Project Return Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROJECT RETURN EXISTS TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION MAKE A POSITIVE, PERMANENT RETURN TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $685,344
- Spending
- $617,395
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 90%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $72,580, executive director
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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)
- $512,174 spent. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES PROJECT RETURN CONTINUES TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE-EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE OFTEN SEVERAL STEPS BEHIND THEIR COUNTERPARTS OF JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. WE CREATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN TO HELP EACH CLIENT ACCESS THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS. EXAMPLES OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE INCLUDE: BUILDING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SPECIALIZED, SHORT-TERM JOB TRAINING IN HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS. HELPING CLIENTS ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM TRAINING OR WORK. ASSISTING WITH THE COST OF TUITION OR TEXTBOOKS. OFFERING FREE, DONATED CLOTHING FROM OUR RESOURCE ROOM, AS WELL AS HYGIENE KITS. PURCHASING WORK TOOLS OR SPECIALIZED, SAFETY CLOTHING. HELPING PEOPLE OBTAIN FOOD AND HOUSING. PROVIDING TRAINING THAT PREPARES CLIENTS FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY.CIRCLES OF SUPPORT OUR CIRCLES OF SUPPORT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW! THESE SMALL GROUPS MEET REGULARLY TO PROVIDE A STABLE, SUPPORTIVE NETWORK TO INDIVIDUALS RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION. THEY HELP TO OVERCOME THE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND STIGMA THAT THOSE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION ENCOUNTER AND ENABLE THEM TO REALIZE NEW POSSIBILITIES IN THEIR LIVES. LAST YEAR A RECORD-SETTING 391 FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF OUR 13 CIRCLES. ADDITIONAL CIRCLES OF SUPPORT ARE PLANNED IN 2024, INCLUDING TWO THAT WILL BE OFFERED INSIDE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CLOSE TO THEIR RELEASE DATES. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY AND UWM TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF OUR CIRCLES PROGRAM ON RE-ENTRY SUCCESS AND WILL BE EXCITED TO SHARE RESULTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE MID-YEAR. AT THE CORE OF OUR STRATEGY ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS IS OUR RELIANCE ON PEER SPECIALISTS. WE BELIEVE THAT FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLEBOARD, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERSHAVE INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVES ESSENTIAL TO OUR WORK. WE PRIORITIZE THEIR INPUT AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPRINT ON OUR WORK WITH CLIENTS, AS WELL AS OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS. ADVOCACY ADVOCACY IS ESSENTIAL IN CHANGING COMMUNITY MINDSETS AND REDUCING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO RE-ENTRY SUCCESS. ALONG WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, PROJECT RETURN HAS ADVOCATED FOR ADDED FUNDING FOR MILWAUKEE COUNTY'S MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT COURT. THE GOAL OF THE TREATMENT COURT IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FOR INDIVIDUALS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH COURT-ORDERED, LONG-TERM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT WITH INTENSIVE COURT SUPERVISION. AT ONE TIME A PILOT PROJECT, THE COURT NOW HAS A FULL-TIME COORDINATOR AND STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE CHIEF JUDGE OF MILWAUKEE COUNTY'S CIRCUIT COURT. HOUSING INITIATIVE AS SEEN BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF CLIENTS WHO ARE DESPERATE TO FIND HOUSING, TOO MANY PEOPLE RETURN HOME ONLY TO FIND THEY NO LONGER HAVE ONE. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT WHO'S COMING HOME? (DATA YOU CAN USE, 2021), ABOUT 42% (1,042) OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RETURN TO MILWAUKEE FROM PRISON EACH YEAR DO NOT HAVE A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT FINDING STABLE HOUSING WITHIN A MONTH OF RELEASE REDUCES THE CHANCES OF RETURNING TO PRISON; CONVERSELY, INDIVIDUALS WHO ENTER A HOMELESS SHELTER WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS AFTER RELEASE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE RE-INCARCERATED. FOR YEARS, PROJECT RETURN HAS WORKED WITH LANDLORDS TO OPEN UP HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE IN NEED. WE HAVE SEEN OUR CLIENTS STRUGGLE REPEATEDLY TO FIND SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING A PREREQUISITE TO MOVING AHEAD IN THEIR LIVES. IT IS NOT EASY TO FIND AND KEEP A JOB IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A STABLE PLACE TO LIVE! THE PROJECT RETURN BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMMITTED TO MOVING AHEAD WITH PLANS TO PROVIDE SECURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE FACING HOMELESSNESS UPON RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1982.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.