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Death Penalty Focus

EIN 95-4153420 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceFair59 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1988, DEATH PENALTY FOCUS IS COMMITTED TO THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY,MEDIA OUTREACH, AND DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL COALITION BUILDING.

Income
$305,500
Spending
$229,519
Spent on programs
63%
Reserves
15.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
1
Volunteers
26

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    63% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $97,780 spent. EDUCATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACHDPF DELIVERS FACTS, VIDEOS, OPINIONS AND INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE INJUSTICE OF THE DEATH PENALTY. DPF PROMOTES FACT-BASED NEWS, ANNOUNCES ABOLITION BASED EVENTS, AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, BLOGS, AND FREQUENT EMAILS. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS, THEREBY EXTENDING THE REACH AND IMPACT OF OUR MESSAGING.DPF INVITED ANTI-DEATH PENALTY ADVOCATES - DISTRICT ATTORNEYS,INNOCENT WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH AND LATER FREED, MURDER VICTIM FAMILY MEMBERS, SCHOLARS, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS - TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS OFFERED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE TOPICS COVERED DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE DEATH PENALTY, INJUSTICE AND OVERALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES.
  2. $29,174 spent. MOVING FORWARD TOWARD DEATH PENALTY ABOLITIONDEATH PENALTY FOCUS PLAYS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN CALIFORNIA. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA ANTI-DEATH PENALTY COALITION, THE CALIFORNIANS FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERITIES UNION, THE CATHOLIC MOBILIZING NETWORK,LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE 8TH AMENDMENT PROJECT, EJUSA AND MANY CALIFORNIA FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, DPF DEVELOPS ABOLITION POLICY AND MESSAGING. DPF MAKES CONNECTIONS IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE, IDENTIFIES LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY, PLANS FORFAMILY MEMBERS, SCHOLARS, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS - TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS OFFERED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE TOPICS COVERED DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE DEATH PENALTY, INJUSTICE AND OVERALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES. OUTREACH TO SENATE AND ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS AFFECTED MOST BY THE DEATH PENALTY.
  3. $17,504 spent. ADDITIONAL PROJECTSDPF PUBLISHES REPORTS OF EXONERATION, MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, SCHEDULED EXECUTIONS, AND INJUSTICE. DPF MAINTAINS A WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY AND OUR WORK TOWARD ABOLITION. DPF OFFERS PROMINENT SPOKESPEOPLE TO ANSWER REQUESTS FROM THE MEDIA AND PUBLIC AND SUBMITS AMICUS BRIEFS FOR RELEVANT COURT CASES.DPF ALSO MAINTAINS A WEBSITE (WWW.DEATHPENALTY.ORG) THAT PROVIDESINFORMATION ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY AND THEIR WORK TO END IT.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.