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Wage Justice Center

EIN 26-1077468 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND EXTENSIVE LEGAL INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION ABOUT RECOVERY OF UNPAID WAGES. THE CENTER ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATION AND MATERIALS REGARDING WAGE RIGHTS TO LOW-INCOME WORKERS, ADVOCATES, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS.

Income
$570,566
Spending
$971,642
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
18.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
9
Highest pay
$150,010, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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, 2024, 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)
  1. $171,117 spent. DEFEND WORKERS' RIGHTS IN CALFORNIA THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER (WJC) PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW- WAGE WORKERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT. THE ORGANIZATION USES JUDGMENT ENFORCEMENT TOOLS AND OTHER LEGAL STRATEGIES TO HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE AND RECOVER UNPAID WAGES. WJC COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING WORKER CENTERS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE WORKERS. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION. WJC PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL ADVOCATES, ORGANIZERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON IDENTIFYING FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICES, USING CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY TOOLS, AND ENFORCING WAGE JUDGMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT WORKERS IN SECURING OWED WAGES AND CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED COMPLIANCE WITH LABOR STANDARDS IN CALIFORNIA. DEFEND WORKERS' RIGHTS IN CALFORNIA THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER (WJC) PROVIDES LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW- WAGE WORKERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT. THE ORGANIZATION USES JUDGMENT ENFORCEMENT TOOLS AND OTHER LEGAL STRATEGIES TO HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE AND RECOVER UNPAID WAGES. WJC COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING WORKER CENTERS AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE WORKERS. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION. WJC PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL ADVOCATES, ORGANIZERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON IDENTIFYING FRAUDULENT BUSINESS PRACTICES, USING CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY TOOLS, AND ENFORCING WAGE JUDGMENTS. THESE ACTIVITIES SUPPORT WORKERS IN SECURING OWED WAGES AND CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED COMPLIANCE WITH LABOR STANDARDS IN CALIFORNIA.
  2. $72,049 spent. WORKERS' RIGHTS (DAY LABORER) PROJECT: THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDES SPECIALIZED LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED WAGE THEFT. THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS WORKERS IN USING CALIFORNIA'S MECHANIC'S LIEN PROCESS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION RELATED LEGAL REMEDIES TO PURSUE UNPAID WAGES. DURING THE TWELVE-YEAR PERIOD SINCE IMPLEMENTING THIS STRATEGY, THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECOVERED APPROXIMATELY 396,496 IN BACK WAGES FOR ABOUT 332 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND DAY WORKERS.
  3. $657,450 spent. WAGES FOR RENT PROJECT THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE TIE BETWEEN SUDDEN FINANCIAL LOSS AND HOUSING INSECURITY. THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES, EDUCATION AND CONDUCTED OUTREACH GEARED TOWARD PREVENTING WAGE THEFT AND PROMOTING WAGE RECOVERY TO HOUSING INSECURE AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH THIS WORK WJC SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS IN AVOIDING OR OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES TO RECOVER UNPAID WAGES. WJC EDUCATED MORE THAN 3,250 LOW-INCOME WORKERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND DELIVERED OVER 110 LEGAL SERVICES, RECOVERING MORE THAN 56,000 FOR WORKERS AT RISK OF LOSING HOUSING. THROUGH 98 MOBILE CLINICS, WORKERS CONNECTED DIRECTLY WITH ATTORNEYS IN THE FIELD, AND 120 WORKERS ATTENDED 19 TRAININGS ON USING MECHANIC'S LIENS TO COMBAT WAGE THEFT. WJC ALSO PARTNERED WITH 44 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS KERN. LOS ANGELES, AND VENTURA COUNTIES, TRAINING 44 STAFF ON TOOLS TO HELP WORKERS SECURE PAYMENT FOR THEIR LABOR. WAGES FOR RENT PROJECT THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE TIE BETWEEN SUDDEN FINANCIAL LOSS AND HOUSING INSECURITY. THE WAGE JUSTICE CENTER PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES, EDUCATION AND CONDUCTED OUTREACH GEARED TOWARD PREVENTING WAGE THEFT AND PROMOTING WAGE RECOVERY TO HOUSING INSECURE AND HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH THIS WORK WJC SUPPORTED INDIVIDUALS IN AVOIDING OR OVERCOMING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES TO RECOVER UNPAID WAGES. WJC EDUCATED MORE THAN 3,250 LOW-INCOME WORKERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND DELIVERED OVER 110 LEGAL SERVICES, RECOVERING MORE THAN 56,000 FOR WORKERS AT RISK OF LOSING HOUSING. THROUGH 98 MOBILE CLINICS, WORKERS CONNECTED DIRECTLY WITH ATTORNEYS IN THE FIELD, AND 120 WORKERS ATTENDED 19 TRAININGS ON USING MECHANIC'S LIENS TO COMBAT WAGE THEFT. WJC ALSO PARTNERED WITH 44 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS KERN. LOS ANGELES, AND VENTURA COUNTIES, TRAINING 44 STAFF ON TOOLS TO HELP WORKERS SECURE PAYMENT FOR THEIR LABOR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    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 August 2008.

    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.

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.