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Nacdl Foundaton for Criminal Jusitce

EIN 52-2289169 · 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

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE CORE VALUES OF AMERICA'S JUSTICE SYSTEM GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION - AMONG THEM DUE PROCESS, FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE, FAIR SENTENCING AND ASSISTANCE OF EFFECTIVE COUNSEL - BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION TO THE ROLE OF THESE RIGHTS AND VALUES IN A FREE SOCIETY. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS TOWARD THESE ENDS.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
0
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$374,220, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 25

    14 of 14 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 September 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. $1.2 million spent. FOURTH AMENDMENT CENTER: THE NACDL FOURTH AMENDMENT CENTER ("THE CENTER") WAS ESTABLISHED TO SAFEGUARD THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES EMBODIED IN THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM UNREASONABLE GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, SEARCHES, AND SEIZURES IN THE DIGITAL AGE. NEW TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS GPS TRACKING DEVICES; AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS, BIOMETRIC SURVEILLANCE, INCLUDING FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY; AND A WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT FOSTER THE COLLECTION OF BULK DATA THREATEN TO UNDERMINE BASIC PRIVACY RIGHTS. THE CENTER BUILDS ON NACDL'S STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO LIMIT UNREASONABLY INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT CONDUCT THROUGH THE UNIQUE CAPACITY OF THE NATION'S DEFENSE BAR TO CHALLENGE THE LIMITS OF GOVERNMENT CONDUCT IN THE CONTEXT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS. THE CENTER MAINTAINS AN INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING CORE RESOURCES TO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS AND THEIR CLIENTS: (1) ADVANCED EDUCATION ON EMERGING ISSUES AT THE INTERSECTION OF TECHNOLOGY, PRIVACY, AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS; (2) A DYNAMIC TOOLKIT OF RESOURCES TO HELP LAWYERS IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE; AND (3) A TACTICAL LITIGATION SUPPORT TO ASSIST IN CASES THAT PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT INFRINGE ON THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
  2. $329,261 spent. FIRST STEP ACT RESOURCE CENTER: THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO DEFENSE COUNSEL, RECRUIT PRO BONO COUNSEL, SUBMIT AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS, AND EDUCATE POLICYMAKERS TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRST STEP ACT PROVIDES THE BROADEST POSSIBLE RELIEF TO LONG-SERVING FEDERAL PRISONERS. THIS INCLUDES EFFORTS TO SECURE RE-SENTENCING OR COMPASSIONATE RELEASE AND TO ENSURE THAT EARNED TIME CREDITS, WHICH CAN REDUCE A PRISONER'S TIME IN CUSTODY, ARE AVAILABLE AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE.
  3. $320,986 spent. ARNOLD VENTURES COUNSEL AT FIRST APPEARANCE: THE EARLY AND CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO COUNSEL IN VIRGINIA PROJECT EVALUATES THE LOGISTICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPACTS OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO COUNSEL STARTING AT INITIAL APPEARANCE. THE WORK INCLUDES A FOURJURISDICTION RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL (RCT) PILOT THAT WILL COLLECT DATA ON THE SHORT- AND LONGER-TERM EFFECTS OF ACCESS TO COUNSEL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN CUSTODY AT INITIAL APPEARANCE. AREAS OF STUDY INCLUDE EFFECTS ON PRETRIAL RELEASE, APPEARANCE RATES, CASE OUTCOMES, AND CLIENT SATISFACTION AND PERCEPTIONS. THE PILOT WILL BE COMPLIMENTED BY A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN THAT WILL ELEVATE DIRECTLY IMPACTED VOICES AND EXPERIENCES ALONG SIDE THE PILOT PROJECT DATA TO CREATE AND SHARE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ON THE VALUE OF EARLY ACCESS TO COUNSEL.
  4. $903,897 spent. GENERAL SUPPORT; CLEMENCY PROJECT; RETURN TO FREEDOM; FEDERAL TRIAL PENALTY; STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY; CRIMINALIZATION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH; TRIAL PENALTY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 2025.

    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 May 2001.

    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.

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.