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Fines and Fees Justice Center Inc

EIN 92-0642786 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FINES AND FEES JUSTICE CENTER, INC. ("FFJC") IS THE ONLY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE UNJUST AND HARMFUL FINES AND FEES IMPOSED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM. THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY, FFJC WORKS TO CREATE A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT TREATS INDIVIDUALS FAIRLY, CONT'D.ENSURES PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY PROSPERITY, AND IS FUNDED EQUITABLY. FFJC WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH AFFECTED COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS TO ELIMINATE FEES IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, ENSURE FINES ARE EQUITABLY IMPOSED, AND END ABUSIVE COLLECTION PRACTICES.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
27.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
29
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$258,762, co-executive director

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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. $3.3 million spent. JUSTICE PROGRAMS: USING OUR POLICY EXPERTISE AND ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIENCE, WE DEVELOP MODELS FOR REFORM THAT CAN HELP COMMUNITIES PURSUE THE TYPE OF FINES AND FEES REFORM THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THEM. THESE EFFORTS HAVE ENABLED US TO ACCELERATE STATE-LEVEL POLICY CHANGE THROUGH TWO MAJOR NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS: FREE TO DRIVE AND END JUSTICE FEES AS WELL AS LOCAL-BASED REFORM THROUGH OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR FINE AND FEE JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE. WE PARTNER WITH ADVOCATES, POLICYMAKERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD, STRENGTHEN, AND ENTRENCH A RESILIENT BIPARTISAN MOVEMENT FOR LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY REFORM AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. OUR EFFORTS IN NEW MEXICO, NEVADA, AND NEW YORK HAVE CHANGED STATE AND LOCAL POLICY, ENDED CRUEL PUNISHMENTS, AND HELPED US BUILD MODELS FOR REFORM. THE CONT'D.POLICY SOLUTIONS WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTED HAVE STOPPED THE EXTRACTION OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT MOST NEED THOSE RESOURCES.
  2. $717,127 spent. RESEARCH AND POLICY: WE CONDUCT ORIGINAL RESEARCH, COLLECT DATA ON THE IMPACTS OF CRIMINAL LEGAL DEBT, AND AUTHOR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON KEY ISSUE AREAS IN THE FIELD. TOGETHER THESE RESOURCES ARE COMPILED, ALONG WITH RESEARCH AND TOOLS FROM OTHER SCHOLARS AND PARTNERS, IN FFJC'S CLEARINGHOUSE - AN ONLINE REPOSITORY OF FFJC-VETTED AND SUMMARIZED RESOURCES THAT ADVOCATES CAN USE TO INFORM THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
  3. $670,658 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE HARMS OF FINES AND FEES, AND THE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. WE AMPLIFY AND DISSEMINATE BEST PRACTICES, POLICY GUIDANCE AND CRITICAL RESEARCH TO EVIDENCE BASED SOLUTIONS.

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 July 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.