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John Howard Association

EIN 36-2167739 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$880,847
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
20.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$154,427, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (4)
  1. $465,449 spent. PRISON MONITORING PROJECT - ILS PRISON SYSTEM INCARCERATES APPROXIMATELY 29,000 INDIVIDUALS. JHA PROVIDES CRITICAL INDEPENDENT CITIZEN CORRECTIONAL OVERSIGHT OF ITS PRISONS THROUGH ON-SITE PRISON VISITS, COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA, INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS OF PRISONERS AND CORRECTIONS STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS TO GATHER INSIGHT FROM THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN IL PRISONS.
  2. $149,890 spent. JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM JHA PROVIDES CORRECTIONAL OVERSIGHT OF ILS DEPT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE FACILTIIES AND PROGRAMS. JHA GOES INTO EVERY JUVENILE FACILITY TO OBSERVE, ASK QUESTIONS, AND TALK TO YOUTH AND STAFF INSIDE THE INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER TO ASSESS WHETHER YOUTH NEEDS ARE BEING MET IN TERMS OF TREATMENT, EDUCATION, PROGRAMMING, COUNSELING, AND CONDITIONS INSIDE THE IL YOUTH CENTERS. SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS EVERY YEAR, JHA COMMUNICATES WITH MORE THAN 3,000 INCARCERATED YOUTHS, ADULT PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH LETTERS, PHONE CALLS, AND INTERVIEWS DURING PRISON INSPECTIONS ABOUT ISSUES THEY FACE, SUCH AS INADEQUATE HEALTHCARE, ALLEGATIONS OF STAFF MISCONDUCT AND LACK OF ACCESS TO LEGAL MATERIAL.
  3. $165,668 spent. PRISON RESPONSE UNIT - THE ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE DESIGNATES JHA AS THE ONLY RECIPIENT OF PRIVILEGED MAIL FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS NOT A STATE AGENCY OR AN INDIVIDUALS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE. THIS UNIQUE ROLE ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED TO WRITE TO JHA REGARDING THEIR TRUE CONCERNS AND ISSUES THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WITHOUT HAVING FEAR OF RETALIATION OR NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. JHA ALSO CONDUCTS SURVEYS OF THOSE INCARCERATED IN IL PRISONS. JHA MAINTAINS A DATABASE OF THE DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTED, WHICH ALLOWS THE ORGANIZATION TO TRACK TRENDS TO HELP IN PROPOSING POLICY SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AS THEY EMERGE.
  4. Program Service Expenses 7,890, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OTHER MISC PROGRAMS - IN 2024, JHA LAUCNHED A PILOT COMMUINITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND STRENGTHENING ITS CONNECTIONS WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT INCARCERATED IN THE IL PRISON SYSTEM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1924.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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