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Access Justice Brooklyn Inc

EIN 11-3155182 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
18
Volunteers
264
Highest pay
$202,495, president & ceo (to 12/2024)

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

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

    18 of 19 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 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 (4)
  1. $517,910 spent. ECONOMIC SECURITY: IN THE PAST YEAR AJB HANDLED 4,657 CONSUMER DEBT AND BANKRUPTCY MATTERS, BENEFITING 10,370 PEOPLE. AJB'S ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES CONSUMER ADVOCACY SERVICES - OPERATED THROUGH TWO COURT-BASED PROGRAMS IN KINGS COUNTY CIVIL COURT - AND ITS BANKRUPTCY PRACTICE, THROUGH WHICH THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO REORDER THEIR FINANCES THROUGH CHAPTER 7 OR CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY. THESE COURT-BASED PROGRAMS, THE CIVIL LEGAL ADVICE AND RESOURCE OFFICE (CLARO) CLINIC AND THE VOLUNTEER LAWYER FOR A DAY (VLFD) PROGRAM, ALLOW AJB TO ADDRESS THE SEVERE REPRESENTATION GAP IN CONSUMER CREDIT CASES, WHERE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CONSUMER DEFENDANTS APPEAR WITHOUT COUNSEL. AJB STAFF MANAGE THESE PROGRAMS WITH THE SUPPORT OF LAW STUDENTS AND DEDICATED PRO BONO ATTORNEYS WHO ARE LONG-TIME VOLUNTEERS WITH THESE PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, AJB ALSO LAUNCHED A FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM TO COMPLEMENT ITS EXISTING SERVICES FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC SECURITY AND TO BETTER SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH CONSUMER OR MORTGAGE-RELATED DEBT.
  2. $396,250 spent. HOMEOWNER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED 516 FORECLOSURE MATTERS, DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS VIOLATIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING BROOKLYN HOMEOWNERS, BENEFITING NEARLY 1,400 PEOPLE. ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN'S SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS ENCOMPASS A RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION, ASSISTANCE WITH DEED THEFT AND OTHER SCAMS, AND REPRESENTATION IN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS THAT CONCERN DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS (DOB) VIOLATIONS. AJB STAFFS SEVERAL COURT-BASED PROGRAMS FOR HOMEOWNERS APPEARING IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT AND OFFERS REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECLOSURE PROCESS, INCLUDING LOAN MODIFICATIONS, FORECLOSURE MOTION PRACTICE, GOOD FAITH HEARINGS, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE LITIGATION, AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORT IN FORECLOSURE MATTERS, AJB ASSISTS HOMEOWNERS FACING OTHER CONCERNS SUCH AS TITLE ISSUES, DEED SCAMS, AND OTHER FORMS OF PROPERTY FRAUD.
  3. $377,270 spent. FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM: IN THE PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION HANDLED 431 FAMILY LAW CASES, BENEFITING OVER 900 PEOPLE.IN KINGS COUNTY FAMILY COURT, AJB PROVIDES ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES, AND REPRESENTATION IN CUSTODY AND VISITATION MATTERS AS WELL AS CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT CASES. FURTHER, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW FIRMS, AJB MAINTAINS A PRO SE UNCONTESTED DIVORCE PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS FILE AN UNCONTESTED DIVORCE IN KINGS COUNTY SUPREME COURT. UNIQUE AMONG MANY LEGAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, AJB ALSO OFFERS ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION IN ARTICLE 17A GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDINGS IN SURROGATE'S COURT, WHICH DESIGNATE A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND TO ACT ON BEHALF OF A PERSON OVER THE AGE OF 18 WHO HAS INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES - EMPLOYING MINIMALLY RESTRICTIVE OPTIONS TO GIVE MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND PEACE OF MIND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
  4. $338,703 spent. SENIOR ASSISTANCE AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERSIN THE PAST YEAR ACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN HANDLED 34 ELDER LAW-RELATED MATTERS SUCH AS WILLS AND PROBATE ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS OTHER MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, AFFECTING 44 PEOPLE. AJB ADDRESSES END OF LIFE CONCERNS BY HELPING BROOKLYN RESIDENTS PREPARE AND EXECUTE WILLS, HEALTH CARE PROXIES, AND OTHER LIFE PLANNING DOCUMENTS, AS WELL AS BY HANDLING SMALL ESTATE MATTERS FOR ESTATES OF $50,000 OR LESS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY FOR OLDER BROOKLYN RESIDENTS, FOCUSING ON LEGAL ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR SENIORS SUCH AS WILLS, PROBATE MATTERS, AND ESTATE PLANNING; CONSUMER DEBT; GOVERNMENT BENEFITS; AND THREATS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP. THIS PREVENTION-ORIENTED EDUCATION GIVES OLDER BROOKLYN RESIDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM RETAIN STABILITY AND AGE IN PLACE. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACHACCESS JUSTICE BROOKLYN OFFERS INDIVIDUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION IN ALL ITS AREAS OF PRACTICE - ADDRESSING CURRENT LEGAL CONCERNS WHILE OFFERING PREVENTION-ORIENTED EDUCATION THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS ACCESS LEGAL HELP BEFORE PROBLEMS CAN ESCALATE. OVER THE LAST YEAR AJB REACHED OVER 1,100 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH LEGAL EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, RESOURCE FAIRS, AND OTHER OUTREACH EVENTS, DELIVERING ESSENTIAL "KNOW YOUR RIGHTS" INFORMATION IN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT BROOKLYN.CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE)CENTRAL TO AJB'S MISSION AND MODEL, THE ORGANIZATION RECRUITS AND TRAINS PRO BONO VOLUNTEERS - INCLUDING PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS, IN-HOUSE COUNSEL, AND LAW FIRMS - TO TAKE CASES FOR REPRESENTATION, FURTHERING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR BROOKLYN RESIDENTS. LAST YEAR, AJB ENGAGED 264 ATTORNEYS, LAW STUDENTS, AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED 4,223 HOURS OF COMPASSIONATE, HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO BROOKLYN RESIDENTS THROUGH DIRECT ASSISTANCE, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, AJB DELIVERED PITCHES TO 13 LAW FIRMS; AND HOSTED OR PARTICIPATED IN A TOTAL OF NINE (9) CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) SESSIONS FOR 353 ATTENDEES, EXPANDING THE POOL OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS PREPARED TO DELIVER COMMUNITY LEGAL SUPPORT.

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 June 1993.

    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.