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Western Justice Center Foundation

EIN 95-4176583 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WJC EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY GROWING THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS AND CAPACITY OF YOUTH, EDUCATORS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
13
Volunteers
174
Highest pay
$195,026, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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

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

    36 of 36 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 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 (2)
  1. $1.1 million spent. WJC ENVISIONS A WORLD IN WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE HEALED, UNITED, AND TRANSFORMED THROUGH CONFLICT RESOLUTION EDUCATION (CRE) AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ROOTED IN EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND OPPORTUNITY. TO THIS END, WJC LEADS THE LARGEST EVIDENCE-BASED RESTORATIVE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, INFLUENCING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS OF OVER 30,0000 TK-12 STUDENTS IN 32 SCHOOLS 8 DISTRICTS, INCLUDING MULTI-YEAR DISTRICTWIDE PARTNERSHIPS IN AZUSA, PASADENA, AND EL MONTE. WJC'S CRE PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON AT-PROMISE YOUTH WHEN CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE ARE HANDLED THROUGH EXCLUSIONARY PUNITIVE PRACTICES. ALL OF WJC'S PARTNER SCHOOLS HAVE HIGH PERCENTAGES OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FREE/REDUCED FOOD SUPPORT, STUDENTS OF COLOR, AND STUDENTS WITH RISK FACTORS. RESEARCH PUBLISHED BY CAL POLY POMONA IN 2024 CONFIRMS SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATES AND THE NUMBER OF SUSPENSIONS AMONGST WJC'S MULTI-YEAR PARTNER SCHOOL POPULATIONS, TOGETHER WITH AN INCREASED SENSE OF BELONGING, TRUST, AND IMPROVED SCHOOL CULTURE. WJC LEADS: - THREE MULTI-YEAR, DISTRICTWIDE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING MORE THAN 40 SCHOOLS: 10 IN AZUSA UNIFIED (K-12), 23 IN PASADENA UNIFIED (K-12), AND 15 IN EL MONTE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (TK-8). - A COUNTYWIDE PARTNERSHIP INVOLVING SCHOOLS FROM 4 SCHOOL DISTRICTS (ABCS, HACIENDA HEIGHTS-LA PUENTE, INGLEWOOD AND NORWALK-LA MIRADA) IN SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS 1, 2 AND 4. - A REGIONAL PEACEBUILDING YOUTH SUMMIT THAT HAS GROWN TO 600 STUDENTS (G4-12) AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS), INCLUDING DEDICATED VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY "MEDIATION MENTORS" WHO SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONFLICT-ADEPT LEADERS.
  2. $563,825 spent. WJC'S FOUR-BUILDING CAMPUS IS ADJACENT TO THE NINTH DISTRICT COURTHOUSE IN PASADENA, IN A VIBRANT MIXED-USE COMMUNITY. WJC MANAGES AND MAINTAINS THE CAMPUS ACCORDING TO A 99-YEAR LEASE WITH THE CITY OF PASADENA. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING THE GROUNDS AND FOUR BUILDINGS (ALL MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD) RESTS ON WJC. CAPITAL FUNDS ENABLE WJC TO FULFILL ITS LEASE OBLIGATIONS AND PURSUE ITS PRIMARY MISSION. IN 2024, WJC FULLY UPDATED THE CAMPUS HVAC SYSTEM. THREE OF THE FOUR CAMPUS BUILDINGS SERVE AS DEDICATED OFFICE SPACE FOR UP TO TWENTY OTHER NONPROFITS AT BELOW-MARKET COST. THE MAXWELL HOUSE (55 S GRAND AVE) SERVES AS WJC'S HEADQUARTERS AND AS SPACE FOR COMMUNAL GATHERINGS AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS. WJC, OTHER CAMPUS NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS USE THE MAXWELL HOUSE FOR BOARD MEETINGS, PROGRAM RELATED TRAININGS, FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.

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 2025.

    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 1992.

    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.