Name: Towards Justice of Colorado
Address: Denver, CO

Towards Justice of Colorado

Denver, CO 80218

Tax ID46-4625504

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About this organization

Revenue

$573,087

Expenses

$676,389

Website

towardsjustice.org

Mission

TOWARDS JUSTICE IS A NONPROFIT LAW FIRM THAT SEEKS TO ADVANCE ECONOMIC JUSTICE THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, STRATEGIC POLICY ADVOCACY, AND COLLABORATION WITH ORGANIZERS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES. WE WERE FOUNDED IN RESPONSE TO THE HIGH VOLUME OF WAGE THEFT COMPLAINTS THAT WERE NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN COLORADO, BUT QUICKLY BROADENED OUR SCOPE TO TAKE ON CASES THAT DISMANTLE THE POWER IMBALANCES THAT UNDERMINE THE VALUE OF WORK AND DIMINISH WORKER RIGHTS.

About

TOWARDS JUSTICE IS A NON-PROFIT LAW FIRM THAT ATTACKS ECONOMIC INEQUALITY WITH A FOCUS ON WORKPLACE INJUSTICE. WE USE IMPACT LITIGATION SUPPLEMENTED WITH TARGETED AND STRATEGIC POLICY ADVOCACY AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO ATTACK SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES THAT UNDERMINE THE POWER OF WORKERS-IN PARTICULAR, IMMIGRANT WORKERS AND WORKERS OF COLOR-TO OBTAIN FAIR WAGES AND DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS. IN 2018, THE ORGANIZATION UNCOVERED AND CHALLENGED NEW WAYS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WORKERS, WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING THE AGE-OLD POWER IMBALANCES THAT CALCIFY INEQUALITY AND DEPRIVE WORKERS OF FINANCIAL STABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE LAUNCHED A CASE AGAINST AN ALLEGED MISCLASSIFICATION SCHEME THROUGH WHICH IMMIGRANTS WERE PEDDLED THE AMERICAN DREAM OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND ASKED TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WORK AS COMMERCIAL CLEANERS WITHOUT ANY OF THE CONTROL AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFIT THAT COME WITH TRUE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. WE ALSO CHALLENGED THE ALL-TOO-COMMON SHORT-CHANGING OF FOREIGN GUEST WORKERS THROUGH A LAWSUIT ON BEHALF OF A PROPOSED CLASS OF JAMAICAN WORKERS WHO ALLEGE THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED TIPS WHEN THEY WORKED AT AN EXCLUSIVE MONTANA SKI AND GOLF RESORT. AND WE FILED A CASE ON BEHALF OF NAIL TECHNICIANS ALLEGING THAT THEIR EMPLOYER'S POLICIES GOVERNING COMPENSATION WERE ILLEGAL. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONTINUED ADVOCATING FOR SHEPHERDS IN 2018. THE ORGANIZATION ARGUED BEFORE THE TENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ON BEHALF SHEPHERDS WHO ALLEGE THAT THEIR WAGES, WHICH AMOUNT TO BETWEEN 2 AND 4 PER HOUR DEPENDING ON THE STATE, WERE SUPPRESSED BY ANTI-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY IN THE MARKETPLACE. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO WON A VICTORY FROM THE DC CIRCUIT ON BEHALF OF AMERICAN AND FOREIGN SHEPHERDS IMPACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S ONGOING FAILURE TO REASONABLY IMPLEMENT THE TEMPORARY VISA PROGRAM THAT BRINGS MOST SHEPHERDS TO THIS COUNTRY. THE CIRCUIT COURT RETURNED THE CASE TO THE DISTRICT COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SAW THE EFFECTS OF OUR 2017 LITIGATION IN 2018. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CLIENT'S LAWSUIT AGAINST CARL'S JR. AND ITS PARENT COMPANY ALLEGING THAT NO-HIRE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN FRANCHISES VIOLATE ANTITRUST LAWS SPURRED PUBLIC ENFORCERS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO CHALLENGE THESE PRACTICES IN A VARIETY OF FAST FOOD FRANCHISES. BY THE END OF 2018, THESE AGREEMENTS HAD BEEN ELIMINATED AT SEVERAL FAST FOOD FRANCHISES AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN ADDITION TO OUR LITIGATION EFFORTS, THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN TARGETED POLICY ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND REGULATORS. WE TEND NOT TO SPEND RESOURCES ON POLICY CAMPAIGNS INVOLVING BIG-PICTURE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES THAT WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MANY ADVOCATES. HOWEVER, ON ISSUES RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST WAGE- AND-HOUR VIOLATIONS AND ANTICOMPETITIVE PRACTICES, WE DEDICATE TARGETED RESOURCES TO POLICY EFFORTS. IN 2018, THE ORGANIZATION WORKED WITH PARTNERS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO EXPAND THE FIGHT AGAINST WAGE THEFT IN COLORADO AND COLLABORATED WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO CALL UPON OUR CITY AND STATE PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PROTECT WORKERS. IN PARTICULAR, WE WORKED WITH THE BOULDER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S COUNCIL TO DISCUSS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT OF THE WAGE AND HOUR LAWS AND TO CO-HOST A CONVENING FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO DISCUSS THE ROLE PUBLIC ENFORCEMENT CAN PLAY IN FIGHTING WAGE THEFT AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION IN OUR STATE. WE ALSO WORKED WITH PARTNERS TO: ISSUE A WHITE PAPER DESCRIBING HOW THE CITY OF DENVER COULD STEP UP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WORKER EXPLOITATION; ENCOURAGE THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (CDLE) TO ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC ENFORCEMENT OF THE WAGE AND HOUR LAWS; RELEASE A MAJOR REPORT CALLING ON GOVERNOR ELECT POLIS TO STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE THE CDLE; AND HOST A NON- PARTISAN FORUM FOR COLORADO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE'S WORKING FAMILIES. WE DID THIS WHILE SUPPORTING NINA DISALVO AS SHE STEPPED BACK FROM HER LEADERSHIP ROLE AND ALLOWED DAVID SELIGMAN TO BECOME TOWARDS JUSTICE'S SECOND DIRECTOR. THIS LEADERSHIP TRANSITION HELPED US TO FOCUS ON OUR MISSION AND THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT OUR DIRECTION AS AN ORGANIZATION. WE BEGAN DESCRIBING OUR WORK, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN FUNCTIONALLY INTEGRATED, AS A LONG PIPELINE OF WORKER SUPPORT RATHER THAN AS TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS (IMPACT LITIGATION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE). TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE SERVICES, MAINTAIN OUR COLLABORATING ATTORNEYS NETWORK, AND CONNECT VICTIMS OF WORKPLACE ABUSE TO OUR NETWORK LAWYERS, NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. BUT WE DON'T DESCRIBE THAT AS SEPARATE FROM OUR LITIGATION WORK, BUT INSTEAD AS PART OF OUR BROAD SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS THE IMPORTANCE OF LEVERAGING OUR RESOURCES TO MAXIMIZE OUR OWN EFFECTIVENESS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PARTNERS TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF WORKERS. OUR 2018 LEADERSHIP TRANSITION ALSO PROMPTED THE ORGANIZATION TO STEP BACK FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SUPPORTING BILINGUAL LEGAL INTAKE VOLUNTEERS AND JUST WAGES NAVIGATORS. WE REMAIN DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS HAVE A VOICE AND MECHANISMS TO HOLD THEIR EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR WORKPLACE VIOLATIONS. THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE TO INVOLVE ANSWERING THE PHONE AND MAKING REFERRALS, BUT IT WILL LIKELY INVOLVE LESS EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN HOUSE, WHETHER THROUGH ATTORNEYS OR JUST WAGES NAVIGATORS. INSTEAD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE DAY-TO-DAY EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS ACROSS OUR MARKETPLACE.

Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing

The non-profit's aim, as stated in the filing, is “Towards justice is a nonprofit law firm that seeks to advance economic justice through impact litigation, strategic policy advocacy, and collaboration with organizers and public agencies. we were founded in response to the high volume of wage theft complaints that were not being addressed in colorado, but quickly broadened our scope to take on cases that dismantle the power imbalances that undermine the value of work and diminish worker rights.”.

When referring to its actions, they were outlined as: “Towards justice is a nonprofit law firm that seeks to advance economic justice through impact litigation, strategic policy advocacy, and collaboration with organizers and public agencies. we were founded in response to the high volume of wage theft complaints that were not being addressed in colorado, but quickly broadened our scope to take on cases that dismantle the power imbalances that undermine the value of work and diminish worker rights.”.

The non-profit has complied with legal obligations by reporting their state of operation as CO.
The non-profit's address in 2020 is noted in the filing as 1410 HIGH STREET, DENVER, CO, 80218.
The non-profit's form for 2020 reports a total of 9 employees.
Does not operate a hospital.
Does not operate a school.
Does not collect art.
Does not provide credit counseling.
Does not have foreign activities.
Is not a donor advised fund.
Is not a private foundation.
Expenses are between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
Revenue is between $500,000 and $1,000,000+.
Revenue less expenses is -$103,302.
The salary policy for the CEO of the organization is established through a review and approval by an impartial party.
The organization has a written policy that describes how long it will retain documents.
The organization has 5 independent voting members.
The organization was formed in 2014.
The organization has a written policy that addresses conflicts of interest.
The organization is required to file Schedule B.
The organization is required to file Schedule O.
The organization engages in lobbying activities.
The organization's financial statements were compiled or reviewed by an accountant.
The organization pays $464,651 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
The organization pays $5,513 in fundraising expenses.
The organization provides Form 990 to its governing body.
The organization has minutes of its meetings.
The organization has a written whistleblower policy.

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