Critical Resistance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Critical Resistance seeks to build an international movement to end the prison industrial complex (PIC) by challenging the belief that caging and controlling people makes us safe. We believe that basic necessities such as food, shelter, and freedom are what really make our communities secure. As such, our work is part of global struggles against inequality and powerlessness. The success of the movement requires that it reflect communities most affected by the PIC. Because we seek to abolish the PIC, we cannot support any work that extends its life or scope.
- Income
- $904,529
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 24.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $118,979, devel dir/secty
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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 59% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $763,466 spent. National Work - Strategic Communication activities have included: Wrote and distributed press releases; organized and facilitated spokesperson trainings; distributed regular written communication to CRs national email list; interviewed with national radio and press; organized and participated in digital events and webinars; consistent social media communication; Produced and distributed The Abolitionist, a bilingual newspaper written by imprisoned people and non-imprisoned people, sent to over 5,000 imprisoned people, and over 300 non-imprisoned people; supported the development and circulation of nationally oriented resources around criminal justice, sentencing, and organizing strategy. Leadership Development activities have included: Conducted capacity trainings and workshops with our staff and members in areas including campaign planning and implementation, base building, fundraising, media advocacy, organizational development, and strategic planning; provided trainings, workshops, and presentations for community members and organizations across the country; undergoing and providing trainings for organizational security; created a new position for a Campaigns Manager; hired, on boarded, and trained a new National Media & Communications Director. Organizational Development activities have included: Continued to shepherd the execution of CRs 2024-2028 National Strategic Plan; coordinated national grassroots fundraising activities; organized digital and in-person events and webinars; continued to build out our contact management system and train staff on how to use it; continued to build out prisoner correspondence infrastructure and capacity; held an in-person all staff work planning retreat and in-person work planning retreats for smaller staff teams; hosted work planning sessions for several national working groups; continued to strengthen our security practices for digital organizing, in-person mobilizations, and physical office spaces; hosted regular training sessions for our longstanding political education curricula; began a 3-month audit with outside consultants to improve organizational Human Resources infrastructure and practices; created a new chapter, CR Central Appalachia.
- $47,716 spent. Other Program Accomplishments Combined - Strategic Communications activities have included: Supported the creation of media materials for NYC, LA, Portland, and Central Appalachia coalitional work; organized and facilitated spokesperson trainings in NYC and LA; distributed written communication to CRs Portland, NYC, LA, and Central Appalachia regional email lists; and interviewed with regional radio and press, produced educational materials and graphics related to campaigns. Maintained the NYC, LA, and Portland prisoner mail programs; created press releases and communications materials to support advocacy of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, as well as what the Portland city budget could fund instead of policing; created and distributed communication related to the Dignity Not Detention campaign in NY, the campaign against FCI Letcher in Kentucky, and the work to reduce the policing budget in Portland.Leadership Development activities have included: Conducted capacity building trainings and workshops with our Portland, NYC, LA, and Central Appalachia members in areas including regionally specific campaign planning and implementation, base building, fundraising, media advocacy and organizational development; held in-person events and gatherings in Portland, LA, and NYC; provided trainings, workshops, and presentations for community members and organizations across Portland, NYC, and LA. Organizational Development activities have included: Held in-person workplanning retreats in our CR NYC, Portland, LA, and Central Appalachia chapters, and continued implementation of annual workplans; coordinated regional grassroots fundraising activities. Supported the onboarding and development of new chapter members in NY, LA, and Portland. Supported the creation of a new CR regional chapter in Central Appalachia and supported onboarding of those new chapter members. Grassroots Organizing activities have included: Implemented our campaign work through: public educational events; produced educational and organizing materials; held in-person and virtual mobilizations aimed at building broad-based community member engagement and grassroots support; organized actions and public events to build community member engagement and grassroots support in Portland, Los Angeles, and NYC; developed and presented workshops about our campaigns. Continued our Dignity Not Detention NY legislative campaign in New York through organizing in-person rallies, public forums, and engaging volunteers through virtual gatherings. LA chapter continued its work in the CA prison closure campaign by supporting the relationship-building with California prisoners and their loved ones, contributing to the legislative strategy, organizational outreach, and media work. The Portland chapter built grassroots power with individuals and local organizations to advocate for a reduction to the Portland policing budget. The Central Appalachia chapter continued to attend coalitional meetings and gatherings, and build relationships with community members to advocate to halt the construction of a federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky. Continued Zachary Project fund committee to support members in times of crisis. Dispersed funds, and distributed communications to the funds email list.
- $30,406 spent. Oakland Work - Strategic Communications activities have included: Wrote and distributed press releases; organized and participated in regionally aimed press conferences, organized and facilitated spokesperson trainings; distributed written communication to CRs Oakland regional email list; created written reports; regularly communicated over social media pages; published opinion pieces in local and state press outlets; interviewed with regional radio and press; regularly participated in the communications committees of a CA statewide coalition.Leadership Development activities have included:Conducted capacity trainings and workshops with our Oakland members in areas including regionally specific coalition and campaign planning and implementation (Close CA Prisons), base building, fundraising, media advocacy and organizational development; provided trainings, workshops, and presentations for community members, coalition partners, and organizations across the Bay Area.Organizational Development activities have included:Held a retreat for CR Oakland development and annual chapter goals and workplan development; coordinated regional grassroots fundraising activities; partnered with local organizations on fundraising events; organized in-person and digital events; facilitated network of volunteers to support with prisoner correspondence.Grassroots Organizing activities have included:Implemented our CA statewide campaign work through: public educational events; produced educational and organizing materials; held mobilizations aimed at building broad-based community member engagement and grassroots support; organized actions to build public pressure; developed and presented workshops about our campaigns. Maintained some support for a San Francisco based coalition working to address harms of their countys jail system; continued to facilitate strategy and participate heavily in a statewide coalition to address prison closures in California.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 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 May 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 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.