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Minnesota Justice Research Center

EIN 82-2943734 · Roseville, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MINNESOTA JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER (MNJRC) IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO DRIVING MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO MINNESOTA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THROUGH RIGOROUS AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT. WE SEEK A CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY BY BEING MORE EQUITABLE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND RESTORATIVE IN DELIVERING JUSTICE. THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT, THE MINNESOTA JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER HELPS OUR COMMUNITY CREATE A CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT ADVANCES JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR ALL.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$141,358, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 94% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $801,162 spent. THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT, THE MINNESOTA JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER HELPS OUR COMMUNITY CREATE A CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT ADVANCES JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR ALL.MNJRC'S MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024 INCLUDING RELEASING THE FOLLOWING REPORTS: PRETRIAL BEST PRACTICES PRELIMINARY REPORT: THE NEED FOR BETTER AND MORE DATA, FROM THE BLOCK TO THE BALLOT 2.0: FOCUSING LOCALLY AND PILOTING A RELATIONAL APPROACH AND BREAKING GROUND: COMMUNITY SUPERVISION REFORMS IN MINNESOTA AND NATIONWIDE. THOSE REPORTS WERE THE MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS BOTH FOR OUR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SIDE OF OUR WORK. WE DEVELOPED POLICIES FROM THOSE REPORTS AND ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE
  2. $83,399 spent. WE EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THROUGH REPORTING CONVENING AND OTHER EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS. OUR ANNUAL REIMAGINING JUSTICE CONFERENCE IS THE MAIN WAY WE DO THIS. THE CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS LEGAL EXPERTS SCHOLARS ADVOCATES AND PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM TO REIMAGINE A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT FUNCTIONS MORE EFFECTIVELY HUMANELY AND WITH THE PUBLIC'S TRUST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 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.