irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $540KIN 2024, AFJ SAW STRONG OUTCOMES: 67% OF CASES WERE ADJOURNED, 16% DISMISSED, AND FEWER THAN 2% RESULTED IN INCARCERATION. OF THE PARTICIPANTS WHO EXITED THE PROGRAM, 98% COMPLETED IT, TWO-THIRDS ACHIEVING BOTH COURT-MANDATED AND AFJ-ESTABLISHED GOALS.OUR PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT. AFJ'S LONG-TERM RECIDIVISM DATA SHOWS THAT ONLY 6% OF PARTICIPANTS ARE RECONVICTED WITHIN THREE YEARS OF ENROLLING, COMPARED TO 42% OF NYC PAROLEES IN A COMPARABLE STUDY. AMONG SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES, OVER SIX YEARS, ONLY 14% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE RECONVICTED, WITH MOST OF THESE CONVICTIONS BEING FOR MISDEMEANORS. OPERATING RIKERS COSTS NYC TAXPAYERS APPROXIMATELY $500,000 PER INCARCERATED PERSON PER YEAR. IT ONLY COSTS AFJ $6,300 TO PUT ONE YOUNG PERSON THROUGH A FULL YEAR OF OUR WRAPAROUND SERVICES WHICH LEAD TO EMPLOYMENT, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY.IN ADDITION TO OUTCOME DATA, AFJ CONDUCTS ANNUAL SATISFACTION SURVEYS TO ASSESS OUR EFFECTIVENESS BEYOND RECIDIVISM. IN 2024, RESPONDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY REPORTED THAT AFJ HELPED IMPROVE THEIR DECISION-MAKING, GAVE THEM HOPE, AND HELPED THEM RESIST PEER PRESSURE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM STATED THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM TO THEIR PEERS.WHILE DATA INFORMS OUR STRATEGIC DECISIONS, AFJ BELIEVES THAT IMPACT MUST BE MEASURED IN BOTH NUMBERS AND NARRATIVES. WE REGULARLY SHARE PARTICIPANT STORIES TO HIGHLIGHT HOW, WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT, YOUNG PEOPLE FACING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS CAN THRIVE. SUCCESS IS WHEN A PARTICIPANT SATISFIES THE COURT'S REQUIREMENTS AND RECEIVES A FAVORABLE DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASE. SUCCESS IS WHEN OUR PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THE HIRE UP PROGRAM, GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL, GO ON TO FURTHER EDUCATION, AND/OR ENTER GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. SUCCESS IS WHEN WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AS A WHOLE, RECOGNIZING THAT PERSONAL GROWTH, COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND LONG-TERM STABILITY ARE JUST AS CRITICAL AS STATISTICAL OUTCOMES.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Court Advocacy Services
Wraparound legal and social support provided within courthouses to help youth navigate the justice system, meet court mandates, and avoid incarceration.
HIRE Up Program
Job readiness initiative that provides career training, internships, interview preparation, and corporate partnerships to help court-involved youth gain employment and develop professional skills.
Harlem Community Center
Community-based center providing similar wraparound services as the Robert Siegal Center, tailored to youth in Harlem.
Robert Siegal Center
Community center in Lower East Side serving as a safe space offering group sessions, workshops in creative writing, art therapy, STEAM classes, and life skills development.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth Development and Support Services 2 activities
- Delivering wraparound support services to court-involved youth across all five NYC boroughsProvides comprehensive, full-year wraparound services—including legal support, mental health wellness, academic assistance, and mentoring—to court-involved and at-risk youth through community-based centers like the Robert Siegal Center and Harlem Community Center. Services are delivered in person and online, reaching participants in 48 of 51 NYC Council Districts and maintaining a locally rooted presence across all five boroughs.
- Offering youth enrichment workshops and group programmingHosts group sessions and workshops in creative writing, cooking, yoga, art therapy, STEAM classes, youth empowerment, and legal rights education at community centers and online to promote personal development and well-being among court-involved youth.
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Program Evaluation and Impact Research 1 activity
- Conducting longitudinal participant tracking and outcome evaluationConducts 3- and 6-year tracking of participants to measure recidivism, program success rates, and long-term outcomes such as employment and education attainment, specifically within HIRE UP programming.
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Justice System Innovation & Inclusion Programs 1 activity
- Diverting court-involved youth from incarceration through court advocacy and alternative-to-incarceration programsProvides court advocacy and operates an Alternative to Incarceration program that diverts youth ages 13–24 from the criminal justice system, achieving a 94% success rate in avoiding reconviction within three years and serving over 500 youth annually in New York City. In 2024, 67% of cases resulted in adjournment and 16% in dismissal, with only 6% of participants reconvicted within three years compared to 42% of NYC parolees.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Hosting events and fundraising dinners to support youth programsHosts an annual Impact Awards Dinner and cultural events such as Juneteenth and fatherhood celebrations—featuring documentary premieres and entrepreneur talks—to raise funds and build community engagement in support of youth services.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Operating the HIRE UP workforce development and prevention programHIRE UP provides job readiness training, workforce development, education support, certification assistance (including Digital Literacy and OSHA), mentorship, internship placement, and interview training to court-involved, formerly incarcerated, and at-risk youth and young adults. Launched in 2020, the program partners with corporations to build career pathways and supports participants in securing employment and advancing academically.
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College Access and Success Support 1 activity
- Providing academic and college preparation support for youthOffers academic support, exam preparation, college admissions assistance, and Individual Action Plans to help participants graduate high school and pursue higher education. Supported multiple participants in graduating high school and enrolling in college, including those with histories of foster care or teen pregnancy.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.93M
Contributions & grants$3.78M96%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$145K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.90M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$1.58M
Grants paid out$276K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$5.51M
Cash$1.49M
Investments$2.68M
Liabilities$396K
Net assets$5.11M
Liquid reserves17.3 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +13.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH FREDERICK | EXE DIR BEGINNING 6/24 | 40 | $189K |
| ANGEL RODRIGUEZ | CO-FOUNDER AND PRES. | 40 | $183K |
| GAMAL WILLIS | DIRECTOR OF COURT ADVOCACY | 40 | $125K |
board members · 12
- ALANNA C RUTHERFORD — CHAIR
- ALLEN ROTHMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- BERNIE HUDDLESTUN — BOARD MEMBER
- CHARLES RADCLIFFE — BOARD MEMBER
- DANIELLE O'BANNON — BOARD MEMBER
- DEAN H SCHAFFER — VICE-CHAIR
- LAURA SWEENEY — SECRETARY
- MARC DE SWAAN ARONS — BOARD MEMBER
- REBECCA LEWINSON — BOARD MEMBER
- RICHARD C TREPP — TREASURER
- SCOTT WILCOXEN — BOARD MEMBER (LEFT 2024)
- SUZY A REINGOLD — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- ATI Partner — Collaborates with ATI to deliver HIRE UP prevention programs to court-involved and formerly incarcerated participants.
- Arnold Ventures Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- Assembly Member Keith Powers Partner — Participated in AFJ’s Juneteenth Father's Day Panel as a community leader.
- Brian G. Buckmire Partner — Legal analyst who participated in AFJ’s Juneteenth Father's Day Panel.
- Cause Effective Network — Liz Frederick is a Cause Effective Fellow, advancing Leaders of Color in Fundraising.
- Center for Community Alternatives Partner — Co-administers funding with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for Avenues for Justice programs
- Columbia Business School’s Social Enterprise Program for Nonprofit Professionals Network — Liz Frederick is an alumna of Columbia Business School’s Social Enterprise Program for Nonprofit Professionals.
- Commissioner Wade Hardy Partner — Participated in AFJ’s Juneteenth Father's Day Panel as a community leader.
- Congressman Dan Goldman Partner — Participated in AFJ’s Juneteenth Father's Day Panel as a community leader.
- Dr. Dennis Ibude Partner — AFJ Facilitator who participated in the Juneteenth Father's Day Panel.
- Eugene M. Lang Foundation Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- Greater NY Partnership Network — Liz Frederick is a member of the Greater NY Partnership’s 2027 leadership cohort, a two-year initiative for emerging leaders.
- Greenwich Village Chelsea Chambers of Commerce (GVCCC) Network — Liz Frederick serves on the Board of the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chambers of Commerce, a civic and business leadership organization in New York City.
- Hire Up Program Partner — Corporate partnership initiative providing career training and life skills development for young adults.
- Hispanic Federation Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- Honorable Judge Michael Corriero Partner — Collaborated to launch the Youth Part model in Manhattan, promoting Alternative to Incarceration services.
- IMPACT 100 NYC Funder — Liz Frederick is a board member of IMPACT 100 NYC, a women-led collective engaged in transformational grantmaking to support nonprofits.
- Manhattan Criminal Courthouse Partner — Hosts Avenues for Justice headquarters to enable direct support for court-involved youth.
- Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Government — Joint funder with the Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) supporting Avenues for Justice programs
- Nation Swell Council Network — Liz Frederick is a Nation Swell Council Member, part of a community of senior thought leaders and change makers focused on scaling social impact.
- New York Community Trust Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Government — State-level funder supporting Avenues for Justice programs
- Philliber Research Associates Partner — Independent evaluator that collaborates with Avenues for Justice to produce annual reports on program outcomes.
- Pinkerton Foundation Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- R&Co4Generations Funder — Charitable partner of AFJ through Rothschild & Co’s philanthropic foundation, supporting transformative programs for youth in New York City.
- Reverend A.R. Bernard Partner — Participated in AFJ’s Juneteenth Father's Day Panel as a community leader.
- Robin Hood Foundation Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
- Robin Hood Foundation Funder — Philanthropic partner supporting AFJ's work with young people in New York City.
- Robin Hood Foundation Network — Liz Frederick was acknowledged as part of the Robin Hood Foundation’s 2024-2025 New ED/CEO Peer Leadership Group.
- Trinity Church Wall Street Funder — Funder of Avenues for Justice programs between 2023 and 2026
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Based Diversion with Wraparound Supportmethodology: diversion_programBy diverting court-involved and at-risk youth from incarceration into community-based programs that provide holistic, wraparound services—including court advocacy, education, workforce training, and mentoring—the organization reduces recidivism and promotes long-term success, because integrated support addresses both systemic barriers and individual needs at critical intervention points.
- Independent, Mixed-Methods Evaluation for Continuous Improvementmethodology: mixed_methods_evaluationBy partnering with independent evaluators and using mixed-methods impact assessment—combining quantitative outcomes with participant narratives—the organization strengthens program effectiveness and demonstrates transformation, because robust, multi-dimensional data informs adaptive practice and builds accountability.
- Transformative Engagement Through Sustained Mentorship and Opportunity Accessmethodology: holistic_youth_developmentBy providing consistent access to opportunities in education, employment, and leadership through structured internships, volunteer engagement, and mentorship, the organization fosters transformative youth development, because sustained, relationship-driven support shifts life perspectives and builds agency over time.
- Youth Part Model for Systemic Justice Reformmethodology: systemic_reform_modelBy advocating for and implementing the Youth Part model—which separates young people from adult prosecutions and integrates Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) services within the court system—the organization enables structural change that reduces criminalization of youth and improves outcomes, because institutional reforms create sustainable pathways out of the justice system.