CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

PMB 41203, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-0000

In care of

% BRIAN FERARU

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

Meredith Fenton, 1961 Las Plumas Ave, San Jose, CA 951331741

Signed the 990

Ethan Zatko, Treasurer

Phone

(408) 272-0236

Website

https://caljustice.org/

Return prepared by

HEALY AND ASSOCIATES

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 94-3256009 or by the name CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers

Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Secretary of State, bizfile Online

Corporation status, entity number, agent for service

Franchise Tax Board

Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)

Mission

Californians for Justice is a statewide grassroots organization working for racial justice by building the power of youth, communities of color, immigrants, low-income families, and LGBTQ communities. Led by students, we organize to advance educational justice and improve our social, economic, and political conditions. Through year-round leadership development opportunities and intensive leadership programs, we empower the young people most affected by inequity to drive the process of change with their participation and ideas for a just society.

Program accomplishments

• Organizational Development and Leadership- Tri-Executive Shared Leadership Model: In a bold step towards long-term sustainability and embracing diverse perspectives, CFJ welcomed Jessica Black and Jessenia Reyes, establishing a three-person executive team with Mauro Sifuentes. This team brings expertise across organizing and narrative, policy and partnerships, capacity building, and research in public education.- Refined Internal Structures: CFJ worked to improve internal structures for greater alignment and efficiency across its programmatic departments.- Formalized Policy Team: A dedicated policy team was formalized to drive a robust policy platform that strengthens California's public education system.- Created Research and Evaluation Team: A new team was created with the mission to amplify student voices, track CFJ's progress, and share the impact of our work. These new teams collaborate with organizing and capacity-building efforts, ensuring all work is rooted in student leadership.
  Expenses $7,896,273 · grants $1,255,704 · revenue $1,966,438
• Key Issues and Advocacy Focus CFJ remained dedicated to defending equitable, accessible, inclusive, and high-quality public education, particularly for Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Our work in 2024 actively addressed several critical issues affecting youth in California schools:- Disproportionate Harm to Youth of Color: Black and Brown youth continue to face a system that fails to meet their needs, creating barriers to academic and personal growth.- Lack of Diverse Teachers: Despite 78% of California students being students of color, only 35% of teachers identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), impacting education quality and student engagement.- Police Presence in Schools: The increasing presence of police is seen as contributing to a culture of criminalization rather than support, especially for students of color, exacerbating the school-to-prison pipeline.- Lack of Youth Voice: The voices of youth, especially from marginalized communities, are often excluded from crucial conversations impacting their education and future.- School Closures: Due to the pandemic, divestments, legal decisions, and economic shifts, there was an increase in public school closures, disproportionately affecting communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.- Youth Mental Health Crisis: Schools need to provide more support and resources to help youth navigate mental health challenges.- Need for Equitable Resources and Transformative Education: There is a call for an education that prepares youth for life, leadership, and change, alongside access to proper materials, resources, and staff support.
• Youth Engagement and Impact Metrics CFJ's vision is centered on empowering youth voice and elevating youth power. In 2024, we demonstrated this commitment through various programs and achievements:- Youth Priorities Survey: After surveying 417 students across the state, CFJ youth members identified key priorities for their educational experience. The majority of youth agreed that youth voice is critical to: Budgets (77%), Curriculum (73%), School Policies (77%), School Climate (81%), and School Board Elections (72%).- Broad Youth Engagement: 300 studentscomprising active leaders, interns, and core memberswere engaged in CFJs organizing and advocacy efforts across its four regions: Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, and Long Beach.- Leadership Skill Growth: Over 90% of students reported that their leadership, organizing, and advocacy skills grew as a result of their participation in CFJs leadership programs.- Program Participation: 150 students participated in the Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA) and the statewide Student Leadership Retreat (SLR). - SYLA 2024: 40% of participants were first-time attendees, while 40% were returning participants. Feedback from SYLA 2024 participants was generally positive, with reported growth in leadership skills, political knowledge, and confidence. Topics like Palestine, anti-blackness, and capitalism were appreciated. Some areas for improvement included the application process, paperwork, and session organization. - SLR 2024: 34% of participants were new, and 66% were returning.- Oakland Youth Vote Win: In 2024, CFJ, in coalition with community partners, celebrated a historic victory where Oakland youth gained the ability to vote in their school board elections. This achievement was the result of years of coalition work following the passage of Measure QQ in 2020.- Legislative Advocacy in Capitol: CFJ began rebuilding its practice of youth power building at the State Capitol in 2024. - Six youth leaders represented CFJ at their first Youth Power Capitol Day, establishing 14 legislative connections. - These youth leaders presented and advocated for three bills, with two advancing to the next legislative stage and one being signed into law. - The signed bill, SB483, prohibits the use of "prone restraint," a harmful physical restraint, in school settings, contributing to the transformation of schools into places of healing and opportunity.- Working to Amplify the Voices of Youth (WAVY): The WAVY program in Fall 2024 aimed to introduce new members to CFJ's work, deepen leadership skills for returning members, and provide opportunities for interns to practice outreach and facilitation. Key sessions included Community Organizing 101, Youth-Led Democracy, Solidarity, Intersectionality, Racial Justice, and understanding CFJ's leadership pathway.
• Continued Commitment Looking ahead, CFJ remains committed to advancing public education as a cornerstone of a just society, grounded in student voice, racial equity, and multiracial solidarity. We plan to continue listening to students and partners, empowering staff, and building solidarity across California. Our areas of attention for 2025 include curriculum design to balance knowledge and skill-building, streamlining logistics, prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color (BIYOC), and fostering stronger cross-regional community building.

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

94-3256009

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1997

Accounting year ends

December

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R40)

Assets (IRS master file)

$13,150,519

Income (IRS master file)

$6,392,528

Filing history

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 94-3256009).

Questions about CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC

What is the EIN of CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC?

The employer identification number (EIN) of CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC is 94-3256009.

Is CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.

Are donations to CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.

Who is the principal officer of CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names Meredith Fenton.

Who are the officers and directors of CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC?

The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 17 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $168,770 (Mauro Sifuentes Osborne, Co-ED).

How much revenue does CALIFORNIANS FOR JUSTICE EDUCATION FUND INC have?

On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $6,392,528, expenses of $9,438,218 and total assets of $13,150,519 at year end.

Other nonprofits in SAN FRANCISCO

• CHINESE FOR AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
  EIN 94-2161304 · last filed 990 for 2025
• NEXTGEN EDUCATION FUND
  EIN 86-3766505 · last filed 990 for 2024
• VOTINGWORKS
  EIN 83-2910494 · last filed 990 for 2025
• HEISING-SIMONS ACTION FUND
  EIN 84-4316553 · last filed 990 for 2024
• GIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
  EIN 46-4638549 · last filed 990 for 2024
• EKO
  EIN 45-2513966 · last filed 990 for 2024
• GENDERS & SEXUALITIES ALLIANCE NETWORK
  EIN 20-5367752 · last filed 990 for 2025
• SAN FRANCISCO CASA
  EIN 94-3039028 · last filed 990 for 2025

All nonprofits in SAN FRANCISCO · California · Civil rights, social action and advocacy