Living With Conviction
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Living with Convictions mission is to secure economic and racial justice with and by marginalized communities, especially formerly incarcerated individuals, through community-driven research, storytelling, and legal empowerment strategies.
- Income
- $573,584
- Spending
- $537,164
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 80%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $41,667, executive director
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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $415,235 spent. Legal Empowerment / Constitutional Relief: In its second year serving individuals impacted by the Washington State Supreme Courts State v. Blake decision, Living with Convictions formerly incarcerated navigators helped 329 people discover their eligibility for State v. Blake relief, and if applicable, understand and exercise their rights to constitutional relief. This work was undertaken in 26 of 39 counties. Living with Conviction also partnered with system actors and civil legal aid organizations to hold the inaugural Blake Day one superior court. A key cross-cutting activity of Living with Convictions Legal Empowerment Program is creating plain language legal education materials, including infographics and videos, shared via its partners and social media channels, among other content.
- $80,830 spent. Legal Empowerment / Relief from Felony Court Debt: In 2024 alone, with the assistance of Living with Convictions formerly incarcerated peer navigators, courts waived more than $3.4 million in LFOs, without the direct assistance of attorneys. Included in this effort is creating a new mail-in process for helping incarcerated individuals prepare and file their LFO petitions. This work was undertaken in 26 of Washington States 39 county superior courts.
- $7,445 spent. Storytelling for Inspiration, Education, and Advocacy: Living with Conviction collaborated with formerly incarcerated individuals to capture and share their stories about the impacts of LFOs and relief from unconstitutional drug possession convictions.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 December 2023.
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 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.