Turn90
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Turn90 is a nonprofit employment social enterprise that combines job training, supportive services, and peer mentorship to create a pathway to success after prison.
- Income
- $4.6 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 16.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 133
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $145,575, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 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)
- $2.7 million spent. Turn90 is an employment-focused social enterprise dedicated to providing comprehensive reentry support for men returning from prison. With a mission to transform lives and prevent recidivism, Turn90 integrates job training, therapy, peer mentorship, and life skills education. Our vision is a future where every individual released from prison is empowered with the skills and support needed to rebuild their lives, breaking free from the cycles of incarceration. Turn90 serves men at the highest risk of re-arrest, with most participants having experienced a youth arrest, setting them on a lifelong path of justice involvement. Statistically, these men face daunting barriers: one in five have never legally worked, a third lack a high school diploma or GED, and half have been arrested more than seven times. Without interventions like Turn90, recidivism rates hover at 62% within three years of release. In Charleston alone, where we operate one of our primary centers, nearly 300 formerly incarcerated individuals return home each year. We work exclusively with men leaving prison who are likely to return without an intense intervention and wraparound support. Making a deep investment in a person's emotional, social, behavioral and financial well-being provides the skills to manage life differently, a pathway to legal employment, and an offramp from the incarceration cycle.70% Are first arrested youth75% Were arrested 4+ times39% Sentenced to prision 3+ times27% Turn90 is their first legal job48% Financially support childrenOur program meets individuals at the critical juncture post-release, when the challenges of finding housing, employment, identification, transportation, and emotional support collide with limited resources, compounding the likelihood of re-arrest. Turn90 addresses these pressing needs through an innovative, full-time employment model combined with supportive services delivered by Turn90 graduates who now serve as program staff, embodying hope and credible guidance for new participants. At the heart of Turn90's program is our immersive employment model, where men (called "trainees") are hired to work full-time in Turn90-operated social enterprises. Our program hires approximately 100 men each year, offering them a structured environment where they receive daily training, life skills, and group therapy focused on cognitive-behavioral approaches to foster emotional resilience and problem-solving skills. This model is designed to reshape individuals' self-perceptions, instill prosocial behaviors, and build coping skills necessary for long-term success beyond the program. Turn90's comprehensive support includes: Daily Cognitive-Behavioral Classes: Trainees engage in group sessions that build essential social and emotional skills. Wraparound Support Services: Social workers address immediate needs such as housing, health, and transportation. Transitional Employment: Our social enterprises provide trainees with immediate, legal employment, offering a paycheck, work history, and practical job skills. Post-Program Job Placement: Graduates are placed in stable jobs with livable wages, benefits, and growth opportunities, securing a pathway to financial independence. Turn90's program has shown remarkable outcomes: only 5% of our graduates return to prison, and 89% maintain employment for at least 90 days post- placement. This reduction in recidivism and high employment retention reflects the effectiveness of our approach. Our work provides a generational impact, allowing fathers to model stable lives for their children and break cycles of incarceration, positively influencing Charleston's communities. Turn90's program is rooted in evidence-based practices and a deep understanding of the complexities men face upon reentry. Our innovative approach has a proven track record of success, and with continued support, we can further our mission to create opportunities for lasting change, transforming lives, families, and communities.Results for 202490 Trainees were employed in Turn90's two social enterprises31 Trainees were successfully placed in a job9 out 10 placements retained employment for at least 90 days8 out 10 trainees reported progress toward personal goals while employed at Turn90A New Home in CharlestonThis year we took a bold step, moving into what will become our new, state-of-the-art Center in Charleston. The photo shows a group of Turn90 men standing in the burned-out warehouse that, in time, will be transformed into a world-class job training facility. The new site nearly doubles our footprint, expanding our ability to train, employ, and creatively grow our businesses. It's a statement about who we are and where we're going. This move is a leap of faith in our people, our mission, and our belief that every person who walks through our doors deserves nothing less than the best shot at success.A Dream RealizedIn 2019, we set an ambitious goal: to expand Turn90 across South Carolina by opening two additional locations. Today, that dream has become a reality with the opening of Turn90 Spartanburg (2024). Though we delayed our timeline by a year to ensure we got it right, this expansion is proof of our belief that meaningful progress is worth the wait.We're taking it one day at a time, focused on building something that lasts. This isn't just a milestone for Turn90. It's a marathon for South Carolina, for the communities we serve and for the men whose lives depend on ourrefusal to accept the status quo.With gratitude for the chance to turn a vision into action, we remain steadfast in our commitment to redefining second chances, ensuring that every step we take is rooted in impact and intention.Grown Social EnterpriseOur businesses are at the heart of our work, providing jobs for men returning from incarceration and fueling the resources needed to sustain our programs and activities.Turn90 Print Shop continues to grownot just in size, but in identity. As we refine our niche, improve quali
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 2014.
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.