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First Shift Justice Project

EIN 46-5477121 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST SHIFT JUSTICE PROJECT EMPOWERS WORKERS IN LOW WAGE JOBS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS RELATED TO CAREGIVING AND PARENTING.

Income
$948,896
Spending
$838,432
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
13
Volunteers
16
Highest pay
$82,560, 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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. $374,464 spent. IN 2024, FIRST SHIFT JUSTICE PROJECT SERVED 202 LEGAL SERVICES CLIENTS WITH A FOCUS ON HELPING LOW-WAGE WORKING MOTHERS AND CAREGIVERS RECEIVE ON-THE-JOB ACCOMMODATIONS, LEAVE FROM WORK, AND DC PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS. WE HELPED WORKERS ACCESS $218,430.60 IN D.C. PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS AND $256,988 IN BACK WAGES AND OTHER DAMAGES RECOVERED. FIRST SHIFT CONDUCTED 58 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS IN 2024.
  2. $137,671 spent. IN 2024, FIRST SHIFT TRAINED D.C. AREA MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN 19 PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE WORKPLACE RIGHTS OF THEIR PATIENTS; SPECIFICALLY, HOW TO DOCUMENT THEIR PATIENTS' NEEDS FOR ON-THE-JOB ACCOMMODATIONS AND LEAVE FROM WORK.
  3. $38,548 spent. IN DECEMBER 2024, WE SECURED THE PASSAGE OF A LAW THAT WILL MAKE THE CLAIMS PROCESS AT THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (OHR) MORE FAIR TO PRO SE LITIGANTS (WORKERS WHO FILE CLAIMS WITHOUT THE REPRESENTATION OF A LAWYER). THIS INCLUDES EXTENDING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO GIVE CLAIMANTS MORE TIME TO FILE CLAIMS, INSULATING CLAIMANTS FROM BEING FORCED TO ARBITRATE THEIR COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND PRESERVING THEIR RIGHT TO FILE THEIR CLAIMS IN COURT EVEN AFTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS HAS CONCLUDED. THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LAW WILL ULTIMATELY GIVE PRO SE CLAIMANTS MORE POWER AND AGENCY IN PURSUING A REMEDY FOR THEIR DISCRIMINATION CASES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. 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.

  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 7, 2026.

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