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Rising for Justice Inc

EIN 52-0847160 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF RISING FOR JUSTICE IS TO LEVERAGE THE COLLECTIVE FORCES OF LAW STUDENTS AND SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS WHO WORK ALONG WITH OUR EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE FOR OUR CLIENTS. WE DIRECTLY REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WHO CANNOT AFFORD COUNSEL BEFORE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES. WE TRAIN LAW STUDENTS FROM AREA LAW SCHOOLS IN TRIAL ADVOCACY AND OTHER LAWYERING SKILLS AND SEEK TO INSTILL IN THEM A COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO SERVICE. WE ALSO SERVE AS A FIELD PLACEMENT FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS FROM MSW PROGRAMS WHO WORK ON TEAMS WITH OUR LAW STUDENTS AND ATTORNEYS TO SERVE THE SOCIAL SERVICES NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO CLIENT REPRESENTATION.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
27
Volunteers
226
Highest pay
$181,252, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    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, 2025, 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. $88,003 spent. HOUSING PROGRAM: RISING FOR JUSTICE (RFJ) ADVANCES HOUSING STABILITY AND PREVENTS EVICTION THROUGH ITS HOUSING ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION CLINIC (HALC), STABILIZING COMMUNITIES (STABCOMM) PROGRAM, AND TENANT JUSTICE PROGRAM (TJP). TOGETHER, THESE INITIATIVES PROVIDE CRITICAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND SOCIAL-WORK SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME DC RESIDENTS FACING EVICTION, UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS, OR BARRIERS TO STABLE HOUSING. DC'S ONGOING HOUSING CRISIS, MARKED BY SOARING RENTS, LOSS OF AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND WIDENING RACIAL DISPARITIES, HAS LEFT MANY TENANTS VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.RFJ'S UNIQUE POSITION AS THE SOLE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER IN DC OFFERING IMMEDIATE LEGAL ADVICE AND EVICTION DEFENSE IN THE LANDLORD AND TENANT BRANCH OF DC SUPERIOR COURT UNDERSCORES THE URGENCY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF ITS WORK. ATTORNEYS, LAW STUDENTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS CONDUCT IN-PERSON INTAKE AT THE COURTHOUSE, ASSESS EACH TENANT'S LEGAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS, AND PROVIDE ADVICE, BRIEF SERVICES, OR EXTENDED REPRESENTATION. RFJ'S INTERDISCIPLINARY MODEL COMBINES COURTROOM ADVOCACY WITH HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT, CONNECTING CLIENTS TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS, MENTAL-HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER SUPPORTS THAT STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM STABILITY.IN FY 2025, RFJ AND ITS PARTNERS REPRESENTED THOUSANDS OF TENANTS CITYWIDE, HELPING FAMILIES AVOID EVICTION, NEGOTIATE FAIR SETTLEMENTS, AND REMAIN SAFELY HOUSED. THROUGH OUTREACH, SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY, AND LITIGATION, THESE PROGRAMS ADDRESS BOTH INDIVIDUAL CRISES AND THE STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES DRIVING DC'S HOUSING EMERGENCY. BY PAIRING LEGAL DEFENSE WITH SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION, RFJ ENSURES THAT DC'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO PRESERVE THEIR HOMES AND REBUILD STABILITY.
  2. $230,503 spent. EXPUNGEMENT & RECORD SEALING: RISING FOR JUSTICE (RFJ) PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO DC RESIDENTS SEEKING TO SEAL OR EXPUNGE CRIMINAL RECORDS. NEARLY 68,000 DC RESIDENTS, DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR, LIVE WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS THAT RESTRICT ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION. BLACK RESIDENTS MAKE UP 43% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION BUT 86% OF ARRESTS, A DISPARITY THAT PERPETUATES CYCLES OF POVERTY AND EXCLUSION.THROUGH ITS CRIMINAL RECORD SEALING PROGRAM, RFJ ASSISTS CLIENTS IN NAVIGATING COMPLEX ELIGIBILITY AND FILING REQUIREMENTS, DRAFTING MOTIONS, COLLECTING DOCUMENTATION, AND PREPARING EVIDENCE OF REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE PROGRAM INTEGRATES LEGAL AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, ENSURING THAT EVERY CLIENT NOT ONLY SECURES RECORD RELIEF BUT ALSO CONNECTS WITH EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND EDUCATION RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM STABILITY. BY COMBINING LEGAL EXPERTISE AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, RFJ HELPS CLIENTS OBTAIN LIFE-CHANGING RELIEF. ONCE RECORDS ARE SEALED, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE MEASURABLE GAINS IN EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME, WITH STUDIES SHOWING AVERAGE WAGE INCREASES OF 22% WITHIN 1 YEAR. THE PROGRAM RESTORES OPPORTUNITY, DIGNITY, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR DC RESIDENTS REBUILDING THEIR LIVES AFTER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
  3. $2.3 million spent. RESPONDENT REPRESENTATION: RISING FOR JUSTICE (RFJ) OPERATES THE RESPONDENT REPRESENTATION PROGRAM (RRP) TO ENSURE DUE PROCESS AND EQUITY IN CIVIL PROTECTION ORDER (CPO) AND ANTI-STALKING ORDER (ASO) CASES IN DC. EACH YEAR, OVER 6,000 OF THESE CASES ARE FILED IN THE DC SUPERIOR COURT. PETITIONERS OFTEN RECEIVE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, WHILE RESPONDENTS, WHO FACE SERIOUS RISKS TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND FAMILY STABILITY, ARE ALMOST ALWAYS UNREPRESENTED. LAUNCHED IN 2018 AT THE REQUEST OF THE DC SUPERIOR COURT, THE RRP ADDRESSES ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN THE CITY'S CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM. JUDGES, ATTORNEY-NEGOTIATORS, AND COURT STAFF CONSISTENTLY AFFIRM THAT WHEN RESPONDENTS HAVE COUNSEL, CASES PROCEED MORE EFFICIENTLY, OUTCOMES ARE FAIRER, AND COMPLIANCE WITH COURT ORDERS IMPROVES, ENHANCING SAFETY FOR ALL PARTIES.RFJ'S SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM AND HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT, PROMOTING FAIRNESS, STABILIZING FAMILIES, PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY SAFETY. THE RRP CONTINUES TO STAND AS ONE OF DC'S FEW REMAINING PATHWAYS TO EQUAL JUSTICE, ENSURING THAT BOTH SIDES IN PROTECTION-ORDER CASES HAVE ACCESS TO COMPETENT REPRESENTATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 December 1980.

    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.