Nonprofit · EIN 13-3839293
WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC
Also known as BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10271
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $73,820,955 | $58,143,269 | $15,677,686 | $348,767,929 | $56,469,408 | $292,298,521 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $57,935,075 | $50,635,203 | $7,299,872 | $313,321,773 | $46,713,492 | $266,608,281 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $110,506,866 | $41,731,749 | $68,775,117 | $288,717,846 | $48,382,858 | $240,334,988 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $59,850,231
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $14,243,069
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $6,570,932
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$272,345
- Other revenue
- -$272,345
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $120,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $3,695,434
- Other salaries and wages
- $25,045,164
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $35,187,355
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $142,614
- Accounting fees
- $34,250
- Occupancy
- $5,624,144
- Travel
- $1,257,622
- Depreciation
- $1,614,104
- Program services (functional)
- $41,584,019
- Management and general (functional)
- $11,449,307
- Fundraising (functional)
- $5,109,943
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $313,321,773
- Total assets, end of year
- $348,767,929
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $56,469,408
- Net assets, end of year
- $292,298,521
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $15,173,712
- Publicly traded securities
- $235,341,279
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $245,477,751
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $46,820,770
- Gross receipts
- $142,744,800
- Employees
- 258
- Volunteers
- 29
- Year formed
- 1995
- State of legal domicile
- NY
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 June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL WALDMAN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $650,385 | $50,231 |
| MELISSA ESTOK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $444,089 | $24,861 |
| JOHN ANTHONY BUTLER | VP/COO Officer | 40 | $387,921 | $40,537 |
| JOHN KOWAL | VP, PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $387,212 | $36,265 |
| WENDY WEISER | VP, DEMOCRACY PROGRAM Key employee | 40 | $374,013 | $39,511 |
| JEANINE CHIRLIN | CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $363,755 | $49,095 |
| JAEMIN KIM | VP, DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $355,969 | $54,034 |
| REBECCA WEITZMAN | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & STRAT Key employee | 40 | $332,233 | $51,638 |
| LARRY NORDEN | VP, ELECTIONS & COMMUNICATION Highest-paid employee | 40 | $319,722 | $33,330 |
| KAREEM CRAYTON | VP, WASHINTON D.C. Highest-paid employee | 40 | $285,931 | $44,539 |
| ELISA MILLER | SECRETARY / GENERAL COUNSEL Officer | 32 | $307,728 | $10,720 |
| LAUREN-BROOKE EISEN | SR. DIR., JUSTICE PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $259,776 | $52,566 |
| CHRISTINE MELLAMPE | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $184,697 | $14,005 |
| KIMBERLEY HARRIS | BOARD CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE VARNEY | BOARD CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
27 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT ATKINS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LESLIE BHUTANI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MAGGIE BLACKHAWK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ADAM B COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY DAVIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| LESLIE FAGEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SIBYL FRANKENBURG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DANIELLE GRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| VANITA GUPTA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HELEN HERSHKOFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| THOMAS JORDE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN KERSTEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DANIEL KOLB | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| RUTH LAZARUS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PAUL LIGHTFOOT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TROY MCKENZIE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| TREVOR MORRISON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MELISSA MURRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WENDY NEU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| FRANZ PAASCHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN REISS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEPHEN SCHULHOFER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| EMILY SPITZER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DAVID SUSSMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| GERAD TORRES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ADAM WINKLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| KENJI YOSHINO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 39 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL WALDMAN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $622,528 | $53,730 |
| JOHN ANTHONY BUTLER | VP/COO Officer | 40 | $369,243 | $38,317 |
| WENDY WEISER | DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY PROGRAM Key employee | 40 | $365,548 | $39,701 |
| JOHN KOWAL | VP , PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $368,596 | $36,130 |
| JEANINE PLANT-CHIRLIN | CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $350,987 | $47,877 |
| JAEMIN KIM | VP DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $326,852 | $53,687 |
| MANUEL MONGE | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $292,105 | $40,580 |
| LARRY NORDEN | SR. DIRECTOR, ELECTIONS & GOVT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $282,285 | $30,299 |
| LAUREN-BROOKE EISEN | SR. DIR., JUSTICE PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $246,441 | $48,135 |
| REBECCA WEITZMAN | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGY Key employee | 40 | $247,578 | $42,149 |
| ELISA MILLER | SECRETARY / GENERAL COUNSEL Officer | 32 | $275,927 | $9,737 |
| MELISSA ESTOK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $118,425 | $8,335 |
| ROBERT ATKINS | BOARD CO-CHAIR (DECEMBER 2023) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICIA BAUMAN | BOARD CO-CHAIR (DECEMBER 2023) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLEY HARRIS | BOARD CO-CHAIR (PRESENT) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE VARNEY | BOARD CO-CHAIR (PRESENT) Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LESLIE BHUTANI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MAGGIE BLACKHAWK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM B COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY DAVIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LESLIE FAGEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SIBYL FRANKENBURG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIELLE GRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HELEN HERSHKOFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS JORDE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL KOLB | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RUTH LAZARUS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL LIGHTFOOT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TROY MCKENZIE | EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TREVOR MORRISON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MELISSA MURRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WENDY NEU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANZ PAASCHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN REISS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN SCHULHOFER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY SPITZER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERAD TORRES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM WINKLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KENJI YOSHINO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 41 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL WALDMAN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $599,544 | $47,263 |
| WENDY WEISER | DIRECTOR DEMOCRACY PROGRAM Key employee | 40 | $346,767 | $37,832 |
| JOHN ANTHONY BUTLER | VP/COO Officer | 40 | $344,851 | $37,328 |
| JOHN KOWAL | VP , PROGRAMS Key employee | 40 | $349,562 | $32,358 |
| LISA BENENSON | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGY Key employee | 40 | $346,116 | $34,920 |
| JEANINE PLANT-CHIRLIN | CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $332,958 | $45,765 |
| MANUEL MONGE | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $296,940 | $46,697 |
| JAEMIN KIM | VP DEVELOPMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $285,574 | $52,099 |
| LARRY NORDEN | SR. DIRECTOR, ELECTIONS & GOVERNMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $270,604 | $29,769 |
| LAUREN-BROOKE EISEN | SR. DIR., JUSTICE PROGRAM Highest-paid employee | 40 | $232,927 | $48,101 |
| ELISA MILLER | SECRETARY / GENERAL COUNSEL Officer | 32 | $251,136 | $8,990 |
| ROBERT ATKINS | BOARD CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PATRICIA BAUMAN | BOARD CO-CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LESLIE BHUTANI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MAGGIE BLACKHAWK | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| NANCY BRENNAN | BOARD MEMBER (DECEASED - SEP 2022) Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM B COX | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY DAVIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LESLIE FAGEN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SIBYL FRANKENBURG | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIELLE GRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIMBERLEY HARRIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| HELEN HERSHKOFF | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS JORDE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL KOLB | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RUTH LAZARUS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PAUL LIGHTFOOT | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TROY MCKENZIE | EX-OFFICIO Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| TREVOR MORRISON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MELISSA MURRAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| WENDY NEU | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FRANZ PAASCHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN REISS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEPHEN SCHULHOFER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD REVESZ | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY SPITZER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERALD ROSENFELD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERAD TORRES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| CHRISTINE VARNEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ADAM WINKLER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KENJI YOSHINO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 120 BROADWAY STE 1750, NEW YORK, NY 10271-0202
- In care of
- % E JOSHUA ROSENKRANZ
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MICHAEL WALDMAN, 120 BROADWAY 1750, NEW YORK, NY 10271
- Signed the 990
- JOHN ANTHONY BUTLER, VP/COO
- Phone
- (646) 292-8310
- Website
- WWW.BRENNANCENTER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- TAIT WELLER & BAKER LLP
Mission
THE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN, JR. CENTER FOR JUSTICE IS A NONPARTISAN LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE THAT SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE AMERICAN SYSTEMS OF DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE.
Program accomplishments
- THE BRENNAN CENTER WORKS TO: PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS; ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS; BALANCE CIVIL LIBERTIES WITH NATIONAL SECURITY; DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW; AND ADVANCE MEANINGFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. WE CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOP POLICY PROPOSALS IN THOSE AND RELATED AREAS. WE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON AND ADVOCATE FOR OUR POLICY PROPOSALS. WE LITIGATE AND PROVIDE OTHER LEGAL ADVOCACY AND POLICY EXPERTISE ON OUR ISSUES NATIONALLY AND TO BOLSTER ADVOCACY LED BY STATE AND GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES.Expenses $41,584,019 · grants $120,500
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 June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 13-3839293
- 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
- 1995
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B40Z)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $348,767,929
- Income (IRS master file)
- $142,744,800
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $73,820,955 | $58,143,269 | $348,767,929 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $57,935,075 | $50,635,203 | $313,321,773 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $110,506,866 | $41,731,749 | $288,717,846 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $45,056,482 | $33,320,745 | $161,401,732 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 13-3839293).
Questions about WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC
- What is the EIN of WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC is 13-3839293.
- Is WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
- Are donations to WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE 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 WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MICHAEL WALDMAN.
- Who are the officers and directors of WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 42 people; 13 received compensation from the organization, the highest $650,385 (MICHAEL WALDMAN, PRESIDENT).
- How much revenue does WILLIAM J BRENNAN JR CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $73,820,955, expenses of $58,143,269 and total assets of $348,767,929 at year end.
Other nonprofits in NEW YORK
- NEW YORK UNIVERSITY EIN 13-5562308 · last filed 990 for 2025
- TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY EIN 13-5598093 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI EIN 13-6171197 · last filed 990 for 2024
- CITY UNIVERSITY CONSTRUCTION FUND EIN 13-2587538 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COLLEGE BOARD EIN 13-1623965 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION EIN 13-1879954 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- NYC SCHOOL SUPPORT SERVICES INC EIN 81-2621466 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT EIN 13-5596846 · last filed 990 for 2025