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Avenues for Justice Inc

EIN 13-3267496 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AFJ'S MISSION IS TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF PRISON BY: 1) INTERVENING EARLY TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM INCARCERATION, 2) PROVIDING THE COURT SYSTEMS WITH A PROVEN COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVE, AND 3) MAKING NYC A SAFER, MORE EQUITABLE PLACE FOR EVERYONE. AFJ EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS WITH A PATH TO SUCCESS THROUGH COURT ADVOCACY AND HIRE UP PROGRAM SERVICES, INCLUDING JOB READINESS TRAINING, CERTIFICATION COURSES, INTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENTS, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, AND MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS CARE.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
17.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
16
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$207,600, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% 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 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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

    9 of 9 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.8 million spent. AFJ SERVES 650+ JUSTICE-INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE ANNUALLY FROM 48 NYC COUNCIL DISTRICTS. COURT ADVOCATES DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLANS (IAPS) WITH EVERY PARTICIPANT, INTEGRATING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION SUPPORT, MENTAL-HEALTH WELLNESS, TEEN EMPOWERMENT SESSIONS, AND VIOLENCE-PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. ON AVERAGE, 94% OF COURT-INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT RECONVICTED WITHIN THREE YEARS OF ENROLLMENT. AFJ OPERATES FROM COMMUNITY CENTERS IN THE LOWER EAST SIDE AND HARLEM AND OUR HEADQUARTERS IN THE MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT. BEING ROOTED IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ENSURES DEEP TRUST AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE AND OVER-POLICING.
  2. $511,258 spent. IN 2025, AFJ SAW STRONG OUTCOMES: OF THE CASES THAT HAD COURT OUTCOMES DURING 2025, 54% WERE ADJOURNED1 AND 28% WERE DISMISSED. LESS THAN 3% OF SUCH OUTCOMES RESULTED IN INCARCERATING A PARTICIPANT. IN 2025, 257 COURT-INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS EXITED THE PROGRAM; 251 COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, WITH 206 ACHIEVING BOTH COURT-MANDATED AND AFJ-ESTABLISHED GOALSOUR PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. AFJ'S LONG-TERM RECIDIVISM DATA SHOWS THAT ONLY 6% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE RECONVICTED WITHIN THREE YEARS OF ENROLLING, COMPARED TO 42% OF NYC PAROLEES IN A COMPARABLE STUDY. AMONG SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES, OVER SIX YEARS, ONLY 14% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE RECONVICTED, WITH MOST OF THESE CONVICTIONS BEING FOR MISDEMEANORS. OPERATING RIKERS COSTS NYC TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY $500,000 PER INCARCERATED PERSON PER YEAR. IT ONLY COSTS AFJ $8,900 TO PUT ONE YOUNG PERSON THROUGH A FULL YEAR OF OUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES WHICH LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY.AFJ'S EVALUATION APPROACH EXTENDS BEYOND SHORT-TERM OUTPUTS TO LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. BY MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTICIPANTS AFTER PROGRAM COMPLETION, AFJ TRACKS CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONALADVANCEMENT, AND OVERALL STABILITY. THESE LONGITUDINAL OUTCOMES ARE CRITICAL INDICATORS OF SUCCESS FOR JUSTICE IMPACTED YOUTH NAVIGATING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN 2025, AFJ CONTINUED TO COLLECT PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION SURVEYS TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM SERVICES BEYOND RECIDIVISM AND TO OBTAIN PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE. RESPONDENTS REPORTED THAT AFJ HAD IMPROVED THEIR DECISION-MAKING, GIVEN THEM HOPE, AND HELPED THEM RESIST PEER PRESSURE.WHILE DATA INFORMS OUR STRATEGIC DECISIONS, AFJ BELIEVES THAT IMPACT MUST BE MEASURED IN BOTH NUMBERS AND NARRATIVES. WE REGULARLY SHARE PARTICIPANT STORIES TO HIGHLIGHT HOW, WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT, YOUNG PEOPLE FACING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS CAN THRIVE. SUCCESS IS WHEN A PARTICIPANT SATISFIES THE COURT'S REQUIREMENTS AND RECEIVES A FAVORABLE DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASE. SUCCESS IS WHEN OUR PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE HIRE UP PROGRAM, GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL, GO ON TO FURTHER EDUCATION, AND/OR ENTER GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. SUCCESS IS WHEN WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AS A WHOLE, RECOGNIZING THAT PERSONAL GROWTH, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY ARE JUST AS CRITICAL AS STATISTICAL OUTCOMES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 1985.

    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.

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