Neighborhood Justice Center Incorporated
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF NJC IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE AND CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS, EMPHASIZING OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $897,580
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $161,230, 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
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2510 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
7 of 7Has a 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 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)
- $809,836 spent. LEGAL REPRESENTATION & ADVICE: "THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER'S PRIMARY PROGRAM IS OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CRIMINAL DEFENSE SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED PERSONS WHO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES AND NEED EXTENDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION, BRIEF LEGAL SERVICE AND/OR ADVICE ONLY TO OBTAIN THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME IN THEIR CASE. AS AN ORGANIZATION CREATED BY AND FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, NJC SEEKS TO REPRESENT CLIENTS FROM THROUGHOUT OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY SEEKING TO ASSIST THOSE GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY DISENFRANCHISED AND TARGETED FOR UNFAIR TREATMENT. NJC STAFF LOOK BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE LEGAL PROBLEMS TO SERVE THE WHOLE PERSON, HELPING TO CONNECT SUCH SERVICES AS HOUSING ASSISTANCE, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND/ OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ALSO FACE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES AND WE PARTNER WITH EXPERTS IN IMMIGRATION LAW TO PROTECT AND INFORM OUR CLIENTS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RISKS. NJC STRIVES TO PROVE STAFF THAT REFLECT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE BY HIRING BILINGUAL, CULTURALLY AND RACIALLY DIVERSE ATTORNEYS, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND LAW CLERKS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES LEGAL DEFENSE SERVICE NJC PROVIDES THROUGH THE RAMSEY COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS, AND OUR LEGAL ADVICE SERVICES. IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR NJC STATISTICS DEMONSTRATE THAT OVER 76% OF NJC CLIENTS WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR, WITH OUR CLIENT-IDENTIFIED STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN BEING 33% AFRICAN AMERICAN/ BLACK, 24% CAUCASIAN, 7% HISPANIC, 12% AMERICAN INDIAN, 4% EAST ASIAN, AND 20% SELF-IDENTIFIED AS OTHER/ MIXED RACE. WE BELIEVE THESE NUMBERS DEMONSTRATE THAT NJC IS STILL REACHING THE MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN OUR STATE AND ENSURING THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION NO MATTER THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND ADVICE PROGRAM DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1925 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDES OVER 400 FORMAL CRIMINAL CASES WHERE TALENTED NJC ATTORNEYS PROVIDED FULL-SERVICE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND LITIGATION FOR ANY LEGAL ISSUE ARISING IN CASES RANGING FROM LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANORS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL FELONIES. AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED, WE ALSO SERVED AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY 275 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR DEFENSE ROLE IN THE RAMSEY COUNTY TREATMENT COURTS, WHERE WE REPRESENT EVERY PARTICIPANT IN THE TREATMENT COURTS FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR TIME IN THIS INTENSIVE, TREATMENT-FOCUSED PROGRAM. THIS IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT HAS KEPT HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM GOING TO JAIL/ PRISON, AND INSTEAD INVESTED IN THEIR TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, RESULTING IN SOBER, HEALTHY CLIENTS REGAINING THEIR ABILITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS. KNOWING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS FEW RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SIMPLY ASK LEGAL QUESTIONS, NJC PROVIDES OUR FREE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE, WHICH HELPED OVER 1250 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. THIS SERVICE ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO CONTACT NJC ATTORNEYS DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL QUESTIONS, FREE OF CHARGE, WITH THE GOAL OF GUIDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE BEST OUTCOME AND TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS INCLUDES OVER 350 ADVICE SESSIONS THAT LASTED OVER A HALF-HOUR AND MAY HAVE REQUIRED OUTSIDE CONTACTS OR OTHER ACTIONS BY THE ATTORNEY TO GATHER THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO COMPREHENSIVELY SERVE THIS COMMUNITY MEMBER. WE BELIEVE THESE ADVICE SERVICES PROMOTE JUST OUTCOMES BY GIVING PEOPLE IN NEED HONEST LEGAL ADVICE WITHOUT THE REQUIREMENT OF PAYMENT. "
- COMMUNITY OUTREACH: "NJC'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE EVER-CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. WE FOCUS ON SERVING LOW INCOME PERSONS, JUVENILES, REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM VARIOUS CULTURES, AND ALSO SEEKS TO EDUCATE THE BROADER COMMUNITY ABOUT THE REALITIES AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE LIKE OUR CLIENTS. THIS PROGRAM INTENDS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE LAW BY CLARIFYING WHAT CONSTITUTES ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, HOW TO AVOID CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, AND HOW TO EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY INTERACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHILE STILL RETAINING AND ENFORCING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. THIS PROGRAM CAN TAKE MANY FORMS FROM LARGE PRESENTATIONS, SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS, DIGITAL MEETINGS, TABLING EVENTS, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE. TO ENSURE BROAD AWARENESS OF OUR SERVICES, WE PARTNER WITH NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS, SHELTERS, PRO BONO PARTNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR PROGRAMS TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN ACCESS TO VITAL LEGAL SERVICES.IN THE LAST YEAR NJC REACHED APPROXIMATELY 250 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR IN-PERSON COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, NJC PROVIDES MULTIPLE FORMS OF DIGITAL INFORMATION SO INDIVIDUALS CAN FIND AND CONTACT NJC ONLINE TO BOTH LEARN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW, BUT ALSO WHERE TO SEEK HELP SHOULD THEY NEED IT. IN THE LAST YEAR OUR DIGITAL OUTREACH CONNECTED WITH OVER 3,500 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WHERE MOST VISITORS UTILIZED OUR BLOG POSTS, WHICH FOCUS ARE PRACTICAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MODERN LEGAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES. FURTHER, WE REACHED AN ADDITION APPROXIMATELY 2000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, WHICH ALSO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON PERTINENT LEGAL ISSUES. NJC IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION, BUT WE STRIVE TO REACH THE COMMUNITY IN AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE. "
- "AT NJC WE BELIEVE THAT GOOD PEOPLE CAN MAKE MISTAKES AND PEOPLE HAVE THE AMAZING ABILITY TO GROW AND CHANGE, AND AS A RESULT EXPUNGEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETAL GROWTH. EXPUNGEMENTS BENEFIT EVERYONE, FROM THE INDIVIDUAL SEEKING THE EXPUNGEMENT, TO EMPLOYERS WHO NEED QUALITY, DEDICATED WORKERS. THESE SECOND CHANCES ALLOW REFORMED PEOPLE BACK IN THE WORK FORCE, USING THEIR TALENTS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO MORE STABLE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. MINNESOTA LAW NOW SUPPORTS EXPUNGEMENT FOR REFORMED PEOPLE IN MANY CASES, BUT THIS LEGAL PROCESS IS LONG AND UNFORTUNATELY COMPLICATED. NJC SPECIALIZES IN HELPING THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEEDS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLICATED EXPUNGEMENT CASES, MULTIPLE PRIOR CONVICTIONS AND ALSO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PERSONAL LIMITATIONS THAT MAY PREVENT THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO FILE AN EXPUNGEMENT ON THEIR OWN. NJC PROVIDES FULL SERVICE EXPUNGEMENT REPRESENTATION, FROM THE INITIAL CONSULTATION THROUGH ALL STAGES OF LITIGATION. IN THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR NJC SERVED CLIENTS ON 210 EXPUNGEMENT PETITIONS IN COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MN. OF THE PETITIONS THAT CAME TO FINAL DECISION, OVER 96% WERE GRANTED IN FULL, GIVING THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BETTER FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES. THOSE CLIENTS WHO WERE DENIED EXPUNGEMENTS WERE THEN GIVEN PRACTICAL HELP TO MAKE THEM BETTER EXPUNGEMENT CANDIDATES IN THE FUTURE. "
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 November 1977.
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.
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.