Stono Institute for Freedom Justice and Security
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE STONO INSTITUE FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND SECURITY (SIFJS) IS THE FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTION AND THINK TANK FOUNDED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS AIMED AT ACHIEVING RACIAL JUSTICE.
- Income
- $23,488
- Spending
- $105,158
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 92%
- Employees
- 0
- Highest pay
- $35,000, president
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 348% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 89% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $57,109 spent. BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE: THE BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE EMBRACES AND PROMOTES AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONCEPTIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND PATRIOTISM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON RECONCEPTUALIZING AND REINVENTING CONCEPTIONS OF BLACK CITIZENSHIP BASED ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, CULTURE, BELIEF AND FAMILY VALUES. WE ARE TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK PATRIOTS IN CIVICS, SOCIAL ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE IS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL INITIATIVES INCLUDING A RACIAL JUSTICE RITES OF PASSAGE YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS US TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES RICH IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE, CIVIL GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS, CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOSTER HOMES AND BEYOND. OUR CERTIFICATE OF STUDY IN RACIAL JUSTICE STUDIES (CSRJS) IS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE CORPORATE LEADERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND ACADEMIC LEADERS TO THE COMPLEX HISTORY AND CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING RACIAL EQUALITY, EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES. BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE: THE BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE EMBRACES AND PROMOTES AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONCEPTIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND PATRIOTISM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON RECONCEPTUALIZING AND REINVENTING CONCEPTIONS OF BLACK CITIZENSHIP BASED ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS, CULTURE, BELIEF AND FAMILY VALUES. WE ARE TRAINING A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK PATRIOTS IN CIVICS, SOCIAL ADVOCACY, LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. THE BLACK CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE IS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL INITIATIVES INCLUDING A RACIAL JUSTICE RITES OF PASSAGE YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS US TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES RICH IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE, CIVIL GROUPS AND ACTIVISTS, CHURCHES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOSTER HOMES AND BEYOND. OUR CERTIFICATE OF STUDY IN RACIAL JUSTICE STUDIES (CSRJS) IS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE CORPORATE LEADERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES, CIVIL SERVANTS, AND ACADEMIC LEADERS TO THE COMPLEX HISTORY AND CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING RACIAL EQUALITY, EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES.
- $27,127 spent. HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM: SIFJSS HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY PROGRAM AIMS TO: 1) SAFEGUARD THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS; 2) EDUCATE, TRAIN AND EMPOWER THE PUBLIC ABOUT VITAL RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES; AND 3) PROMOTE THE GREATER IDEALS OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, EQUITY, JUSTICE AND HUMANITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND BEYOND. THE SIFJS ALSO REGULARLY ORGANIZES MASTER SEMINARS, WEBINARS, FACE-TO-FACE TRAININGS ON A MYRIAD OF TOPICS FROM INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, TO CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AND TERRORISM. WE PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY AND OTHERS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF RACIAL INJUSTICE SEEK JUSTICE, SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVES, AND POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING. SIFJSS POLICE ADVOCACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS SIGNATURE INITIATIVE. IT IS A PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE DRIVEN INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES A SAFE, SECURE, AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALLEGED VICTIMS OF POLICE ABUSE AND VIOLENT WHITE EXTREMIST VIGILANTISM TO RECEIVE MORAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO PROVIDE RACE CONSCIOUS, BIAS FREE POLICING, AND RACIAL JUSTICE DE-ESCALATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AS A PART OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM, SIFJS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE AND INNOVATIVE ONLINE POLICE TRAINING COURSE TITLED: BLACK AMERICANS: RACE CONSCIOUS, RACIAL BIAS, AND DISCRIMINATORY POLICING AND UNLAWFUL TRAFFIC STOPS. THIS INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM WAS CREATED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND HAS BEEN USED TO TRAIN, AMONG OTHERS, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (FDLE) COMMANDERS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS GROUNDBREAKING CURRICULUM AND OUR OTHER RACIAL JUSTICE DE-ESCALATION INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO COMBAT ANTI-BLACK BIAS IN POLICING AND REDUCE EXCESSIVE USES OF FORCE BY: 1) BUILDING TRUST, FAMILIARITY, EMPATHY AND COMMUNITY COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND BLACK YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH A SERIES OF RACE CONSCIOUS TRAININGS USING FACE TO FACE CONVERSATIONS, ROLE PLAYING, CASE SCENARIOS AND TEACHINGS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AND; 2) TRAINING YOUTH AND ADULTS IN DE-ESCALATION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CONFLICT AND DEADLY VIOLENCE DURING TRAFFIC STOPS AND OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE. HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM: SIFJSS HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY PROGRAM AIMS TO: 1) SAFEGUARD THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS; 2) EDUCATE, TRAIN AND EMPOWER THE PUBLIC ABOUT VITAL RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES; AND 3) PROMOTE THE GREATER IDEALS OF FREEDOM, EQUALITY, EQUITY, JUSTICE AND HUMANITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND BEYOND. THE SIFJS ALSO REGULARLY ORGANIZES MASTER SEMINARS, WEBINARS, FACE-TO-FACE TRAININGS ON A MYRIAD OF TOPICS FROM INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, TO CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM AND TERRORISM. WE PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY AND OTHERS TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF RACIAL INJUSTICE SEEK JUSTICE, SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INITIATIVES, AND POLICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING. SIFJSS POLICE ADVOCACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS SIGNATURE INITIATIVE. IT IS A PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE DRIVEN INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES A SAFE, SECURE, AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALLEGED VICTIMS OF POLICE ABUSE AND VIOLENT WHITE EXTREMIST VIGILANTISM TO RECEIVE MORAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO PROVIDE RACE CONSCIOUS, BIAS FREE POLICING, AND RACIAL JUSTICE DE-ESCALATION EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AS A PART OF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM, SIFJS DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE AND INNOVATIVE ONLINE POLICE TRAINING COURSE TITLED: BLACK AMERICANS: RACE CONSCIOUS, RACIAL BIAS, AND DISCRIMINATORY POLICING AND UNLAWFUL TRAFFIC STOPS. THIS INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM WAS CREATED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS AND HAS BEEN USED TO TRAIN, AMONG OTHERS, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (FDLE) COMMANDERS. SPECIFICALLY, THIS GROUNDBREAKING CURRICULUM AND OUR OTHER RACIAL JUSTICE DE-ESCALATION INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO COMBAT ANTI-BLACK BIAS IN POLICING AND REDUCE EXCESSIVE USES OF FORCE BY: 1) BUILDING TRUST, FAMILIARITY, EMPATHY AND COMMUNITY COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND BLACK YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH A SERIES OF RACE CONSCIOUS TRAININGS USING FACE TO FACE CONVERSATIONS, ROLE PLAYING, CASE SCENARIOS AND TEACHINGS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AND; 2) TRAINING YOUTH AND ADULTS IN DE-ESCALATION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CONFLICT AND DEADLY VIOLENCE DURING TRAFFIC STOPS AND OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE.
- $6,150 spent. ANTI-BLACK HATE PROJECT: NEARLY 50% OF ALL VICTIMS OF HATE CRIMES ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WHITE SUPREMACIST HATE GROUPS HAVE INCREASED BY 55% IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. SIFJS IS ESTABLISHING AN ANTI-BLACK HATE PROJECT THAT WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH, MONITOR, AND DIMINISH THE CAPACITY OF ANTI-BLACK HATE GROUPS AND EXTREMIST VIGILANTISM TO PROMOTE HATRED AND VIOLENCE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.