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Project Return Inc

EIN 62-1058325 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON ARE TYPICALLY STIGMATIZED, OVERLOOKED, AND PIGEONHOLED BY SOCIETY. WHEN THEY WALK(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)INTO PROJECT RETURN, THEY DISCOVER THAT HERE THEY ARE VALUED, HEARD, AND ENCOURAGED. WHILE REDUCTION OF INCARCERATION AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CONTINUES TO ELUDE THE U.S., PROJECT RETURN SERVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION. PROJECT RETURN IS SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESSFUL NEW BEGINNINGS OF PEOPLE RETURNING TO OUR COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION. NOW IN ITS 45TH YEAR OF SERVICE TO TENNESSEE, PROJECT RETURN PROVIDES REENTRY ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN EACH YEAR.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
-22.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 49%
Employees
300
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$153,334, ceo

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

Weak: 27 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (3)
  1. $1.4 million spent. JOB READINESS PROGRAM AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES: EVERY WEEK, PROJECT RETURN CONDUCTS A 2.5-DAY COURSE THAT EQUIPS OUR PARTICIPANTS WITH THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORKPLACE. FOR PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON AND RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SKILLS, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, AND OPORTUNITIES TO FIND AND KEEP A JOB. OUR CURRICULUM INCORPORATES FINANCIAL LITERACY, RELAPSE PREVENTION, AND DIGITAL LITERACY. COMPLETION OF OUR JOB READINESS CLASSES LEADS TO A STRUCTURED DAY OF INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING RESUME DEVELOPMENT, MOCK INTERVIEWING, AND JOB SEARCH PLANNING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DURING CLASS COMPLETION DAY, PROJECT RETURN STAFF EVALUATES AND ADDRESS PARTICIPANTS' IMMEDIATE, CRITICAL NEEDS, PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SUCH AS: PURCHASING BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND PHOTO IDS; HOUSING ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF REFERRALS; PAYING FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND VISION EXAMS; BUS PASSES AND FOOD BAGS; AND TOOLS AND CLOTHING FOR WORK. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AT PROJECT RETURN INCLUDE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES, JOB RETENTION SERVICES, HARD SKILLS TRAINING COURSES, AND AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM.
  2. $308,631 spent. PRO HOUSING: THE TYPICAL HOUSING TRAJECTORY WE SEE FOR OUR PEOPLE IS THAT THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO RESIDE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THEIR RELEASE, BUT IT EVENTUALLY COMES TO AN END AND THEY MUST LOOK FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS EARN SATISFACTORY WAGES AND ARE RELIABLE TAXPAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STIGMA OFTEN LEADS TO EXCLUSION FROM THE PRIVATE MARKET, AS LANDLORDS ARE FREE TO USE CONVICTION HISTORY AS A BASIS FOR REJECTING THEIR APPLICATIONS. IT CAN BE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET ON A LEASE, DESPITE THEIR STEADY INCOME, SOLID REFERENCES, CAREFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND OVERALL WHEREWITHAL. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ADDITIONALLY, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO PRISON JUST ONCE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AT A RATE 7 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHILE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED MULTIPLE TIMES EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AT A RATE 13 TIMES HIGHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN INCARCERATED AT ALL. RECOGNIZING THIS SEVERE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH A CONVICTION HISTORY, AND FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF PROE PROJECT RETURN LAUNCHED ITS SECOND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, PROH (PROJECT RETURN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING), IN 2017. THROUGH PROH, PROJECT RETURN ACQUIRES AND REHABS MODEST, SCATTERED-SITE (ANTI-ENCLAVE), MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO RENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME THROUGH PROJECT RETURN'S PROGRAMS. SINCE LAUNCH IN 2017, PROJECT RETURN HAS PURCHASED AND REHABBED 38 UNITS (DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES) IN SITES SCATTERED ACROSS NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA FOR RENT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADING SUCCESSFUL NEW LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION. SPEAKING TO THE SUCCESS OF PROH, RECIDIVISM RATES OF OUR PROH TENANTS IS 3% AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF OPERATION. BY PROVIDING SAFE, STABLE, PERMANENT HOUSING, INDIVIDUALS CAN LEAD PRODUCTIVE, SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND LEAVE PRISON BEHIND.
  3. $1.7 million spent. PRO EMPLOYMENT (PROE) AND PRO PROPERTY SOLUTIONS (PROPS): DESPITE INCREASING AWARENESS AND WILLINGNESS OF EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH CONVICTION HISTORIES, THERE IS STILL TREMENDOUS RELUCTANCE TO HIRE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION. PROJECT RETURN OFFERS INNOVATIVE, EMPLOYMENT-CREATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AS A SOLUTION. PROE (PROJECT RETURN OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT), LAUNCHED IN 2013, FUNCTIONS AS A TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN INCARCERATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH PROE, PROJECT RETURN HIRES ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS TEMPORARILY AND PLACES THEM IN JOBS ON THE WORKSITES OF PARTNERING EMPLOYERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THOSE COMPANIES GAIN MUCH-NEEDED WORKERS, WHILE PROJECT RETURN'S MOTIVATED JOB SEEKERS GAIN AN IMMEDIATE INCOME AND VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE, PROPELLING THEM INTO LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT. PROJECT RETURN OUTFITS THEM FOR THE JOB, AND PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYEES WITH JOB COACHING, TRAINING, TRANSPORTATION, AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT. THROUGH PROE, OUR PARTICIPANTS GAIN REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB, AS WELL AS OUR INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND FEEDBACK, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PROJECT RETURN GENERATES EARNED INCOME FOR THE OPERATION AND GROWTH OF THIS EMPLOYMENT-CREATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE.

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

  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 June 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 July 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 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.