Communities for Restorative Justice
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 47% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
C4RJ USES A CIRCLE PROCESS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THE HARM THEY HAVE CAUSED AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. WE GIVE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED A VOICE, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE HARM AND BUILD STRONGER, MORE RESPECTFUL COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $324,292
- Spending
- $343,821
- Spent on programs
- 47%
- Reserves
- 16 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 170
- Highest pay
- $110,058, 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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1547% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $162,998 spent. COMMUNITIES FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (C4RJ) IS A GROWING NONPROFIT THAT PARTNERS WITH 26 CITIES AND TOWNS, THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND THE OFFICES OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY, SUFFOLK COUNTY, AND NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO REBUILD TRUST AND OFFER A PATH FORWARD IN THE WAKE OF CRIME. WE LISTEN TO VICTIMS, HOLD RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESTORE TRUST IN COMMUNITIES. OUR VOLUNTEER-LED "CIRCLE" DIALOGUE IS CALLED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. IT'S PERSONAL. IT'S POWERFUL. AND IT'S WHY C4RJ IS A PROVEN, EFFECTIVE OPTION WITHIN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.WE RECEIVE POLICE AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY REFERRALS AND SEEK TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CRIME IN DECISION-MAKING: VICTIMS (IMPACTED PARTIES), OFFENDERS (RESPONSIBLE PARTIES), LOVED ONES, SUPPORTERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.C4RJ TOOK ITS FIRST CASE IN 2000 AND HAS SINCE WORKED WITH OVER 1,500 PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME. OUR ORGANIZATION IS DRIVEN BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, IS GUIDED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, AND EMPLOYS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FIVE STAFF MEMBERS AND ONE FELLOW.
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 June 2024.
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 November 2011.
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.