Just Economics
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to educate, advocate and organize for a more just and sustainable local economy that works for all in Western North Carolina.
- Income
- $412,266
- Spending
- $423,803
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $78,920, 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
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $311,207 spent. In 2025, Just Economics: - Successfully advocated for higher wages for the lowest paid workers at the City of Asheville - Graduated a virtual class and in person class of Voices for Economic Justice - Facilitated 4 Poverty Simulations - Certified 30 employers new to the Living Wage Certification program and secured $346,000 in raises given to meet our living wage standards during certification and recertification
- - Hosted employer networking events and certified the first employer in Western North Carolina to be dual certified by both Just Economics and Living Wage for US - Co-led the Buncombe Affordable Housing Network - Engaged in statewide disaster recovery efforts and engaged in the Buncombe County Long Term Recovery group, with our Executive Director chairing the Housing Committee and serving on the Steering Committee - Hosted a Transit Rider input session and collected feedback from transit riders for the City of Ashevilles Comprehensive Operations Analysis
- - Led Asheville Regional Transit Coalitions - Hosted a screening of the film Partners, led the WNC Workers Assembly and helped to coordinate a large May Day event in Asheville - Successfully advocated for the City of Brevard to raise their lowest paid staff to the latest living wage rate, launched the state of work survey in Transylvania County, partnered with Sparkpoint and led the Living Wage Coalition of Transylvania County
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
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 December 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 July 2002.
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.
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.