Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Arts for Healing and Justice Network

EIN 81-4365547 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AHJN IS AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING STRUCTURE AND COORDINATION FOR THE COLLABORATIVE WORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED ARTS EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS SERVING SYSTEM-IMPACTED YOUTH IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION, BUILD RESILIENCY AND WELLNESS.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.1 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
17
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$124,400, executive director

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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% 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 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (6)
  1. $2.7 million spent. MEMBERS PROGRAMMINGTHIS ENCOMPASSES ARTS PROGRAMMING PROVIDED BY AHJN'S MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. THIS MAINLY CONSISTS OF 12-WEEK CYCLES ROTATING AMONG THE DIFFERENT SECURE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, BOTH THE CAMPS (LONG-TERM) AND THE HALLS (SHORT TERM).MEMBERS PROGRAMMING REPRESENTS AHJN'S CORE WORK OF SUPPORTING THE DELIVERY OF HEALING-INFORMED ARTS TO YOUTH, WHERE OUR 22 MEMBER AGENCIES SERVE SYSTEM-IMPACTED YOUTH IN LOS ANGELES (L.A.) COUNTY, PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY-ARTS EDUCATION THAT INCLUDES CREATIVE WRITING, SPOKEN WORD, VISUAL ARTS, THEATER, DIGITAL MEDIA, DANCE, AND MUSIC. AHJN'S CORE WORK REMAINS PROVIDING YEAR-ROUND, HEALING-INFORMED ARTS ENGAGEMENT TO YOUTH AND YOUTH-SERVING ADULTS IN DETENTION FACILITIES, PARKS, HOUSING SITES, AND SCHOOL-BASED SETTINGS ACROSS LA COUNTY. AHJN IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING YEAR-AROUND ARTS PROGRAMMING AT 47 DIFFERENT SITES, REACHING AN ESTIMATED 1,800 YOUTH/YEAR.
  2. $246,593 spent. YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTCURRENTLY, AHJN'S PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE CORE ELEMENTS FOR WHICH FUNDING IS SOUGHT: OUR TRUE COLORS AND YOUTH FELLOWSHIPS AND CAPTSTONES.OUR TRUE COLORS: THE OUR TRUE COLORS SPACE, EXCLUSIVELY FOR SYSTEMS-IMPACTED YOUNG PEOPLE, IS AN ARTS-CENTERED HEALING SPACE. IT INCLUDES LIFE SKILLS CLASSES (SUCH AS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND PERSONAL BUDGETING), FIELD TRIPS-TO PERFORMANCES, CULTURAL EVENTS, AND OUR MEMBERS EVENTS AND SPACES-AND ART-MAKING. AHJN'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, LOW-RISK, ENGAGING PEER SPACE AS A "LANDING PAD" FOR YOUTH RETURNING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. OUR TRUE COLORS HAS A SHARED, YOUTH-DEFINED RUBRIC FOR MEETING PERSONAL GOALS OF PARTICIPATION, COMMUNICATION, AND COMMUNITY.
  3. $207,487 spent. ADVOCACYAHJN SUPPORTS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTS AS A PRACTICE TO CHANGE SYSTEMS. IN ADVOCATING FOR A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT APPROACH, AHJN IS PROVIDING ADVOCACY FELLOWSHIPS FOR YOUTH WHO ARE RETURNING TO L.A. COMMUNITIES THROUGH PAID LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENGAGE DIRECTLY-IMPACTED YOUTH IN USING ARTS TO ARTICULATE THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVES AND PRIORITIES AROUND NEEDED SYSTEMIC CHANGE. AHJN STRIVES TO "CONNECT THE DOTS" BETWEEN DIRECT SERVICE AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE. AHJN DOES THIS BY CONNECTING ADVOCACY TO THOSE MOST IMPACTED-CENTERING ARTS AND ART-MAKING AS A WAY TO BUILD COMMUNITY. PARTNERSHIP, AND RESILIENCE IN SYSTEMS-CHANGE WORK AND WITHIN THE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK ITESELF, AND USING THE ARTS TO SHIFT HOW PEOPLE SEE EACH OTHER TO INCREASE EMPATHY AND SOLIDARITY. ADVOCACY PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED THE CREATE JUSTICE NATIONAL THINK TANK SERIES OF FORUMS, WHICH ELEVATED THE INTERSECTION OF ARTS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM. THIS INVOLVED CO-HOSTING AND PLANNING THE FORUM, AND SUPPORTING THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF A COHORT OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO ATTEND, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATION EFFORTS (INCLUDING DEVELOPING AND LAUNCHING A WEBSITE) FOR THE INITIATIVE. ALSO INCLUDED IN AHJN'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS WORK SUPPORTING THE NEWLY EMERGED DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN L.A. COUNTY. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN COUNTY-WIDE YOUTH SUMMITS AND FORUMS AIMED AT RE-DESIGNING THE CURRENT YOUTH INCARCERATION SYSTEM, AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE FOR AND PERSPECTIVE ON THE NEED FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, RATHER THAN INCARCERATION. AHJN IS A COORDINATING MEMBER OF LOS ANGELES YOUTH UPRISING COALITION A KEY PARTNER IN ADVANCING YOUTH JUSTICE REIMAGINED IN LA COUNTY. YOUTH HAVE ATTENDED MEETINGS, FACILITATED WORKSHOPS, AND BEEN ON PANELS AS PART OF THIS EFFORT.
  4. $76,366 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND REPLICATION
  5. $112,110 spent. MEMBERS CAPACITY BUILDING
  6. $149,004 spent. SIERRA EYC

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 2017.

    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.