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Justleadershipusa Inc

EIN 90-1019268 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE AMPLIFY THE POWER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TO SELF-ORGANIZE AND EMPOWER THEIR COMMUNITIES TO DISMANTLE RACIST AND OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A JUST U.S.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$191,454, chief finance & operations

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS: JLUSA CONTINUED ITS FEDERALLY FUNDED COLLABORATION WITH TWO OTHER NONPROFITS TO NEW FEDERAL SUBAWARD AS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNER IN COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONS CONDITIONS BY TRANSFORMING CULTURE, CLIMATE, AND SPACES AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO OTHER NONPROFITS THAT DELIVER TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND (B) SUBAWARD MANAGEMENT OF MACARTHUR FUNDS FOR CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP: THIRTY-TWO INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED LEADING WITH CONVICTION (LWC), JLIUSA'S YEAR LONG, COHORT-BASED ADVANCED SENIOR LEADERSHIP TRAINING, COACHING, AND MENTORING PROGRAM FOR DIRECTLY IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED EMERGING LEADERS (EL), AN INTENSIVE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED TRAINING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR EMERGING LEADERS IN COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY MARGINALIZATION AND INCARCERATION. A SPECIALIZED EL ENGAGED A COHORT OF SIX CHICAGO-AREA LEADERS IN AN EXTRA-INTENSIVE YEARLONG ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND A TRAUMA INFORMED RETREAT. DESIGN OF THE C-SUITE ORIENTED LEADING WITH CONVICTION PLUS (LWC+) PROGRAM WAS FURTHERED THROUGH A DESIGN-PILOT THINK-TANK-STYLE RETREAT HELD WITH 10 SENIOR LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND CURRICULUM FINALIZED.
  3. $1.0 million spent. LEADERSHIP IN ACTION (LAP): JLUSA INVESTS AND ACTIVATES ITS ALUMNI NETWORK OF MORE THAN 1,700 LEADERS ACROSS 45 STATES, PLUS D.C., TO DRIVE POLICY REFORM AND COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT STRATEGIES NATIONWIDE. THEJUSTUS COORDINATING COUNCIL (JCC) CONTINUED ITS WORK AS A NATIONAL POLICY TABLE LED BY SYSTEMS-IMPACTED LEADERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO ARTICULATING A NEW NATIONAL VISION AND IMPLEMENTING ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT PROMOTE OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. DURING APRIL 2025 REENTRY MONTH, THE JCC HOSTED A CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND POLICY MAKERS TO DISCUSS CLEAN SLATE POLICIES AND OTHER SECOND REFORMS SUPPORTING SECOND CHANCES, ADVANCED STATE PROCLAMATIONS RECOGNIZING SECOND CHANCE MONTH, AND HELPED ORGANIZE EXPUNGEMENT CLINICS. JLUSA COLLABORATED WITH A LEADING JUSTICE-FOCUSED RESEARCH NONPROFIT TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF MUNICIPAL COURTS POLICIES ON DIRECTLY IMPACTED PERSONS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE CONVENING OF TWO FOCUS GROUPS IN ARIZONA AND OHIO. JLUSA BEGAN A MULTI-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE RELATIONSHIP OF INCARCERATION ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS.

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

  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 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? 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.

    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.