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District of Columbia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Inc

EIN 52-1891162 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DC APPLESEED SOLVES PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE DAILY LIVES OF THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA. SUBSTANTIAL PROBONO LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY AREA LAW FIRMS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
6
Volunteers
91
Highest pay
$188,755, executive dir.

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

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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, 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. $1.8 million spent. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION: DC APPLESEED WORKS TO ENSURE ROBUST DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION BY DC RESIDENTS AT BOTH THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL. WE ARE DETERMINED TO END TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION FOR DC RESIDENTS. TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS AND EXAMINE ELECTORAL REFORM IN DC. WHILE PURSUING STATEHOOD AS THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION, DC APPLESEED SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKS TO ENSURE HOME RULE IS RESPECTED AND THAT DC RESIDENTS MAINTAIN SOME AUTONOMY IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE THROUGH ADVOCACY TRAINING.
  2. $703,772 spent. HEALTH EQUITY AND RACIAL EQUITY: DC APPLESEED IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY IN THE DISTRICT. OUR ANACOSTIA RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT PRIORITIZES SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE CLEAN-UP EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY BENEFITING THE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN WARDS 7 AND 8. THE ANACOSTIA PARKS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY BY EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS FOOD DESERTS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. IN THE GUN SAFETY SPACE, DC APPLESEED WORKS TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNICATION OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS BY ADDRESSING PRIVACY LAW BARRIERS, ENSURING EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION AMONG DC GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. IN 2024, WE WILL TRANSITION OUR 2023 HIV PROJECT TO A BROADER HEALTH EQUITY PROJECT WHICH TACKLES DISPARITIES IN SEXUAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS, ADDRESSING GAPS IN SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THROUGHOUT THESE INITIATIVES, DC APPLESEED ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND EQUITABLE RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, AIMING TO UPLIFT THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
  3. $427,209 spent. ECONOMIC MOBILITY: DC APPLESEED WORKS TO INCREASE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN DC BY IMPROVING CAREER PATHWAYS AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN CRITICAL SECTORS. THROUGH ITS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS ANALYZING HOW TO STRENGTHEN CAREER PATHWAYS, PARTICULARLY IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, WHICH OFFERS LIVING-WAGE JOBS WITHOUT REQUIRING A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE. ADDITIONALLY, DC APPLESEED LEADS THE DC COALITION ON LONG TERM CARE, ADVOCATING FOR BETTER WAGES AND CONDITIONS FOR CARE WORKERS, AND PUSHING FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE DIRECT CARE WORKER AMENDMENT ACT. THESE EFFORTS AIM TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO STABLE, WELL-PAYING JOBS, EMPOWERING RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE GREATER ECONOMIC SECURITY.

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 November 6, 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 June 1995.

    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 November 4, 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.