International Bridges to Justice
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IN RECOGNITION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES TO JUSTICE (IBJ) IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THE BASIC LEGAL RIGHTS OF ORDINARY CITIZENS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. SPECIFICALLY, IBJ WORKS TO GUARANTEE ALL CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO COMPETENT LEGAL REPRESENTATION, THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, AND THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 64%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 43
- Highest pay
- $163,657, founder and ceo
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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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
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 (6)
- $1.2 million spent. CHINA: IN 2025, IBJ CONTINUED TO SUPPORT CHINESE LAWYERS WITH ONLINE TRAINING RESOURCES. OUR CHINA ELEARNING WEBSITE CURRENTLY HOSTS 120+ MODULES ON TOPICS RANGING FROM BASIC ADVOCACY SKILLS SUCH AS DEVELOPING A THEORY OF THE CASE, REVIEWING A CASE FILE, AND CROSS-EXAMINATION, TO MORE COMPLEX TOPICS SUCH AS UNDERSTANDING FORENSIC EVIDENCE AND DEFENDING CLIENTS WITH MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. A MAJOR AREA OF GROWTH WAS IBJ'S DIGITAL LEARNING PROGRAM: SEVEN NEW ELEARNING MODULES ON DUE PROCESS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE WERE DEVELOPED, ALONGSIDE EXPANDED MINORITY-LANGUAGE ACCESS THROUGH THE ADDITION OF FOUR MONGOLIAN-LANGUAGE MODULES AND NINE TIBETAN-LANGUAGE MODULES. BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IBJ'S CHINA ELEARNING PLATFORM RECORDED 16,483 ACCESSES, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 34,370 ACCESSES ON ITS MINORITY-LANGUAGE PLATFORM, REFLECTING STRONG DEMAND FOR ACCESSIBLE LEGAL EDUCATION. IBJ ALSO CONTINUED TO DISSEMINATE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS MATERIALS AND RAISE AWARENESS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, CONTRIBUTING TO BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS AND FAIR TRIAL STANDARDS.
- $571,069 spent. MENA REGION: SYRIA: IN 2025, IBJ DEEPENED ITS WORK IN SYRIA BY COMBINING DIRECT LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN A STRONGER, MORE RIGHTS-BASED DEFENDER COMMUNITY. IBJ PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 379 DETAINED OR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 127 CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM WERE AWAITING TRIAL WITHOUT COUNSEL IN AN UNDER-RESOURCED JUSTICE SYSTEM. JUVENILES WERE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE, OFTEN DETAINED IN ADULT FACILITIES AND EXPOSED TO HEIGHTENED RISK OF RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. TO STRENGTHEN LEGAL DEFENSE CAPACITY, IBJ TRAINED 128 LAWYERS, INCLUDING 62 WOMEN, THROUGH A TRAINING OF TRAINERS MODEL AND FOUR MULTI-DAY CRIMINAL DEFENSE AND TRIAL ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS IN AZAZ, IDLIB, DEIR EZZOR, AND ALEPPO. THESE TRAININGS IMPROVED PARTICIPANTS' SKILLS IN CASE ANALYSIS, EVIDENCE HANDLING, PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS, AND TRIAL ADVOCACY, WHILE HELPING STANDARDIZE RIGHTS-BASED DEFENSE PRACTICES ACROSS MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS. IBJ ALSO SUPPORTED 18 JUSTICEMAKERS FELLOWS, INCLUDING 8 WOMEN, EQUIPPING THEM TO SERVE NOT ONLY AS LEGAL AID PROVIDERS, BUT ALSO AS MENTORS, TRAINERS, AND LEADERS OF LONG-TERM REFORM WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WERE REINFORCED THROUGH MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BAR ASSOCIATIONS IN ALEPPO, IDLIB, DEIR EZ-ZOR, LATAKIA, TARTOUS, DARAA, RURAL DAMASCUS, AND RAQQA. TO EXPAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE, IBJ STRENGTHENED REFERRALS THROUGH COURTS, BAR ASSOCIATIONS, AND COMMUNITY NETWORKS, HELPING CONNECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS TO LEGAL SUPPORT. DESPITE SECURITY DISRUPTIONS IN NORTHERN SYRIA, IBJ CONTINUED DELIVERING CRITICAL LEGAL AID AND CAPACITY-BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, REINFORCING THE FOUNDATIONS OF A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND RIGHTS-BASED JUSTICE SYSTEM.
- $411,560 spent. INDONESIA: IN 2025, IBJ CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR WOMEN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LEGAL AID, PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND NATIONAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY. PROJECT PARTNERS AND JUSTICEMAKERS FELLOWS PROVIDED LEGAL PROTECTION TO 658 VULNERABLE WOMEN, WHILE MEMBERS OF THE PRO BONO LAWYERS NETWORK TOOK ON AN ADDITIONAL 167 CASES, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO RECEIVED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 825. THE PROGRAM ALSO DELIVERED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT TO 189 WOMEN, ALL OF WHOM REPORTED IMPROVED ABILITY TO COPE WITH THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR CASES. PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS REACHED AN ESTIMATED 5.26 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH RADIO, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING UNDERSTANDING OF DUE PROCESS AND FAIR TRIAL RIGHTS. AT THE POLICY LEVEL, IBJ CONVENED 75 JUSTICE SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS AT A NATIONAL NETWORKING FORUM, HELPING ELEVATE THE CRIMINALIZATION OF WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WERE FURTHER STRENGTHENED THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH PERADI, THE INDONESIAN ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION, SUPPORTING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PRO BONO NETWORK.
- $196,309 spent. MYANMAR: DESPITE ONGOING CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTERS, AND SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS, IBJ SUSTAINED LEGAL AID SERVICES ACROSS MYANMAR WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THROUGH ITS FIVE JUSTICE CENTRES, IBJ PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 380 ACCUSED PERSONS AND DELIVERED LEGAL ADVICE AND REFERRALS TO 734 INDIVIDUALS, WHILE HANDLING 363 CASES, INCLUDING 60 POLITICALLY SENSITIVE AND 147 APPELLATE CASES. IN PARALLEL, IBJ STRENGTHENED THE CAPACITY OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS BY TRAINING 236 LAWYERS AND 93 OTHER JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS, AND INVESTED IN LONG-TERM SYSTEM RESILIENCE THROUGH AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM REACHING 28 LAW STUDENTS FROM SEVEN UNIVERSITIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO ADVANCED SURVIVOR-CENTERED AND GENDER-RESPONSIVE JUSTICE THROUGH AN ONLINE ROUNDTABLE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, WHILE SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW TO ACCESS REHABILITATIVE, NON-CUSTODIAL OUTCOMES AND ASSISTING VULNERABLE WOMEN TO AVOID UNNECESSARY DETENTION. DESPITE ARMED CONFLICT, A 7.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE, AND SEVERE FLOODING, IBJ MAINTAINED OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WITH A NEW BRITISH COUNCIL MYJUSTICE PROGRAMME CONTRACT SIGNED IN SEPTEMBER HELPING RESTORE PROGRAM STABILITY.
- $89,514 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - AFRICA: IN 2025, IBJ PROGRAMS IN AFRICA CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS STRENGTHENING THE RULE OF LAW BY DELIVERING LEGAL AID TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, AND EXPANDING RIGHTS AWARENESS, DESPITE RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS AND GROWING DEMAND. IN BURUNDI, RWANDA, AND ACROSS THE REGION, IBJ MAINTAINED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH KEY JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH TRAININGS, MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING, AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES. IN BURUNDI, BURUNDI BRIDGES TO JUSTICE (BBJ) PROVIDED LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO 180 ACCUSED PERSONS, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ACHIEVING 58 DISMISSALS AND ACQUITTALS, WHILE TRAINING 11 LAWYERS AND 10 JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS. IN RWANDA, IBJ PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 168 VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND LEGAL ADVICE TO OVER 200 PEOPLE, WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING JUVENILE CASES AND DELIVERING PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INMATES. THE PROGRAM STRENGTHENED INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY THROUGH TARGETED TRAININGS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS, CORRECTIONAL SERVICE CADETS, AND JUSTICE ACTORS, AND REINFORCED PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH AGREEMENTS WITH THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND RWANDA CORRECTIONAL SERVICE. ACROSS THE REGION, IBJ'S RIGHTS-AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS REACHED OVER 400,000 PEOPLE THROUGH RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, PROMOTING NON-DISCRIMINATION, FAIR TRIAL RIGHTS, AND ACCESS TO LEGAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS REFLECT IBJ'S INTEGRATED APPROACH TO ADVANCING JUSTICE SYSTEMS THAT ARE MORE INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT, AND RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
- $13,250 spent. OTHER : CAMBODIA, INDIA, USA
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 June 2001.
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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