Public Justice Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PUBLIC JUSTICE CENTER (PJC) PURSUES SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO BUILD A JUST SOCIETY. (SEE SCHEDULE O)THE PJC USES LEGAL ADVOCACY TOOLS TO PURSUE SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC AND RACE EQUITY, AND FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR BASIC NEEDS. THE PJC IS A NONPROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS LAW FIRM THAT PROVIDES ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES, ADVOCATES BEFORE LEGISLATURES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS. THE PJC CHOOSES PROJECTS AND CASES THAT WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SYSTEMS, LAWS, AND POLICIES.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $180,459, legal director & interim ed as of 12/1/24
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 30, 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 (4)
- $1.5 million spent. THE HUMAN RIGHT TO HOUSING PROJECT STANDS WITH TENANTS TO PROTECT AND EXPAND THEIR RIGHT TO SAFE, HABITABLE, AFFORDABLE, AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY HOUSING AND THEIR RIGHT TO FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT BY MARYLAND'S LANDLORD-TENANT LAWS, COURTS, AND AGENCIES. WE DEFEND RENTERS FACING EVICTION, DEMAND REPAIR OF UNSAFE HOUSING CONDITIONS, AND REPRESENT RENTERS SEEKING SYSTEMIC RELIEF FROM PREDATORY LANDLORD PRACTICES. WE PARTNER WITH TENANTS, TENANT ORGANIZERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES TO THE LAW TO FURTHER HOUSING JUSTICE TO DEMAND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
- $768,459 spent. THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR A CIVIL RIGHT TO COUNSEL (NCCRC) WORKS TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE COUNSEL WHEN FACING THE LOSS OF THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS IN THE CIVIL LEGAL SYSTEM, SUCH AS HOUSING, CHILD CUSTODY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CIVIL INCARCERATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE WORK NATIONALLY ACROSS THREE INTERCONNECTED STRATEGIC AREAS - TECHNICAL SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH-TO SECURE A CIVIL RIGHT TO COUNSEL, ADVANCE COLLECTIVE POWER, AND PARTNER WITH DIRECTLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES ON SOLUTIONS.
- $688,616 spent. THE WORKPLACE JUSTICE PROJECT ADVANCES JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR MARYLAND WORKERS BY DEFENDING AND EXPANDING WORKERS' RIGHTS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF WORKER POWER. WE FOCUS ON LOW-WAGE, HIGH-VIOLATION INDUSTRIES WHERE BLACK AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS PREDOMINATE AND COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WE SERVE DETERMINE OUR PRIORITIES. WE PROVIDE KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS EDUCATION TO EMPOWER AND LEARN FROM WORKERS, REPRESENT WORKERS IN WAGE-THEFT AND OTHER LITIGATION, AND ADVOCATE TO CHANGE POLICIES THAT MAINTAIN RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUITY.
- $926,695 spent. THE HEALTH AND BENEFITS EQUITY PROJECT ADVOCATES TO PROTECT AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY NET SERVICES FOR MARYLANDERS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE SUPPORT POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE RACIAL AND ETHNIC INEQUITIES AND ENABLE EVERY MARYLANDER TO ATTAIN THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF HEALTH.THE EDUCATION STABILITY PROJECT SEEKS TO ADVANCE RACE EQUITY, IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND PREVENT STUDENT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY COMBATTING THE ILLEGAL AND EXCESSIVE USE OF SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, AND OTHER FORMS OF SCHOOL PUSHOUT THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGET BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS. WE ENVISION A SCHOOL SYSTEM IN WHICH DIRECTLY-IMPACTED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE EMPOWERED TO BUILD SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL.THE APPELLATE ADVOCACY PROJECT ADVOCATES IN APPELLATE COURTS TO INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND POVERTY LAW. WE REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CASES CAN REFORM THE LAW AND WRITE FRIEND-OF-THE-COURT BRIEFS (ALSO KNOWN AS AMICUS BRIEFS) IN APPEALS TO HELP JUDGES UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR DECISIONS ON PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.THE PRISONERS' RIGHTS PROJECT AIMS TO ELIMINATE PRETRIAL DETENTION TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE; TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS THAT DISRUPT AND DESTABILIZE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES; AND TO END PRETRIAL PRACTICES THAT HAVE A DISPARATE IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 February 1985.
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 November 4, 2026.
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