CENTER FOR JUSTICE

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1999

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

Paul Dillon

Phone

3602400510

Tax Period

2019-01-01 to 2019-12-31

CENTER FOR JUSTICE, founded in 1999, is a small nonprofit that reported $400K in total revenue in fiscal year 2019. Revenue fell 45% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $767K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 92% operating deficit.

Mission

The Center for Justice's mission is to empower the people and communities of the Inland Northwest. We accomplish our mission through direct representation and advocacy focused on systemic change to achieve social and environmental justice.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $220,460 Revenue: $2,300

The Center's Housing Justice Program serves anywhere from 60 to 150 clients per year, promoting housing stability by advising tenants about their rights and responsibilities. One full-time staff...

The Center's Housing Justice Program serves anywhere from 60 to 150 clients per year, promoting housing stability by advising tenants about their rights and responsibilities. One full-time staff attorney and one part-time staff attorney operate CFJ rental rights clinics 4-5 days per week, providing direct advice to clients about their rights and responsibilities. CFJ takes the clinic a step beyond by providing clients with forms and letters that help resolve their housing-related legal problems. The Center's Housing Justice Program achieves success in a variety of ways including negotiating settlements with landlords, securing "no dissemination" orders, and assisting clients in locating rental assistance that fits their individual situation. Housing justice attorneys also advocate before state and local legislative bodies, promoting changes to law and policy that are beneficial to tenants, such as supporting legislation requiring landlords to have "just cause" in terminating a tenancy. Housing justice advocacy also includes numerous collaborative efforts and projects working with government and community stakeholders to directly and indirectly influence housing laws.

Program 2

Expenses: $150,061 Revenue: $0

The Spokane Riverkeeper is an environmental guardian and advocate with the goal of protecting the Spokane River and its watershed and ensuring it is fishable and swimmable. Riverkeeper utilizes...

The Spokane Riverkeeper is an environmental guardian and advocate with the goal of protecting the Spokane River and its watershed and ensuring it is fishable and swimmable. Riverkeeper utilizes science, law, and policy to educate, inform, and influence the government, policy makers, and the community. Daily water monitoring by Riverkeeper provides credible strategic litigation that is utilized to hold polluters accountable under federal, state, and local laws, including Clean Water Act lawsuits. Riverkeeper's partnerships with the City of Spokane and Spokane Community Court have resulted in the removal of approximately 1,500 points of garbage from and around the Spokane River each year. Other key Riverkeeper activities includes conducting outreach to homeless encampments and engaging in environmental conservation education with a local indigenous group. Riverkeeper employs approximately 2-3 full-time staff.

Program 3

Expenses: $90,479 Revenue: $36,850

The Center for Justice untangles complex relicensing cases. The Center's relicensing program specifically handles those relicensing cases that the City of Spokane Prosecutor's office does not handle. The Center's full-time relicensing director is supported by interns and by Center staff. The director assists approximately 330 clients each year with getting their licenses back, helping them address past infractions by working with courts around the state to put unpaid tickets on a payment plan so that clients can drive legally. A driver's license helps clients to obtain employment and stabilize their lives. The relicensing director also advocates for the decriminalization of regulatory licensing infractions, educating and informing legislators, government officials and other stakeholders about conditions that may have an adverse impact on clients' ability to address past infractions, including poverty, mental health, and more. The Center's relicensing director also develops and teaches result money management courses to relicensing clients, including unique women's relicensing programs held several times a year focused on the unique needs of women, especially single mothers, women of color, and survivors of domestic violence. The women's relicensing class is a safe space for these women, who receive a bag of groceries in order to address food insecurity that they may be experiencing.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2019)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $356,955

Program Service Revenue $39,150

Investment Income $17,935

Other Revenue $-13,677

TOTAL REVENUE $400,363

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $637,420

Fundraising Expenses $102,704

Program Expenses $512,139

Other Expenses $129,494

TOTAL EXPENSES $766,914

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2019	2018	Change
Revenue	$400,363	$729,772	-0.5%
Expenses	$766,914	$792,008	0.0%
Net Income	$-366,551	$-62,236	+4.9%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

⚠ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$125,286

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
Dainen Penta	Executive Director	40	Officer	$78,229	$5,447	$83,676
Lisa Robertson	Former Accountant	28	Officer	$36,475	$0	$36,475
Constance Fisher	Accountant	28	Officer	$5,135	$0	$5,135
Paul Dillon	Board President	10	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Patty Gates	Board Vice President	4	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
Nick Pontarolo	Board Treasurer	2	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
James Sheehan	Board Member	2	Director	$0	$0	$0
Devon Wilson	Board Member	2	Director	$0	$0	$0
Jennifer Crofoot	Board Member	2	Director	$0	$0	$0
Joseph Sampson	Board Member	2	Director	$0	$0	$0
Angel Tomeo Sam	Board Member	2	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2019	$400,363	$766,914	$252,644	$-366,551
2018	$729,772	$792,008	$686,504	$-62,236