Empire Justice Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE WHO ARE POOR, DISABLED OR DISENFRANCHISED THROUGH: SYSTEMS CHANGE ADVOCACY, TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO OTHER ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND HIGH QUALITY DIRECT CIVIL LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
- Income
- $12.6 million
- Spending
- $12.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 96%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 96
- Volunteers
- 127
- Highest pay
- $242,433, president and ceo
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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1596% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $1.9 million spent. CRIME VICTIMS AND DV (SEE SCHEDULE O):EMPIRE JUSTICE LEADS THE NEW YORK CRIME VICTIMS LEGAL NETWORK, A PARTNERSHIP OF CIVIL LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECTS VICTIMS OF CRIME WITH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE THROUGH ITS MULTIFACETED ONLINE TOOL (NY CRIME VICTIMS LEGAL HELP). IN 2025, OVER 33,335 PEOPLE USED THIS TOOL TO ACCESS KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS RESOURCES AND CONNECT WITH AGENCIES WHO COULD HELP THEM. IN ADDITION TO LEADING THE NETWORK, EMPIRE JUSTICE IS ALSO A DIRECT SERVICES PARTNER, PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MORE THAN 400 CRIME VICTIMS IN MONROE COUNTY, THE HUDSON VALLEY AND ON LONG ISLAND. AN EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ATTORNEY PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO LEGAL SERVICES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES STATEWIDE THROUGH STATE FUNDING, REACHING ALMOST 700 ADVOCATES IN 2025.
- $3.0 million spent. HOUSING AND TENANT ADVOCACY (SEE SCHEDULE O):SINCE 2012 EMPIRE JUSTICE HAS MANAGED MORE THAN 60 CONTRACTS WITH LEGAL SERVICES AND HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES WORKING IN FORECLOSURE PREVENTION OUTSIDE OF NYC, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AS PART OF THE NYS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HOMEOWNERSHIP PROTECTION PROGRAM (HOPP). AS A DIRECT SERVICES PROVIDER WORKING IN FORECLOSURE WITH FUNDING THROUGH HOPP, UNITED WAY AND THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, EMPIRE JUSTICE HELPED MORE THAN 80 MONROE COUNTY FAMILIES FACING FORECLOSURE, AVOIDING OR DELAYING LOSS OF THE HOME IN ALMOST HALF OF ALL CASES. WITH STATE FUNDING, HOUSING ADVOCATES IN ROCHESTER WORK UNDER THE TENANT DEFENSE PROJECT TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS FOR TENANTS FACING EVICTION WITH TELESCA CENTER FOR JUSTICE PARTNERS, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER, LAWNY AND JUSTCAUSE. ON LONG ISLAND, ADVOCATES HELPED MORE THAN 160 FAMILIES FACING EVICTION IN 2025 WITH EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE (OTDA), THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH LEGAL SERVICES OF LONG ISLAND. EMPIRE JUSTICE IS ALSO CONTRACTED BY THE COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIETY TO BRING THE EDUCATION DEBT CONSUMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EDCAP) TO THE CAPITAL REGION, ENGAGING IN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND PROVIDING TAILORED ASSISTANCE TO ALMOST 90 CLIENTS ON THEIR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT OPTIONS IN 2025.
- $1.7 million spent. PUBLIC BENEFITS AND DAP (SEE SCHEDULE O):EMPIRE JUSTICE CONTRACTS WITH NEW YORK STATE TO PROVIDE TRAINING, SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DISABILITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (DAP) GRANTEES, DELIVERING 18 TRAININGS AND EDUCATING MORE THAN 730 STATEWIDE DAP ADVOCATES IN 2025. AS A DAP GRANTEE, EMPIRE JUSTICE PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHO HAVE BEEN INAPPROPRIATELY DENIED OR TERMINATED FROM FEDERAL DISABILITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAMS, HELPING CLIENTS OBTAIN MORE THAN $1.28 MILLION IN WRONGFULLY DENIED SSI/SSD BENEFITS, AND SECURING $68,584 IN MONTHLY SSI/SSD BENEFITS IN 2025. PUBLIC BENEFITS ADVOCATES HELP NEW YORK FAMILIES ACCESS FOOD STAMPS AND CASH ASSISTANCE AND NAVIGATE THE FAIR HEARING PROCESS TO CHALLENGE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS. EMPIRE JUSTICE IS WORKING TO PROTECT EACH OF THE 50,000 RECIPIENTS OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) BENEFITS THROUGH ONGOING LEGAL ACTION. ITS AIM IS TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE BENEFITS TO RECEIVE TIMELY FAIR HEARING DECISIONS. STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AS WELL AS PRINCIPLES OF DUE PROCESS REQUIRE THAT OTDA ISSUE FAIR HEARING DECISIONS PROMPTLY - 60 DAYS FROM REQUEST FOR SNAP BENEFITS AND 90 DAYS FROM REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE. OTDA DATA REVEALS THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAIR HEARINGS WERE OVERDUE FOR A DECISION.
- $429,953 spent. CIVIL RIGHTS AND HEALTH: EMPIRE JUSTICE PROTECTS THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, D/DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING COMMUNITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ+, LEVERAGING THE LAW TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AND ASSISTING MORE THAN 270 PEOPLE IN 2025. EMPIRE JUSTICE ALSO WORKED WITH NEARLY 180 NEW YORKERS TO NAVIGATE AND MAXIMIZE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS IN 2025.
- $5.0 million spent. OTHER/GENERAL: THIS CONSISTS OF VARIOUS GRANTS AND CONTRACTS, FEES, AND PROGRAM INCOME THAT ARE USED TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF SERVICES AND UNDERTAKE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES, ADVOCACY, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
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
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.