Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

World Justice Project

EIN 27-0359097 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT (WJP) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON WITH ITS HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AN OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY. WJP IS AN INDEPENDENT, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW WORLDWIDE. EFFECTIVE RULE OF LAW REDUCES CORRUPTION, COMBATS POVERTY AND DISEASE, AND PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM INJUSTICES LARGE AND SMALL. IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITIES OF JUSTICE, OPPORTUNITY, AND PEACE UNDERPINNING DEVELOPMENT, ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT, AND RESPECT FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.

Income
$7.8 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
13 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
49
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$452,194, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $5.8 million spent. RESEARCH AND THE RULE OF LAW INDEX: THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT RULE OF LAW INDEX MEASURES HOW THE RULE OF LAW IS PERCEIVED AND EXPERIENCED IN EVERYDAY LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE. IT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INDEX OF ITS KIND AND THE ONLY INDEX TO RELY SOLELY ON PRIMARY DATA. ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW IS ASSESSED USING INDICATORS ORGANIZED AROUND EIGHT THEMES: CONSTRAINTS ON GOVERNMENT POWERS, ABSENCE OF CORRUPTION, OPEN GOVERNMENT, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, ORDER AND SECURITY, REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT RULE OF LAW INDEX IS BASED ON YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT, INTENSIVE CONSULTATION AND VETTING WITH ACADEMICS, PRACTITIONERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM OVER 100 COUNTRIES AND 17 PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES. THE INDEX IS INTENDED FOR A BROAD AUDIENCE OF POLICY MAKERS, CIVIL SOCIETY, PRACTITIONERS, ACADEMICS AND OTHERS. INDEX FINDINGS HAVE BEEN REFERENCED BY HEADS OF STATE, CHIEF JUSTICES, BUSINESS LEADERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND THE PRESS. WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT MAINTAINS A GLOBAL NETWORK OF SCHOLARS, ITS RULE OF LAW CONSORTIUM, AND REGULARLY CONVENES IT TO INFORM SCHOLARS ABOUT ITS RULE OF LAW DATA AND ENGAGE THEM IN SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE ABOUT CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH RELATING TO THE RULE OF LAW.
  2. $1.5 million spent. ENGAGEMENT: THE WORLD JUSTICE PROJECT'S ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS INCLUDE CONNECTING AND DEVELOPING A GLOBAL NETWORK, ORGANIZING AND LEADING STRATEGIC CONVENINGS, AND SUPPORTING PRACTICAL, LOCALLY LED PROGRAMS. OUR BIENNIAL WORLD JUSTICE FORUM IS THE PREMIER INTERNATIONAL EVENT FOR THE RULE OF LAW. DURING THIS WEEK-LONG CONVENING, GLOBAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM AN ARRAY OF SECTORS AND INTERESTS COME TOGETHER TO SHARE INSIGHTS, BUILD THEIR NETWORKS, EXPLORE STRATEGIES, AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR ADVANCING PEACE, EQUITY, AND OPPORTUNITY. THE WORLD JUSTICE FORUM PROVIDES A CENTRAL OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD ON DIFFICULT TOPICS; IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED; SEED PRACTICAL ACTION; PLAN COHERENT STRATEGIES AND WORKPLANS; AND BUILD THE REQUIRED MOMENTUM FOR A GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO ADVANCE THE RULE OF LAW.

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 July 2009.

    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.