Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Charleston Area Justice Ministry

EIN 46-1758506 · N Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHARLESTON AREA JUSTICE MINISTRY (CAJM) IS COMMITTED TO JUSTICE AND BUILDING A POWERFUL ORGANIZATION CAPABLE OF NEGOTIATING THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. HAVING BEEN FOUNDED BY RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS, CAJM IS BASED ON VALUES OF JUSTICE AND COMPASSION AS SHARED VALUES OF OUR FAITH TRADITIONS.

Income
$469,905
Spending
$529,672
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
6
Volunteers
850
Highest pay
$77,475, co-lead organizer

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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $92,223 spent. THE CHARLESTON AREA JUSTICE MINISTRY (CAJM) PROVIDED TRAINING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON HOW TO CONDUCT HOUSE MEETINGS, HOW TO CONDUCT 1-TO-1 VISITS, AND ON HOW TO RESEARCH PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS.
  2. $184,447 spent. THE CHARLESTON AREA JUSTICE MINISTRY (CAJM) NETWORK MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN TWO ASSEMBLIES - COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND NEHEMIAH ACTION - TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND THEN PRESS PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO ENACT PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO THOSE PROBLEMS.
  3. $92,223 spent. THE CHARLESTON AREA JUSTICE MINISTRY (CAJM) NETWORK MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN NETWORKING MEETINGS TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS, RECEIVE SPECIALIZED LEADERSHIP TRAINING ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUSTICE CYCLE, AND STRENGTHEN THE NETWORK.

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 October 13, 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 October 2013.

    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 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.