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Return Strong

EIN 88-0908924 · Las Vegas, NV

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceWeak12 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Return Strong led and delivered impactful statewide advocacy and community-based reform efforts advancing prison oversight accountability and humane conditions of confinement in Nevada. Spearheaded policy development legislative testimony and stakeholder engagement that resulted in the passage and implementation of SB307 Mandela Rules significantly restricting the use of solitary confinement and improving conditions for more than 10,000 incarcerated individuals. Provided direct advocacy and navigation support to dozens of families impacted by deaths in custody elevating concerns to oversight bodies and advancing transparency and accountability practices. Additionally facilitated large-scale community education and organizing initiatives that engaged approximately 3,000 incarcerated individuals and hundreds of family and community members building leadership capacity civic participation and collective power to drive sustained criminal legal system reform.

Income
$371,500
Spending
$176,455
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 12 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 0 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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. $70,044 spent. Led and delivered impactful statewide advocacy and community-based reform efforts advancing prison oversight accountability and humane conditions of confinement in Nevada. Spearheaded policy development legislative testimony and stakeholder engagement that resulted in the passage and implementation of SB307 Mandela Rules significantly restricting the use of solitary confinement and improving conditions for more than 10,000 incarcerated individuals. Provided direct advocacy and navigation support to dozens of families impacted by deaths in custody elevating concerns to oversight bodies and advancing transparency and accountability practices. Additionally facilitated large-scale community education and organizing initiatives that engaged approximately 3,000 incarcerated individuals and hundreds of family and community members building leadership capacity civic participation and collective power to drive sustained criminal legal system reform.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2024 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2024.

    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? Caution.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2023. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.

    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 October 2023.

    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.