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Common Justice

EIN 82-0993366 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COMMON JUSTICE DEVELOPS AND ADVANCES SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENT CRIME THAT TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THOSE HARMED AND FOSTER RACIAL EQUITY WITHOUT RELYING ON INCARCERATION. LOCALLY, WE OPERATE THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE-TO-INCARCERATION AND VICTIM SERVICE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES THAT FOCUSES ON VIOLENT FELONIES IN THE ADULT COURTS. NATIONALLY, WE LEVERAGE THE LESSONS FROM OUR DIRECT SERVICE TO TRANSFORM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, ADVOCACY, AND ELEVATING THE EXPERIENCE AND POWER OF THOSE MOST IMPACTED. RIGOROUS AND HOPEFUL, WE BUILD PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HARM, BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE, AND SECURE SAFETY, HEALING AND JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$7.4 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
16.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 67%
Employees
50
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$226,274, executive director & presi

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 60% of charities in its peer group (social science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (4)
  1. $3.0 million spent. DIRECT SERVICES - WE OPERATED A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION AND VICTIM SERVICE PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIME AND THOSE THEY HARM IN BROOKLYN, THE BRONX, AND MANHATTAN. OUR WORK DEMONSTRATED THAT PARTICIPATORY, NON-PRISON-BASED RESPONSES TO VIOLENT CRIME CAN: BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE BY PROVIDING DIGNIFIED PATHWAYS TO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR HARM AND MEANINGFUL PATHWAYS TO HEALING FOR THOSE HARMED; IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF CRIME SURVIVORS AND PROVIDE AND FOR MORE EQUITABLE SERVICES FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR AND OTHER UNDER-SERVED SURVIVORS; AVERT THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES; AND INCREASE PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE OF FAIRNESS AND SAFETY IN THE AFTERMATH OF HARM.
  2. $989,341 spent. ADVOCACY - COMMON JUSTICE RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT NEW YORK STATE'S VICTIM COMPENSATION PROGRAM IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO ACCESS THAT SURVIVORS FACE. WE EXPANDED AWARENESS THAT SURVIVORS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO REPORT THEIR HARM TO THE POLICE IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED TO ELIMINATE THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTORY CONDUCT POLICY, WHICH BARS SURVIVORS FROM RECEIVING VICTIM COMPENSATION IF THEY OR THE LOVED ONE THEY LOST TO VIOLENCE ARE DEEMED TO HAVE HAD A HAND IN THEIR OWN HARM. THE ORGANIZING TEAM ALSO WORKED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY MEDIA OUTLETS REPORT ON CRIME, VIOLENCE AND SAFETY.
  3. $1.1 million spent. PARTNERSHIPS & TRAINING - COMMON JUSTICE WORKED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR INTERVENTIONS ARE POSSIBLE AND CAN BE SUCCESSFUL, CREATING SPACE FOR OTHERS TO DO SIMILAR WORK ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR REPLICATION AND EXPANSION BY BUILDING NATIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE VIOLENCE IS A CENTRAL CONCERN. WE ASSESSED POTENTIAL SITES THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS THAT CONSIDERED ALIGNMENT WITH OUR PRINCIPLES AND KEY STRUCTURAL FACTORS. BASED ON THAT ASSESSMENT, WE ENGAGED PARTNERS AT VARYING LEVELS, RANGING FROM FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR MODEL TO BROADER FIELD-BUILDING EFFORTS.
  4. $844,786 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - COMMON JUSTICE WORKED TO SHIFT PUBLIC NARRATIVES ABOUT VIOLENCE BY CENTERING THE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF SURVIVORS AND THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. WE USED MEDIA ENGAGEMENT, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND CREATIVE PROJECTS TO INFLUENCE HOW VIOLENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE DISCUSSED. OUR MESSAGING IS PRESENT ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF PLATFORMS AND AUDIENCES, AIMING TO REFRAME PUBLIC DISCOURSE AROUND SAFETY, PUNISHMENT, AND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION.

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 October 13, 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 June 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 October 21, 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.