irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $112KPOLICY & ADVOCACY (SYSTEMIC CHANGE) - CCF PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR SELF-EMPOWERMENT FOR WOMEN WHO ENGAGE IN ITS DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS (COLLEGE & CAREER) AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TO ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGES THAT ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. PARTICIPANTS HAVE WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE WOMEN INFLUENCING SYSTEMS & HISTORY (WISH) ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY TRAINING OFFERS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SYSTEM IMPACTED WOMEN IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA.
- #2 $107KTECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - THRIVE PROVIDES TRAINING TO STAFF AND FACULTY AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEMS AND HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE POSITIONED TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS. THE EVIDENCE-BASED AND PROMISING PRACTICES WE USE IN OUR COLLEGE & CAREER PROGRAMS ARE THE BASIS FOR THE CURRICULUM, WHICH COVERS STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CRIMINAL RECORD HISTORIES.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Academic Support Program
Provides scholarships of up to $1,500 per semester for college or certification programs to justice-impacted women
E.M.P.O.W.E.R.E.D. Entrepreneurship
Cohort-based program teaching business fundamentals culminating in a marketplace expo for participant ventures
L.I.T.T.Y. Book & Writers Club
Transformative writing program helping women find their voice, share personal stories, and develop skills to become published authors
P.O.W.E.R.
Policy Organizers for Women's Empowerment and Rights training to build civic leadership and advocacy skills
Soular Sistas
Member support group focused on wellness, personal growth, and empowerment through community building
V.O.I.C.E.
Voters Organized for Informed Civic Engagement promoting voter registration and education among justice-impacted women
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocate for policy changes to expand access to education for incarcerated individualsAdvocates for access to higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, including through the national Education from the Inside Out (EIO) Coalition, and played a role in restoring Pell Grants and New York’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for justice-impacted individuals.
- Lead advocacy campaigns to remove criminal history barriers in employment and voting rightsPlayed a key advocacy role in the passage of New York State's and New York City's "Ban the Box" laws and contributed to the 2021 New York State law that automatically restores voting rights upon completion of sentence.
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Political Leadership Training for Underrepresented Groups 2 activities
- Deliver policy and advocacy training to system-impacted womenProvides policy and advocacy training through the Women Influencing Systems & History (WISH) program and delivered training to 48 women across four cohorts to lead campaigns for social justice reform.
- Support civic engagement and voter education among justice-impacted womenProvides training and support for voter education, voter registration, and informed civic engagement for women impacted by the justice system, including leadership development for civic participation.
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Published Narrative Projects 1 activity
- Compile and publish personal narratives of justice-impacted womenPublished an anthology titled “If These Scars Could Talk: Women Transforming Wounds into Wisdom” and compiles personal narratives to promote healing, community rebuilding, and reclamation of futures.
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Startup Acceleration & Business Growth Support 1 activity
- Deliver cohort-based entrepreneurship and leadership development programsOffers a cohort-based entrepreneurship program that teaches business development skills and concludes with a marketplace expo, and provides training to build skills and confidence for civic leadership and community change.
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Women's Wellness and Empowerment Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate peer support and wellness groups for personal growthHosts peer support groups centered on wellness, personal growth, and empowerment for women in the program, fostering community and resilience.
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Theater and Performing Arts in Corrections 1 activity
- Operate a theater program for expressive development and public speakingRuns the Theater for Social Change Ensemble, which supports formerly incarcerated women in developing expressive and public speaking skills through performance.
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Women's Educational Advancement 1 activity
- Provide academic scholarships and tuition assistance to justice-impacted womenOffers scholarships of up to $1,500 per semester for college or $1,500 annually for certification programs, and helps formerly incarcerated women pay off old college loans to regain access to transcripts and credits for continuing their education.
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Workplace DEI Research and Training 1 activity
- Provide technical assistance and training on inclusive practices for justice-impacted individualsDelivers evidence-based technical assistance and training to staff, faculty, and HR professionals on inclusive practices for serving and hiring people affected by the criminal legal system, and has provided training and consultation to 178 individuals across multiple organizations and states.
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Reentry Support Services 1 activity
- Support equitable access to opportunity and human rights for justice-impacted women and familiesProvides comprehensive support to women and families impacted by mass criminalization to gain equitable access to opportunity and human rights, including through education, advocacy, and personal development programs.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conduct research on barriers to higher education for individuals with felony convictionsConducted research finding that 66% of college applicants with felony convictions were deterred from completing the application process due to criminal history screening.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.62M
Contributions & grants$1.57M97%
Program service revenue$3K0%
Investment income$44K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.96M
Program expenses54%
Admin / overhead32%
Fundraising15%
Salaries & benefits$969K
Grants paid out$105K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.94M
Cash$1.38M
Investments$595K
Liabilities$123K
Net assets$2.82M
Liquid reserves12.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +173.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARLON PETERSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $222K |
| NADIA LOPEZ | CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER | 40 | $155K |
board members · 16
- BARAT DICKMAN — DIRECTOR
- BARBARA CALDERONI — DIRECTOR
- CYNTHIA ALBERTS — DIRECTOR
- DAWN WALKER — DIRECTOR
- HELEN SKIPPER — DIRECTOR
- IRENE BRANCHE — VICE CHAIR (UNTIL 1/24)
- JACKI KELLY — DIRECTOR
- JANE PAULS — DIRECTOR
- JOY THOMA — CHAIR (FROM 1/24)
- KACHI AKOMA — DIRECTOR
- LIZA EATON — DIRECTOR
- MANDY NGUYEN — SECRETARY
- MAURA KERNAN — DIRECTOR
- RUTH CASSEUS — DIRECTOR
- STEFEN R SHORT — DIRECTOR
- YOLANDA JOHNSON PETERKIN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Distributed the organization's anthology “If These Scars Could Talk,” which debuted at #1 in Photo Essays during its opening week.
- Aspen Institute Funder — Fellowship recipient through programs at the Aspen Institute
- Aspen Institute Partner — Collaborated on the publication of the State of the Field report on two-generation approaches to family well-being.
- Beyond Rosie’s Partner — Sharon White-Harrigan, a CCF alumna, leads Beyond Rosie’s, suggesting an organizational link through shared leadership and mission alignment.
- CCF members Partner — Women in the program participate in peer-led support and community-building activities.
- Center for Community Alternatives Partner — Coordinated partner in the Education from the Inside Out (EIO) Coalition
- Columbia Center for Justice Partner — CCF alumnae including Kathy Boudin are affiliated with the Columbia Center for Justice, indicating a professional and advocacy connection.
- Department of Public Safety Partner — Received evidence-based training and follow-up consultation to improve services for justice-involved persons.
- Dr. Nadia Lopez Partner — Co-compiled the anthology 'If These Scars Could Talk' with Taiia Smart Young.
- JustLeadershipUSA Partner — Coordinated partner in the Education from the Inside Out (EIO) Coalition
- NYCHA program to reunite formerly incarcerated people with their families Partner — Yolanda Johnson-Peterkin, a CCF alumna, works with a NYCHA program focused on family reunification, indicating collaboration or alignment with public housing and reentry services.
- Open Society Foundations Funder — Fellowship recipient through programs at Open Society Foundations
- PEN America Funder — Fellowship recipient through programs at PEN America
- Taiia Smart Young Partner — Co-compiled the anthology 'If These Scars Could Talk' with Dr. Nadia Lopez.
strategies · 5
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 Investment as an Alternative to Incarcerationmethodology: community-investment-over-incarcerationBy investing in education, economic empowerment, and community-based support instead of incarceration, we produce greater public safety and care for vulnerable populations because community resources address root causes of harm more effectively than punishment.
- Leadership Development Through Integrated Education and Lived Experiencemethodology: lived-experience-as-knowledgeBy combining college education, career advancement, and holistic support with the empowerment of lived experience, we produce self-efficacy and civic leadership among justice-impolved women because integrating personal narrative with skill-building fosters agency and systemic critique.
- Policy Change Through Lived Experience Leadershipmethodology: lived-experience-leadershipBy centering the leadership and testimony of formerly incarcerated women in advocacy and technical assistance, we produce more effective and equitable policy reforms because lived experience provides essential insight into systemic failures and solutions.
- Removal of Structural Barriers to Educationmethodology: financial-barrier-removalBy providing direct financial support and integrated services, we increase educational access and completion among justice-impacted women because removing economic and logistical barriers enables sustained engagement with transformative opportunities like college and certification programs.
- Transformative Storytelling for Healing and Advocacymethodology: storytelling-for-healingBy using creative writing and collective storytelling, we transform individual trauma into public testimony and political voice because narrative reclamation builds personal agency and fosters social empathy, enabling justice-impacted women to become advocates for systemic change.