Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CATALYZE THE JUST AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BY DEMANDING A BAN ON LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE AND OTHER EXTREME SENTENCES FOR CHILDREN WHO CAUSE HARM; ADVANCING ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES THAT FOCUS ON THEIR UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AS CHILDREN, INCLUDING THEIR CAPACITY FOR CHANGE; AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED YOUTH TO THRIVE AS ADULTS AND LEAD IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $3.5 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 9.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $215,401, executive director
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 31% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
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 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 (5)
- $1.6 million spent. MOVEMENT BUILDING - CFSY SERVES AS THE NATIONAL HUB FOR ALL THOSE WORKING TO END THE PRACTICE OF SENTENCING YOUTH TO DIE IN PRISON. CFSY PRIORITIZES OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE POLICIES. CFSY ALSO WORKS TO ACHIEVE REFORMS BY ENGAGING THOSE JUVENILES SERVING LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY YOUTH IN THE PROCESS. THIS INCLUDES THE INCARCERATED CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY NETWORK ("ICAN"), A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NATIONAL NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS FORMERLY INCARCERATED AS YOUTH. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE EXPERTS WHO DEMONSTRATE THROUGH THEIR ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS THAT CHILDREN - EVEN THOSE CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES - CAN MATURE AND BECOME POSITIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ALONGSIDE ICAN MEMBERS, CFSY CONVENES AND COORDINATES, AMONG ITS PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, IN ORDER TO ENSURE ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK TOGETHER STRATEGICALLY TOWARD A COMMON GOAL.
- $845,850 spent. LEGAL AND POLICY - CFSY PARTNERS WITH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PURSUING FAIR, AGE-APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES TO LIFE-WITHOUT-PAROLE FOR YOUTH. CFSY ORGANIZES CALLS; TRAVELS TO RELEVANT STATES FOR MEETINGS; PROVIDES TOOLS SUCH AS CAMPAIGN STRATEGY ADVICE, TALKING POINTS, INFOGRAPHICS, AND COMMUNICATIONS TRAININGS; AND OTHERWISE BRINGS TO BEAR ITS ISSUE EXPERTISE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND STUDIES TO SUPPORT THE CASE FOR REFORM. CFSY PRIORITIZES EFFORTS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE IT SEES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL PRECEDENT TO BE SET AND WHERE ITS VALUE-ADD CAN MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE. IN THESE JURISDICTIONS, CFSY WORKS ALONGSIDE ITS PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE REFORM STRATEGIES. CFSY ALSO PARTNERS WITH ATTORNEYS PURSUING FAIR, AGE-APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES TO LIFE-WITHOUT-PAROLE FOR YOUTH. CFSY PROVIDES PARTNERS WITH AMICUS SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND TOOLS, MEDIA RELATIONS SUPPORT, AND SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES.
- $370,959 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - CFSY USES PUBLIC EDUCATION TOOLS THAT INCLUDE ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, OP/EDS, AND PRINT MEDIA TO STRATEGICALLY EDUCATE DECISION MAKERS AND THOSE THAT INFLUENCE THEM ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF SENTENCING CHILDREN TO DIE IN PRISON, AND THE NEED FOR AGE-APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES. CFSY COORDINATES WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE A SHARED STRATEGY THAT MAXIMIZES ITS IMPACT.
- $210,143 spent. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS - CFSY BRINGS DIVERSE PARTNERS PROXIMATE TO ICAN AND OTHER COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY EXTREME SENTENCING TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE RETURNING HOME FROM LENGTHY INCARCERATIONS, AND THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, TO ENABLE THEM TO THRIVE. IN ADDITION, CFSY DEVELOPS PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF RELEVANT SUPPORT TO RESTORE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THE PRACTICE OF EXTREME PRISON SENTENCING OF YOUTH.
- EQUITY LEADERSHIP - CFSY RECOGNIZES THAT RACISM, MISOGYNY, AND CLASS AND GENDER OPPRESSION ARE EMBEDDED IN THE VERY FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES - THIS INCLUDES THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS; BUT ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS. BECAUSE CFSY IS AN EQUITY DRIVEN ORGANIZATION, CFSY OFFERS AND REQUIRES DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS, AND SHARED LEARNING EXERCISES FOR CFSY STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS. EQUITY-DRIVEN VALUES ARE INFUSED INTO EACH PROGRAM AREA AND ALL FUNCTIONS OF CFSY. THEREFORE, IT IS NOT LISTED AS A SEPARATE PROGRAM ON THE STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES.
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
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 December 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 September 2011.
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.
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