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Justice Defenders

EIN 36-4787320 · Claymont, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUSTICE DEFENDERS PROVIDES LEGAL EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND PRACTICE WITHIN DEFENSELESS COMMUNITIES. FOUNDED IN 2007, WE WORK ACROSS 35+ PRISONS IN AFRICA WHERE INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND OFFICERS TRAIN AND PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$229,561, global ceo/ usa secretary

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 127% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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

    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 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 (1)
  1. $1.9 million spent. IN MANY COUNTRIES, SUSPECTS ARE DETAINED IN PRISON ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY ONCE THEY ARE ARRESTED. WHATEVER THE OFFENSE. SOME, YES, ARE GUILTY. MANY ARE POOR, VULNERABLE, AND UNJUSTLY TARGETED. REGARDLESS, LIVES ARE LOST WAITING FOR JUSTICE TO ARRIVE. OUR WORK HELPS THE HUMANS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FLOURISH. AND THIS INCREASED CAPACITY PROMOTES MORE EQUITABLE, JUST, AND PEACEFUL SOCIETIES, IN KEEPING WITH THE UN'S 2030 SDG 16. SINCE OUR FUNDING, 100,000+ INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SERVED VIA LEGAL DEFENSE; 600+ PARALEGALS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN PRISON, 59 OF WHICH GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF NELSON MANDELA; AND 37,000+ INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN RELEASED. IN 2024 ALONE, 45+ PARALEGALS WERE TRAINED, 30,000+ INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVICED VIA FREE LEGAL DEFENSE, AND 15,000+ INDIVIDUALS WERE RELEASED AND RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES. WE DREAM OF A DAY WHERE NO ONE IS PUNISHED OR IMPRISONED - AND CERTAINLY NOT CANED OR EXECUTED - WITHOUT TELLING THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY. OUR HOPE IS FOR A WORLD WHERE EACH OF US IS EQUALLY ACCOUNTABLE TO AND PROTECTED BY THE LAW. BECAUSE THERE CAN BE NO JUSTICE WITHOUT PEACE, AND THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE.

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 November 6, 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 September 2016.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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