The Sentencing Project

Analysis

The Sentencing Project is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in April 1987, 39 years ago. The IRS classifies it as a publicly supported organisation (donations from the general public) under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Sentencing Project reported income of $4.1m and spending of $5.5m, spending 133% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2019 to December 2023, income grew from $1.6m to $4.1m (+164%), an average of +27% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2020, when income rose by 132%. Over the whole period it spent 79% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, The Sentencing Project sits at the 91st percentile: it is larger than about 91% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 91st percentile, and in the 78th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Network Education Program ($4.1m), Utah High School Activities Association ($4.1m) and Southern Colorado Developmental Disabilities Services Inc ($4.1m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 95% and program service revenue 0.7% of the total. Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees was $381k (6.9% of expenses). Other salaries and wages came to $1.7m. It paid $85k in professional fundraising fees. At year end it held assets of $7.3m against liabilities of $529k, net assets of $6.7m. It reported 28 employees.