STOPS PROJECT ARE 3 PROJECTS COMPOSING THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAM.
  2. $501,034 spent. MASS INCARCERATION - THE HABITUAL FELONY OFFENDER PROJECT (HFOA) TARGETS MASS INCARCERATION IN ALABAMA PRISONS TO IMPROVE THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRISON SYSTEM AND ASSIST INDIGENT INCARCERATED PRISONERS SERVING LIFE SENTENCES TO OBTAIN NEW SENTENCES AND RELEASES, AND THEN AIDS THESE INMATES IN REHABILITATION, CRIME PREVENTION, AND RE-ENTRY PROGRAM SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, THE SECOND CHANCE PROJECT TARGETS UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRISON SENTENCES FOR LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS THAT RECEIVED HARSH AND SEVERE PUNISHMENTS IN THE COURT OF LAW. THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM, THE CENTER ADVOCATES TO RECTIFY AND RELEASE THOSE IMPRISONED FROM THESE HARSH AND UNJUST PUNISHMENTS FOR MINOR CRIMES BY PROVIDING DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.
  3. $184,095 spent. RACIAL JUSTICE, HEALTH FOR JUSTICE, AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY - ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS PRIORITIZING PUNISHMENT AND DEPRIVATION AMONGST ALABAMA'S POPULATION AND ITS AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO THE HUMAN JUSTICE RIGHTS ADVOCACY, THESE PROGRAMS ALSO INVOLVE RESEARCHING AND ADVOCATING JUSTICE IN THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS THAT PURSUE PROFIT OVER THE FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, AND SHINING A LIGHT ON HARMFUL GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT IMPACT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 2003.

    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.