Center for Community Justice Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE PROGRAMS BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WHICH STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY SAFETY, PROVIDES SUPPORT AND COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS, AIDS IN THE RESTORATION OF OFFENDERS, AND PROMOTES RECONCILIATION IN THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $414,850
- Spending
- $402,070
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 73%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $57,750, executive di
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $192,229 spent. VICTIM OFFENDER RECONCILIATION PROGRAM (VORP): 465 PARTICIPANTS VORP HAS BEEN A CORE SERVICE PROVIDED BY CCJ FOR OVER 40 YEARS. IT PROVIDES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS SURVIVORS OF CRIME TO MEET THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME IN THE PRESENCE OF A TRAINED MEDIATOR. THUS PROVIDING SURVIVORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE HEALING PROCESS WHILE ALLOWING THOSE WHO HAVE DONE HARM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE AMENDS. OVER 1,000,000 HAS BEEN RETURNED TO SURVIVORS OF CRIME IN THE FORM OF REPARATIONS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS BY THOSE WHO CAUSED THE HARM.
- $50,728 spent. TRANSITIONAL COACHING PROGRAM (TCP): 13 PARTICIPANTS THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WHO ARE RETURNING TO THEIR HOMES IN ELKHART COUNTY. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR VISITS PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RE- ENTRY EVEN BEFORE THEY ARE RELEASED. THE PROGRAM'S COACHES HELP FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE TO SET AND MEET PERSONAL GOALS THAT ALLOW THEM TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS OF ELKHART COUNTY.
- $24,028 spent. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN EDUCATION (RJE): 255 PARTICIPANTS RJE WORKS IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CONFLICT COACHING TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING ENMESHED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH ADULTS (TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS) WHO ARE SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO RESPOND TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO SUPPORT NEW WAYS OF RESPONDING TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO FIND THEMSELVES CAUGHT IN CONFLICT AND BEHAVIORS THAT CAN PUT THEM ON TRACK FOR SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION AND, ULTIMATELY, JUVENILE DETENTION.
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 October 13, 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 April 1985.
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 October 21, 2026.
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