Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Vera Institute of Justice Inc

EIN 13-1941627 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VERA IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PARTNERS WITH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO TRANSFORM THE CRIMINAL, LEGAL, AND IMMIGRATION SYSTEMS. USING POLICY, RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATION EXPERTISE, VERA WORKS TO END THE OVERCRIMINALIZATION AND MASS INCARCERATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY.

Income
$40.2 million
Spending
$50.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
19.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
342
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$663,165, president and 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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $4.8 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL AFFAIRSCOMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ADVANCES VERA'S MISSION AS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. THE FUNCTION PROVIDES STRATEGIC, ACCURATE, AND VALUES DRIVEN COMMUNICATION THAT REFLECTS VERA'S POLICY, RESEARCH, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO END THE OVERCRIMINALIZATION AND MASS INCARCERATION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY. IT ENSURES THAT ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT, CONSISTENT, AND ALIGNED WITH VERA'S ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES, WHILE STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION'S PUBLIC CREDIBILITY AND IMPACT.
  2. $3.4 million spent. ADVANCING UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION:THE ADVANCING UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION INITIATIVE IS DRIVING A NATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. OUR GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A FEDERAL RIGHT TO REPRESENTATION FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS FACING DEPORTATION. BY FIGHTING FOR UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION, THE INITIATIVE AND ITS PARTNERS ARE KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER; DISRUPTING THE CRIMINALIZATION AND DEPORTATION OF IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS OF IMMIGRATION DETENTION.
  3. $3.3 million spent. RESTORING PROMISERESTORING PROMISE IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE THAT SEEKS TO TRANSFORM PRISON CULTURES, CLIMATES, AND SPACES BY PARTNERING WITH CORRECTIONAL LEADERS TO REIMAGINE HOUSING UNITS FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND REALIGN CORRECTIONS POLICIES AND PRACTICES WITH A COMMITMENT TO HUMAN DIGNITY.
  4. $25.4 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMSRESHAPING PROSECUTION, ADVOCACY & PARTNERSHIP, REDEFINING PUBLIC SAFETY, VERA LOUISIANA, BEYOND JAILS, UNLOCKING POTENTIAL, END GIRLS' INCARCERATION, INCARCERATION AND INEQUALITY, CENTRAL RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND STRATEGY, VERA CALIFORNIA, OPENING DOORS, GREATER JUSTICE NEW YORK, TRUE LINE, NEW INITIATIVES,

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1962.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.