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Methodist Justice Ministry

EIN 20-4204172 · Fort Worth, TX

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF METHODIST JUSTICE MINISTRY IS TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND CHILD NEGLECT.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
13 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
9
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$140,500, executive di

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

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Fair: 55 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (6)
  1. $868,292 spent. PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS ARE INTERVIEWED TO ASSESS NEED AND QUALIFICATIONS. LEGAL DOCUMENTS ARE DRAFTED FOR CLIENTS AND FILED WITH THE APPROPRIATE COURTS. IN 2025, ATTORNEYS REPRESENTED 108 NEW CLIENTS IN LITIGATIONS INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE AND/OR CHILD ABUSE. THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES IN 2025 WAS 239, WHICH INCLUDED NEW AND EXISTING CLIENTS.
  2. $66,975 spent. IN 2025, THE METHODIST JUSTICE MINISTRY OBTAINED CIVIL LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND IMPACTED CHILDREN, WITH THE MAJORITY OF CASES INVOLVING CUSTODY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MJM PAID 35,532 IN EXPENSES TO SERVE COURT DOCUMENTS, OBTAIN MEDICAL RECORDS, CONDUCT DRUG AND DNA TESTING FOR COURT EVIDENCE, AND OBTAIN CITATION BY PUBLICATION WHEN NEEDED. COURT FILING FEES, TRANSLATION SERVICES, CERTIFIED COPIES, ETC. TOTALED 31,443.
  3. $117,184 spent. THE MINISTRY PAID 69,259 FOR 39 CLIENTS AND FAMILIES TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SESSIONS. EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS WERE PROVIDED TO 96 CLIENTS AND FAMILIES FOR RENT, UTILITIY ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES TO ESCAPE ABUSIVE SITUATIONS.
  4. METHODIST JUSTICE MINISTRY DISTRIBUTES CHRISTMAS GIFTS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND COLLEGE TUITION FUNDS TO QUALIFIED FAMILY MEMBERS OF ELIGIBLE CLIENTS.
  5. LINE 1: ADDITIONAL MISSION STATEMENT. THE METHODIST JUSTICE MINISTRY PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AND PROTECTIVE CAREGIVERS OF ABUSED CHILDREN. CLIENTS OF MJM HAVE AN INCOME AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE. SERVICES PROVIDED BY MJM INCLUDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN COURT, OBTAINING AND ENFORCING PROTECTIVE ORDERS, AND OBTAINING CUSTODY, SUPPORT, AND DIVORCE ORDERS AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT. MJM ALSO PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PAYS FOR COUNSELING TO ASSIST CLIENTS IN ESCAPING THE CYCLE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE MJM HAS SERVED 3,605 CLIENTS AND CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, MJM PAID FOR 494 COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR CLIENTS AND CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. LINE 4A EXPENSES: INCLUDES ALL STAFF COSTS TO INTERVIEW AND SCREEN PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS AND DETERMINE NEEDS. PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL AND DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR CLIENTS AS NEEDED. LINE 4B EXPENSES: ALL LEGAL FEES ARE PAID BY THE MINISTRY. THESE INCLUDE COURT FILING FEES, FEES TO OBTAIN EVIDENCE, COURT COSTS FOR TRANSLATION, CERTIFIED COPIES, AND EXPENSES TO SERVE DOCUMENTS. LINE 4C EXPENSES: THE MINISTRY PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CLIENT RETURNING TO THE ABUSIVE SITUATION DUE TO LACK OF FINANCES OR LOW SELF- ESTEEM.
  6. METHODIST JUSTICE MINISTRY DISTRIBUTES CHRISTMAS GIFTS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND COLLEGE TUITION FUNDS TO QUALIFIED FAMILY MEMBERS OF ELIGIBLE CLIENTS.

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 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    Not 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 December 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 1974.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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