Open City Advocates
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OPEN CITY ADVOCATES PROVIDES YOUTH-CENTERED LEGAL DEFENSE AND HOLISTIC ADVOCACY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AFTER SENTENCING IN THE DC JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WORKS FOR SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, TO BETTER THE LIVES OF MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $172,404, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 259 of 11 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 September 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 (3)
- $518,353 spent. OPEN CITY ADVOCATES SERVES APPROXIMATELY 60-70 YOUTH ANNUALLY, RANGING FROM 14-25 YEARS OLD, WHO ARE OR WERE FORMERLY COMMITTED TO THE DC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH REHABILITATION SERVICES DYRS. WE TACKLE RACIAL DISPARITY WHERE IT IS MOST EXTREME, AS 100 OF YOUTH COMMITTED TO DCS DELINQUENCY SYSTEM ARE YOUTH OF COLOR. WE HELP OUR CLIENTS TRANSITION HOME FROM INCARCERATION AND SUPPORT THEIR QUESTS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND BECOME POSITIVE FORCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE PROTECT THEIR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND STRIVE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF INHERENTLY HARMFUL LOCKED FACILITIES.
- $391,007 spent. SYSTEMIC REFORM BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE WE GAIN FROM OUR DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES, OPEN CITY ADVOCATES SPEARHEADS SYSTEMIC REFORM EFFORTS TO END THE REVOLVING DOOR OF THE JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, SAFEGUARD AND EXPAND DUE PROCESS PROTECTIONS, AND ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALIZED, TRAUMA RESPONSIVE, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR COURT INVOLVED YOUTH. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD MUST CONFRONT THIS COMPLEX BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM IN WHICH THEIR LIBERTY IS CONSTANTLY AT RISK WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF LEGAL COUNSEL.
- $250,991 spent. THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, OPEN CITY ADVOCATES PROVIDED ATTENDANCE-BASED SCHOLARSHIP STIPENDS TO CLIENTS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL OR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH ANCILLARY SUPPORT FOR BASIC NEEDS, THEREBY CREATING A CRUCIAL BRIDGE TO EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 October 2005.
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.