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Civil Rights Corps

EIN 81-3422012 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY A COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES HARMED BY POLICING, SURVEILLANCE, INCARCERATION, DISCRIMINATION, AND THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY. WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF CRIMES, PEOPLE CURRENTLY AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED, THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS ORGANIZERS, POLICY ORGANIZATIONS, CONTINUED IN SCH O

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
15.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
40
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$209,888, ceo

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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, 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 (1)
  1. $5.6 million spent. CRC HAS CHALLENGED PRETRIAL DETENTION, CASH BAIL, FINES AND FEES, DEBTORS PRISONS, MASS SUPERVISION AND SURVEILLANCE, CORPORATE PROFITEERING, BRUTALITY, FAMILY SEPARATION, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PUNISHMENT BUREAUCRACY THAT OPPRESS POOR PEOPLE AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. THE GOALS OF THIS WORK HAVE CENTERED ON REDUCING THE SIZE AND POWER OF CARCERAL BUREAUCRACIES REDUCING THE ABILITY OF CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS TO PROFIT OFF OF CAGING PEOPLE PREVENTING FAMILY SEPARATION INCREASING FAIRNESS, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE IN THE SYSTEM AND REIMAGINING HEALTH AND SAFETY. THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS MOST FUNDAMENTAL CLAIM IS THAT IT BRINGS ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN SOMEONE HAS BROKEN THE LAW. ANYONE WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN THE SYSTEM QUICKLY REALIZES THIS FORM OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY SOUGHT AGAINST POOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR. CONTINUED IN SCH O PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS CONTINUATION BUT THE INCONSISTENT WAY THE LAW IS APPLIED IS EVEN CLEARER WHEN ONE EXAMINES RULE-BREAKING BY PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES. WHEN PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES BREAK THE RULES-EVEN WHEN IT IS PUBLICLY DISCOVERED-THERE IS RARELY ANY CONSEQUENCE. CRC WORKS CLOSELY WITH LAW PROFESSORS AND OTHER EXPERTS TO FILE-AND DEVELOP PUBLIC NARRATIVE WORK AROUND-DISCIPLINARY COMPLAINTS AGAINST SYSTEM ACTORS WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER-BE IT A JUDGE WHO SYSTEMICALLY IGNORES EXPLICIT DIRECTIVES FROM HIGHER COURTS NOT TO IMPOSE WEALTH-BASED DETENTION WITHOUT CONSIDERING LESS RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVES, OR A PROSECUTOR WHO INTENTIONALLY CONCEALS EXCULPATORY INFORMATION IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF THEIR BRADY OBLIGATIONS. BY EXERTING PRESSURE AND IMPOSING CONSEQUENCES ON THOSE WITH THE MOST POWER IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM FOR INJUSTICES AGAINST THOSE WITH THE LEAST, WE SEEK TO DETER SUCH MISCONDUCT IN THE FUTURE WHILE ALSO PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON THE EVERYDAY HARMS WROUGHT BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM. CRCS STORYTELLING WORK IS CENTERED ON THE HUMANITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY THE INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICES IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM. WE STRIVE TO ENLIGHTEN AND EDUCATE AUDIENCES NATIONWIDE ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS. OUR WORK IS GROUNDED IN THE BELIEF THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND STORIES INVITE DEEPER CONNECTIONS AND FOSTER GREATER UNDERSTANDING. BY UTILIZING TRADITIONAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND BOTH SHORT AND LONG-FORM CONTENT, WE ENGAGE A WIDE SPECTRUM OF AUDIENCES TO EXPLORE THE CORE ISSUES OF OUR WORK. CRCS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM USES ART AND ARTISTS TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE AROUND THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMERGING CREATIVE LEADERS TO BLEND THEIR TALENTS WITH THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION. THEY EACH PRODUCE VITAL AND VIVID WORKS THAT COMMUNICATE THE HUMANITY OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE AND SHED LIGHT ON THE TOLL THE UNJUST PRACTICES IN THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM TAKE ON THE BODIES AND MINDS OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED PEOPLE, THEIR LOVED ONES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES. ARTISTS, POETS, MUSICIANS, AND OTHER CREATIVES SHARE STORIES, SHINE A LIGHT ON THE PAST, AND IMAGINE NEW FUTURES.

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

  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 December 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 November 2016.

    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.