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Chainless Change Inc

EIN 83-3657191 · Lauderhill, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO RUN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE SELF SUFFICIENCY AND PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH ADVOCACY, PEER SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, TRAINING, ETC.

Income
$894,006
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
10
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$128,077, president

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (1)
  1. $990,117 spent. AS CHAINLESS CHANGE EVOLVES, WE'VE RECOGNIZED THAT SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE OUR FOCUS. WHILE SERVICE PROVISION HAS VALUE, IT WILL NOT LEAD US TO COLLECTIVE LIBERATION. MOVING FORWARD, OUR WORK WILL BE ORGANIZED INTO THREE DISTINCT PILLARS-COLLECTIVE CARE, COMMUNITY-BUILDING, AND CAMPAIGNS & ADVOCACY-EACH DESIGNED TO STABILIZE OUR MEMBERS, BUILD POWER, AND DRIVE SYSTEMIC CHANGE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS. PRESSING NEEDS AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE MANY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES OUTLINED THROUGH THE "THREE C" FRAMEWORK BELOW, OUR NEEDS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND GROW. AS YOU CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN BEST SUPPORT OUR WORK IN 2025, OUR MOST PRESSING NEEDS INCLUDE: EXPANDING OUR TEAM: TO REDUCE OUR CURRENT POWER WAITLIST AND MEET THIS MOMENT WITH INCREASED ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT WORK, WE MUST IMPLEMENT AN INTERDISCIPLINARY CARE TEAM MODEL. THIS WILL REQUIRE HIRING SPECIALIZED NAVIGATORS IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, AND HEALTH, ALONG WITH A TARGETED CASE MANAGER. THE COST OF HIRING, ONBOARDING, TRAINING, AND SUSTAINING THIS TEAM IS PROJECTED TO BE 325,000 ANNUALLY. IMPLEMENTING NEW SOFTWARE: TO BETTER TRACK AND MONITOR PROGRAMMATIC OUTCOMES, WE NEED NEW, CUSTOMIZABLE SOFTWARE TO REPLACE OUR CURRENT TOOL, APRICOT SOCIAL SOLUTIONS. WE ARE EXPLORING EXPONENT CASE MANAGEMENT AS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THE CUSTOM BUILD, IMPLEMENTATION, AND TECH SUPPORT FOR THIS TOOL WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 65,000, WITH AN ANNUAL LICENSING FEE OF 10,000 THEREAFTER. ?OUTFITS RV RESTOCKING: WITH THAT SAID, THE COST OF SUSTAINING OUTFITS IN 2025 WILL BE HIGH, AND WE KNOW IT MUST BE A FOCAL POINT OF OUR FUNDRAISING AND IN-KIND DONATION COLLECTION EFFORTS. HAVING HELD JUST FOUR OUTFITS EVENTS THUS FAR, WE HAVE ALREADY DISTRIBUTED SIX MONTHS OF CLOTHING DONATIONS. WE MUST ALSO COMPENSATE TWO FULL-TIME STAFF AND TWO STIPEND- BASED MEMBERS DURING ALL HOURS OUTFITS OPERATES. WE ALSO FUND STAFF TIME FOR PROCURING, STOCKING, AND INVENTORYING SUPPLIES, CLEANING AND MAINTAINING THE UNIT, REFUELING, AND DRIVING IT FROM PLACE TO PLACE. OUTFITS ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS: ALIGNED WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE, WE MUST CONVERT THE BATHROOM FLOORING IN OUTFITS TO TILE, REPLACE THE CARPET IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND PROVIDE REINFORCEMENT FOR THE EXISTING CLOSET. WHILE THIS WILL COST ABOUT 30,000, IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES CAN ACCESS THE UNIT (AND IT WILL ALLOW US TO BETTER CLEAN IT BETWEEN USES). COMMUNITY-BASED LEGAL ADVOCACY (CBLA): ONE OF OUR NEWEST INITIATIVES, CBLA WILL EQUIP JUSTICE-INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LEGAL SELF-HELP INFORMATION, TOOLS FOR SELF-ADVOCACY AND COLLECTIVE ACTION, KNOWLEDGE TO OFFER SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, BOND SUPPORT (FOR MEMBERS), AND ASSISTANCE WITH LAWYERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH ATTORNEYS AND OTHER LEGAL PROFESSIONALS TO PURSUE FAIRER COURTROOM OUTCOMES. TO SUPPORT THE ROLLOUT OF CBLA, WE NEED COLLECTIVE CARE PEERS OPTIMISTICALLY WORKING TO END RECIDIVISM (POWER) POWER IS A PEER-LED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES LIFE-SUSTAINING RESOURCES AND REFERRALS TO APPROXIMATELY 200 MEMBERS YEARLY THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED REENTRY AND RECOVERY (R&R) PLANS TAILORED TO EACH MEMBER'S NEEDS. THESE PLANS ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (SDOH), TARGETING THE ROOT CAUSES OF REARREST, RELAPSE, CRISES, AND MORTALITY. TO COMPLEMENT THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE, OUR PEERS RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH: ECONOMIC STABILITY: WE HELP MEMBERS SECURE EMPLOYMENT OR ACCESS ENTITLEMENTS LIKE SNAP, SSI/SSD, AND HOUSING VOUCHERS. MUTUAL AID RESOURCES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE, ALLEVIATE FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS THAT COULD LEAD TO SURVIVAL CRIMES. EDUCATION ACCESS: WE CONNECT MEMBERS WITH EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. HEALTHCARE ACCESS: WE PROVIDE HARM REDUCTION INFORMATION, CONNECT MEMBERS TO INSURANCE AND LOW-COST HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, MAKE REFERRALS, AND COVER CO-PAYS OR MEDICATION COSTS AS NEEDED. HOUSING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT: WE OFFER SUPPORT WITH DOWN PAYMENTS, APPLICATION FEES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, EVICTION PREVENTION MEASURES, AND RECOVERY-BASED HOUSING. WE ALSO OFFER BUS PASSES AND LEGAL SUPPORT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. SOCIAL & COMMUNITY: WE PROMOTE SOCIAL COHESION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES AND POLITICAL EDUCATION SESSIONS. LEGAL NEEDS: WE PROVIDE LEGAL SUPPORT WITH FINES, FEES, PROBATION, PENDING CASES, AND LEGAL CRISES TO HELP REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES AND PROMOTE MEMBER STABILITY. UPDATES/SUCCESSES: POWER HAS SUPPORTED OVER 800 PEOPLE SINCE 2019, WITH AN ANNUAL RECIDIVISM RATE BELOW 15% (COMPARED TO 65% NATIONALLY). HOWEVER, THE DAY-TO-DAY FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS HAS LIMITED OUR BASE-BUILDING AND LONG-TERM SYSTEMS CHANGE EFFORTS, PROMPTING THE DECISION TO MOVE TOWARD THE CARE TEAM MODEL. OUTFITS MOBILE OUTREACH A NEW MEMBER-LED INITIATIVE OFFERING RESOURCES FOR AT LEAST 400 GUESTS ANNUALLY, OUTFITS WILL MEET THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF NEWLY RELEASED RETURNING CITIZENS AND THOSE AT HIGH RISK OF ARREST. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND CLOTHING, HOT MEALS, WARM SHOWERS, AND HARM REDUCTION SUPPLIES, OUTFITS WILL OFFER VITAL INFORMATION ON HOUSING, HEALTH, LEGAL, AND CASE MANAGEMENT RESOURCES. REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES, OUTFITS EXPANDS OUR CAPACITY, ADDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BASE-BUILDING, AND WILL INTERRUPT CRISES THAT OFTEN LEAD TO REARREST. UPDATES/SUCCESSES: IN 2023, WE PURCHASED AND BEGAN RETROFITTING THE MOBILE OUTREACH UNIT, INCLUDING ACCESSIBILITY MODIFICATIONS. WE UNVEILED OUTFITS AT THE LIFESTYLEZ HEALTH EXPO IN NOVEMBER AND ARE PILOTING IT OVER A THREE-MONTH LEARNING/FEEDBACK PERIOD. CIRCLE OF CHANGE PEN PAL INITIATIVE HEALTHY COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS DURING INCARCERATION ARE CR

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 March 2019.

    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.