WILLIAM J BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

WILLIAM J BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC

EIN 13-3839293 · Education (B40Z)

What they do

SEE SCHEDULE O. THE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN, JR. CENTER for JUSTICE is A NONPARTISAN LAW and POLICY INSTITUTE THAT SEEKS to IMPROVE THE AMERICAN SYSTEMS of DEMOCRACY and JUSTICE.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $71.50 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders42 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

56.33%of revenue went to mission work71.5% of expenses · Program services

6.92%of revenue went to fundraising8.8% of expenses

$78.76spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

15.51%of revenue went to management and office costs19.7% of expenses

$6.00in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

81.1%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $700,616 for MICHAEL WALDMAN (PRESIDENT). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$73,820,955

Mission workProgram services$41,584,01956.33% of revenue71.5% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$11,449,30715.51% of revenue19.7% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$5,109,9436.92% of revenue8.8% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$15,677,68621.24% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$58,143,26978.76% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 71.5% mission · 19.7% management · 8.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 78.76% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 72.4% mission · 17.9% management · 9.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.40% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 70.3% mission · 19.1% management · 10.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 37.76% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 71.1% mission · 18.5% management · 10.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 73.95% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 73.7% mission · 15.2% management · 11.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 30.54% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 72.5% mission · 15.0% management · 12.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 30.49% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 73.6% mission · 14.5% management · 11.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.51% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 72.2% mission · 16.1% management · 11.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 74.67% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$73,820,955

Expenses$58,143,269

Annual surplus $15,677,686 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$41,584,019 · 71.5% of expenses

Management and office costs$11,449,307 · 19.7% of expenses

Fundraising$5,109,943 · 8.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$73,820,955

Expenses$58,143,269

Assets$348,767,929

Income$142,744,800

Contributions$59,850,231

Mission work (program services)$41,584,019

Fundraising$5,109,943

Grants given$1,307,425

Average grant$56,845

Management and general$11,449,307

Stocks and bonds$235,341,279

Accounting fees$34,250

Investing fees$613,807

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MICHAEL WALDMANPRESIDENT · 40 hrs/week $700,616Base $650,385 · Other $50,231

MELISSA ESTOKEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $468,950Base $444,089 · Other $24,861

JOHN ANTHONY BUTLERVP/COO · 40 hrs/week $428,458Base $387,921 · Other $40,537

JOHN KOWALVP, PROGRAMS · 40 hrs/week $423,477Base $387,212 · Other $36,265

WENDY WEISERVP, DEMOCRACY PROGRAM · 40 hrs/week $413,524Base $374,013 · Other $39,511

JEANINE CHIRLINCHIEF OF STAFF · 40 hrs/week $412,850Base $363,755 · Other $49,095

JAEMIN KIMVP, DEVELOPMENT · 40 hrs/week $410,003Base $355,969 · Other $54,034

REBECCA WEITZMANVP, COMMUNICATIONS & STRAT · 40 hrs/week $383,871Base $332,233 · Other $51,638

LARRY NORDENVP, ELECTIONS & COMMUNICATION · 40 hrs/week $353,052Base $319,722 · Other $33,330

KAREEM CRAYTONVP, WASHINTON D.C. · 40 hrs/week $330,470Base $285,931 · Other $44,539

ELISA MILLERSECRETARY / GENERAL COUNSEL · 32 hrs/week $318,448Base $307,728 · Other $10,720

LAUREN-BROOKE EISENSR. DIR., JUSTICE PROGRAM · 40 hrs/week $312,342Base $259,776 · Other $52,566

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (42)

MICHAEL WALDMANPRESIDENT

MELISSA ESTOKEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JOHN ANTHONY BUTLERVP/COO

JOHN KOWALVP, PROGRAMS

WENDY WEISERVP, DEMOCRACY PROGRAM

JEANINE CHIRLINCHIEF OF STAFF

JAEMIN KIMVP, DEVELOPMENT

REBECCA WEITZMANVP, COMMUNICATIONS & STRAT

LARRY NORDENVP, ELECTIONS & COMMUNICATION

KAREEM CRAYTONVP, WASHINTON D.C.

ELISA MILLERSECRETARY / GENERAL COUNSEL

LAUREN-BROOKE EISENSR. DIR., JUSTICE PROGRAM

CHRISTINE MELLAMPECHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

CHRISTINE VARNEYBOARD CO-CHAIR

ADAM B COXBOARD MEMBER

WENDY NEUBOARD MEMBER

VANITA GUPTABOARD MEMBER

TROY MCKENZIEBOARD MEMBER

TREVOR MORRISONBOARD MEMBER

THOMAS JORDEBOARD MEMBER

STEVEN REISSBOARD MEMBER

STEVEN KERSTENBOARD MEMBER

STEPHEN SCHULHOFERBOARD MEMBER

SIBYL FRANKENBURGBOARD MEMBER

RUTH LAZARUSBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT ATKINSBOARD MEMBER

PAUL LIGHTFOOTBOARD MEMBER

HELEN HERSHKOFFBOARD MEMBER

MELISSA MURRAYBOARD MEMBER

DANIEL KOLBBOARD MEMBER

MAGGIE BLACKHAWKBOARD MEMBER

LESLIE FAGENBOARD MEMBER

LESLIE BHUTANIBOARD MEMBER

ADAM WINKLERBOARD MEMBER

DANIELLE GRAYBOARD MEMBER

KIMBERLY DAVISBOARD MEMBER

KIMBERLEY HARRISBOARD CO-CHAIR

KENJI YOSHINOBOARD MEMBER

DAVID SUSSMANBOARD MEMBER

EMILY SPITZERBOARD MEMBER

FRANZ PAASCHEBOARD MEMBER

GERAD TORRESBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1995
Location: 120 BROADWAY STE 1750, NEW YORK, NY 10271-0202
County: New York
In care of: % E JOSHUA ROSENKRANZ
Primary officer: JOHN ANTHONY BUTLER, VP/COO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(646) 292-8310

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: TAIT WELLER & BAKER LLP
NTEE classification: Education (B40Z)
Grant-giving organization: Yes