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Forward Impact

EIN 83-1501685 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REPRESENT JUSTICE TURNS STORIES INTO ACTION TO CHANGE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHILE BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF SYSTEM-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION IS A FAIR LEGAL SYSTEM, DIGNITY FOR SYSTEM-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, AND AN END TO EXTREME SENTENCING AND MASS INCARCERATION.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
14
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$305,129, chief executive officer & treasurer

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

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

    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 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. OUR ORIGINAL STORYTELLING PROGRAM INCLUDES: 1) THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, A 12-MONTH FELLOWSHIP THAT INVESTS DEEPLY IN BUILDING THE PERSONAL STORYTELLING SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP OF SYSTEM-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS; AND 2) A COMMUNITY STORYTELLING INITIATIVE THAT BUILDS CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT DESIRE TO USE STORYTELLING AS A TOOL FOR CULTURE CHANGE. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR PROGRAM, REPRESENT JUSTICE HAS TRAINED 39 AMBASSADORS, AND 10 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, IN NARRATIVE POWER-BUILDING AND FILMMAKING, GENERATING 250,000+ UNIQUE ONLINE VIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL SHORT FILM CONTENT PRODUCED THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
  2. $619,696 spent. OUR FILMS & SERIES PROGRAM PROVIDES PRO-BONO IMPACT CAMPAIGN PARTNERSHIP FOR PROJECTS WITH SYSTEM-IMPACTED FILMMAKERS AT THE HELM. EACH YEAR, WE IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS FOR FILMS THAT ARE HELMED BY FORMERLY INCARCERATED STORYTELLERS. THIS GIVES THE STORYTELLERS ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, STRATEGY, AND SUPPORT TO MOBILIZE AUDIENCES IN WAYS THAT FURTHER THEIR WORK AND CREATES PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MOVEMENT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SINCE 2019, WE HAVE LED NATIONAL IMPACT CAMPAIGNS FOR SEVEN FEATURE FILMS THAT ADDRESS PRESSING ISSUES IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. OUR FILM CAMPAIGNS TEAM HAS PRODUCED 1,200+ SCREENINGS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EDUCATING 60,000+ AUDIENCES ON ISSUES OF MASS INCARCERATION.
  3. $190,465 spent. OUR SPEAKERS BUREAU SHOWCASES THE ECOSYSTEM OF SYSTEM-IMPACTED LEADERS WHO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REPRESENT JUSTICE TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THE BUREAU IS AN ENGINE OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR DOZENS OF INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM WHO ARE FACING NUMEROUS BARRIERS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO LIVING WAGE JOBS. THIS INVESTMENT IN THE CREATIVES WE WORK WITH HELPS ACCELERATE THEIR GROWTH AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AS PUBLIC-FACING LEADERS IN THE JUSTICE MOVEMENT.

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 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 2024.

    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 2018.

    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.

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