Prison Contemplative Fellowship
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PRISON CONTEMPLATIVE FELLOWSHIP BUILDS CONTEMPLATIVE COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS WALLS. JOURNEYING TOGETHER AS PEOPLE AFFECTED BY INCARCERATION, WE SHARE CENTERING PRAYER MEDITATION AND FOSTER CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION, BOTH PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL. THROUGH PROVIDING BOOKS, NEWSLETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE, DEVELOPING A DATABASE, SUPPORTING VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND HOSTING VIRTUAL CENTERING PRAYER GROUPS AND IN- PERSON RETREATS, WE OFFER COMPANIONSHIP, SPIRITUAL RESOURCES, AND THE STEADY REMINDER THAT EACH PERSON IS SEEN, VALUED, AND INTEGRAL TO A CARING COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $377,969
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 58.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 3
- Highest pay
- $32,500, executive di
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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 58.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 83% of income.
Spending floor
8 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 4 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
- $186,073 spent. THE PRISON OUTREACH NATIONAL DATABASE (POND) IS A SOFTWARE PLATFORM THAT STORES AND CONSOLIDATES INFORMATION ON CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND VOLUNTEERS, ENABLING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO MANAGE COMMUNICATIONS AND MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF CONTACT DESPITE TRANSFERS AND COMPLEX JURISDICTIONAL RULES. STAFF RESEARCH, VERIFY, AND UPDATE FACILITY AND RESIDENT RECORDS TO ENSURE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL REMAINS AS REACHABLE AND SUPPORTED AS POSSIBLE. CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY ACROSS MANY AND VARIED INHERENT BARRIERS, POND DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH WE CAN MAIL MATERIALS INSIDE LOCKED FACILITIES. IT ALSO ENSURES RECIPIENTS ARE NOT LOST - BOTH WHILE IN THE SYSTEM AND DURING THE TRANSITION BACK INTO FREE SOCIETY. POND EMBODIES THE PRINCIPLE THAT EVERY PERSON MATTERS BY STRENGTHENING THE BONDS OF CARE AND BELONGING THAT TRANSCEND INCARCERATION. AS OF YEAR-END, POND MAINTAINED ACTIVE RECORDS FOR 699 FACILITIES AND 1096 RESIDENTS. THE PRISON OUTREACH NATIONAL DATABASE (POND) IS A SOFTWARE PLATFORM THAT STORES AND CONSOLIDATES INFORMATION ON CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND VOLUNTEERS, ENABLING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO MANAGE COMMUNICATIONS AND MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF CONTACT DESPITE TRANSFERS AND COMPLEX JURISDICTIONAL RULES. STAFF RESEARCH, VERIFY, AND UPDATE FACILITY AND RESIDENT RECORDS TO ENSURE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL REMAINS AS REACHABLE AND SUPPORTED AS POSSIBLE. CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY ACROSS MANY AND VARIED INHERENT BARRIERS, POND DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH WE CAN MAIL MATERIALS INSIDE LOCKED FACILITIES. IT ALSO ENSURES RECIPIENTS ARE NOT LOST - BOTH WHILE IN THE SYSTEM AND DURING THE TRANSITION BACK INTO FREE SOCIETY. POND EMBODIES THE PRINCIPLE THAT EVERY PERSON MATTERS BY STRENGTHENING THE BONDS OF CARE AND BELONGING THAT TRANSCEND INCARCERATION. AS OF YEAR-END, POND MAINTAINED ACTIVE RECORDS FOR 699 FACILITIES AND 1096 RESIDENTS.
- $5,828 spent. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - OUTSIDE THE WALLS FOR INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO SOCIETY AFTER INCARCERATION, THIS PROGRAM WORKS ALONGSIDE COPOST (CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH PRISON OUTREACH SERVICE TEAM) TO PROVIDE BOOKS, TECHNICAL RESOURCES, TABLETS, AND ACCESS TO A GROWING COMMUNITY OF CENTERING PRAYER PRACTITIONERS. IT HELPS PARTICIPANTS STAY CONNECTED TO SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, EASING THE TRANSITION INTO LIFE OUTSIDE PRISON. PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM MENTORSHIP, SHARED PRACTICE, AND TANGIBLE TOOLS THAT SUPPORT CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM NURTURES BELONGING, REDUCES ISOLATION, AND REINFORCES THE MESSAGE THAT SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT DO NOT END AT THE PRISON GATE. AS OF YEAR-END, 30 INDIVIDUALS WERE ON THE DISTRIBUTION LIST; 19 FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE WEEKLY OTW VIRTUAL CENTERING PRAYER GROUP AT LEAST ONCE DURING 2024. COMMUNITY OUTREACH - OUTSIDE THE WALLS FOR INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO SOCIETY AFTER INCARCERATION, THIS PROGRAM WORKS ALONGSIDE COPOST (CONTEMPLATIVE OUTREACH PRISON OUTREACH SERVICE TEAM) TO PROVIDE BOOKS, TECHNICAL RESOURCES, TABLETS, AND ACCESS TO A GROWING COMMUNITY OF CENTERING PRAYER PRACTITIONERS. IT HELPS PARTICIPANTS STAY CONNECTED TO SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, EASING THE TRANSITION INTO LIFE OUTSIDE PRISON. PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM MENTORSHIP, SHARED PRACTICE, AND TANGIBLE TOOLS THAT SUPPORT CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM NURTURES BELONGING, REDUCES ISOLATION, AND REINFORCES THE MESSAGE THAT SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT DO NOT END AT THE PRISON GATE. AS OF YEAR-END, 30 INDIVIDUALS WERE ON THE DISTRIBUTION LIST; 19 FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE WEEKLY OTW VIRTUAL CENTERING PRAYER GROUP AT LEAST ONCE DURING 2024.
- $20,571 spent. INSIDE THE WALLS THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH MATERIALS AND SUPPORT TO CULTIVATE CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES, BOTH DIRECTLY-THROUGH THE CENTERING INSIDE NEWSLETTER, LOCKED UP AND FREE PAMPHLETS, AND RAY LEONARDINI'S BOOKS-AND INDIRECTLY, THROUGH SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS WHO FACILITATE PRACTICE INSIDE FACILITIES. EACH RESOURCE BRINGS A MESSAGE OF HOPE INTO THE OFTEN ISOLATING AND DEHUMANIZING EXPERIENCE OF INCARCERATION, CARRYING ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE, AND THE MESSAGE THAT READERS ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS WALLS. PARTICIPANTS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY ARE SEEN, LOVED, AND VALUED WITHOUT CONDITIONS; THIS FOSTERS AN EXPERIENCE OF FREEDOM NO WALLS CAN CONTAIN. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH HUMAN KINDNESS FOUNDATION, WHICH FACILITATES MAILING OUR BOOKS TO RESIDENTS OF LOCKED FACILITIES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 3,000 INDIVIDUALS HELD IN 456 FACILITIES ACROSS 47 STATES, ONE U.S. TERRITORY AND CANADA. A TOTAL OF 3019 NEWSLETTERS (INAUGURAL EDITION OF CENTERING INSIDE), 77 BOOKS FOR DIRECT MAILING, AND 260 BOOKS FOR VOLUNTEER DISTRIBUTION WERE PROVIDED AND/OR SENT. . INSIDE THE WALLS THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH MATERIALS AND SUPPORT TO CULTIVATE CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES, BOTH DIRECTLY-THROUGH THE CENTERING INSIDE NEWSLETTER, LOCKED UP AND FREE PAMPHLETS, AND RAY LEONARDINI'S BOOKS-AND INDIRECTLY, THROUGH SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS WHO FACILITATE PRACTICE INSIDE FACILITIES. EACH RESOURCE BRINGS A MESSAGE OF HOPE INTO THE OFTEN ISOLATING AND DEHUMANIZING EXPERIENCE OF INCARCERATION, CARRYING ENCOURAGEMENT, GUIDANCE, AND THE MESSAGE THAT READERS ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY THAT TRANSCENDS WALLS. PARTICIPANTS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY ARE SEEN, LOVED, AND VALUED WITHOUT CONDITIONS; THIS FOSTERS AN EXPERIENCE OF FREEDOM NO WALLS CAN CONTAIN. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH HUMAN KINDNESS FOUNDATION, WHICH FACILITATES MAILING OUR BOOKS TO RESIDENTS OF LOCKED FACILITIES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM REACHED MORE THAN 3,000 INDIVIDUALS HELD IN 456 FACILITIES ACROSS 47 STATES, ONE U.S. TERRITORY AND CANADA. A TOTAL OF 3019 NEWSLETTERS (INAUGURAL EDITION OF CENTERING INSIDE), 77 BOOKS FOR DIRECT MAILING, AND 260 BOOKS FOR VOLUNTEER DISTRIBUTION WERE PROVIDED AND/OR SENT. .
- $31,579 spent. COPOST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COPOST, THIS PROGRAM MANAGES CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. STAFF ANONYMIZE AND FORWARD MAIL TO VOLUNTEERS, MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE THOUGHTFUL GUIDANCE IN CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER, FOSTERING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND PERSONAL GROWTH. BY FACILITATING SAFE, CONSISTENT ENGAGEMENT, COPOST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY INSIDE FACILITIES AND DEMONSTRATES TO PARTICIPANTS THAT THEIR LIVES ARE VALUED AND THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS SUPPORTED. IN 2024, 75 VOLUNTEER-WRITTEN RESPONSES WERE SENT TO 40 CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTITIONERS SEEKING SUPPORT WHILE IN CUSTODY. RETREATS - TOGETHER WITH COPOST, WE HOST AN ANNUAL CENTERING PRAYER INTENSIVE RETREAT FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. LODGING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, AND ALL RETREAT FEES ARE COVERED, MAKING PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT CONSIDER IT. PCF FUNDS THE RETREAT AND MANAGES LOGISTICS, WORKING WITH COPOST TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCATION, STAFF AND SCHEDULE SUPPORT THE PRACTICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION. RETREATS ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO DEEPEN CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE, REFLECT ON PERSONAL GROWTH, AND STRENGTHEN BONDS WITH PEERS AND MENTORS. THIS IMMERSIVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE PROVIDES A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING, RENEWAL, AND RECONNECTION WITH SELF AND COMMUNITY-EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY WITH HOPE, PURPOSE, AND SUPPORT. SEVEN PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE 2ND ANNUAL RETREAT (SIX WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND ONE ACTIVE PRISON OUTREACH VOLUNTEER).
- COPOST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COPOST, THIS PROGRAM MANAGES CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. STAFF ANONYMIZE AND FORWARD MAIL TO VOLUNTEERS, MAINTAINING CONFIDENTIALITY. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE THOUGHTFUL GUIDANCE IN CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER, FOSTERING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND PERSONAL GROWTH. BY FACILITATING SAFE, CONSISTENT ENGAGEMENT, COPOST VOLUNTEER SUPPORT STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY INSIDE FACILITIES AND DEMONSTRATES TO PARTICIPANTS THAT THEIR LIVES ARE VALUED AND THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS SUPPORTED. IN 2024, 75 VOLUNTEER-WRITTEN RESPONSES WERE SENT TO 40 CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTITIONERS SEEKING SUPPORT WHILE IN CUSTODY. RETREATS - TOGETHER WITH COPOST, WE HOST AN ANNUAL CENTERING PRAYER INTENSIVE RETREAT FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. LODGING, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, AND ALL RETREAT FEES ARE COVERED, MAKING PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO OTHERWISE COULD NOT CONSIDER IT. PCF FUNDS THE RETREAT AND MANAGES LOGISTICS, WORKING WITH COPOST TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCATION, STAFF AND SCHEDULE SUPPORT THE PRACTICES OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION. RETREATS ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO DEEPEN CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE, REFLECT ON PERSONAL GROWTH, AND STRENGTHEN BONDS WITH PEERS AND MENTORS. THIS IMMERSIVE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE PROVIDES A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING, RENEWAL, AND RECONNECTION WITH SELF AND COMMUNITY-EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY WITH HOPE, PURPOSE, AND SUPPORT. SEVEN PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE 2ND ANNUAL RETREAT (SIX WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND ONE ACTIVE PRISON OUTREACH VOLUNTEER).
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 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 December 2024.
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 August 2014.
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.
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