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Justice Climate Fund Inc

EIN 93-1360335 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak19 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Only 32% 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

TO COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS BY MOBILIZING FINANCING FOR GREENHOUSE GAS AND AIR POLLUTION REDUCING PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$8.0 million
Spending
$9.1 million
Spent on programs
32%
Reserves
-1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
13
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$256,684, launch team (thru 2/28/2025)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 19 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 109% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    32% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $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 September 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. $1.1 million spent. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NATIONAL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS), MINORITY DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS (MDIS), GREEN BANKS, AND LOCAL PARTNERS, JCF MOBILIZES CAPITAL AND RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES BY FUNDING PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY, SUPPORT CLEANER AIR AND WATER, IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH, AND BUILD ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE. AS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CLEAN COMMUNITIES INVESTMENT ACCELERATOR (CCIA) AWARD RECEIVED FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNDER THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND, JCF STEWARDS A $940 MILLION CONDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO BE DEPLOYED THROUGH THIS NETWORK. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) DURING FY2025, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED BUILDING OUT THE OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT, ESTABLISHING RECIPIENT ONBOARDING PROCESSES, EXECUTING COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING PROTOCOLS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL GRANT ADMINISTRATION, AND DEVELOPING THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURES THROUGH WHICH CAPITAL WILL FLOW TO COMMUNITY LENDERS FINANCING CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. JCF RECOGNIZED $7,092,954 OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION REVENUE FROM THE CCIA AWARD DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
  2. $1.8 million spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:TO ACCELERATE THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY LENDERS TO ORIGINATE AND DEPLOY CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING, JCF (I) LAUNCHED A FLAGSHIP TECHNICAL-ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GREEN BANK 50, A NATIONAL NETWORK OF U.S.-BASED GREEN BANKS; (II) CONVENED TWO SESSIONS FOR MORE THAN 40 COMMUNITY LENDERS AND FUNDERS TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR CLOSING CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING GAPS, CULMINATING IN A WHITE PAPER TITLED "BRIDGING INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL AND COMMUNITY CLIMATE INVESTMENTS" THAT SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR THE BROADER FIELD; AND (III) SPONSORED ITS FIRST COMMUNITY-LENDER WEBINAR, DRAWING MORE THAN 70 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO EXPLORE CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY FUNDING SOLUTIONS AND TECHNICAL CAPACITY PROGRAMS.
  3. $62,926 spent. SORENSON: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SORENSON IMPACT INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH, JCF DEVELOPED AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE IMPACT MEASUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK DESIGNED TO TRACK THE IMPACT OF ITS WORK, GUIDE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY TO FUNDERS. THE FRAMEWORK TRACKS MORE THAN 20 METRICS ALIGNED WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES SERVED, THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, AND THE AMOUNT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AVOIDED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 August 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 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.