Totals
- Total revenue
- $4,896,194
- Total expenses
- $5,270,091
- Contributions and grants received
- $3,470,358
- Grants paid
- $199,470
- Program service revenue
- $1,366,999
- Investment income
- $9,276
- Other revenue
- $49,561
- Total assets, end of year
- $9,720,510
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $4,456,441
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $5,264,069
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $3,350,309
- Management and general expenses
- $1,776,205
- Fundraising expenses
- $143,577
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $3,350,309
Program services were 63.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1a · Federated campaigns
$222,740
-
1e · Government grants (contributions)
$2,406,767
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$840,851
-
2a · Program service revenue: TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROG
total $1,083,211 · related or exempt $1,083,211
-
2b · Program service revenue: PRO HOUSING
total $283,788 · related or exempt $283,788
-
3 · Investment income
total $385 · excluded $385
-
6a · Gross rents
real property $25,951
-
6b · Less rental expenses
real property $0
-
6c · Rental income or loss
real property $25,951
-
6d · Net rental income or loss
total $25,951 · related or exempt $25,951
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
other assets $8,891
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
other assets $0
-
7c · Gain or loss
other assets $8,891
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $8,891 · excluded $8,891
-
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME
total $23,610 · related or exempt $23,610
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$23,610
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $199,470 · program services $199,470
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $349,117 · program services $275,802 · management and general $59,350 · fundraising $13,965
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $2,178,181 · program services $1,735,938 · management and general $365,871 · fundraising $76,372
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $495,662 · program services $338,743 · management and general $135,906 · fundraising $21,013
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $208,038 · program services $163,949 · management and general $37,041 · fundraising $7,048
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $1,305 · management and general $1,305
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $81,590 · management and general $81,590
-
11g · Fees: other
total $147,251 · program services $26,635 · management and general $116,031 · fundraising $4,585
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $9,942 · program services $1,798 · management and general $7,834 · fundraising $310
-
13 · Office expenses
total $66,751 · program services $4,442 · management and general $58,169 · fundraising $4,140
-
14 · Information technology
total $62,145 · program services $16,970 · management and general $42,853 · fundraising $2,322
-
16 · Occupancy
total $231,942 · program services $72,601 · management and general $159,341
-
17 · Travel
total $13,430 · program services $7,367 · management and general $5,290 · fundraising $773
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $4,372 · program services $1,194 · management and general $3,015 · fundraising $163
-
20 · Interest
total $207,553 · program services $127,193 · management and general $80,360
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $438,392 · management and general $438,392
-
23 · Insurance
total $286,247 · program services $216,434 · management and general $60,763 · fundraising $9,050
-
24a · Other expenses: MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
total $102,675 · program services $28,038 · management and general $70,801 · fundraising $3,836
-
24b · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT RENTAL/MAINT
total $95,455 · program services $78,959 · management and general $16,496
-
24c · Other expenses: BANK LOANS AND FEES
total $36,580 · program services $15,069 · management and general $21,511
-
24d · Other expenses: PROGRAM SUPPLIES
total $27,464 · program services $23,507 · management and general $3,957
-
24e · All other expenses
total $26,529 · program services $16,200 · management and general $10,329
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $158,934 · end of year $142,263
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $42,748 · end of year $18,213
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $781,448 · end of year $385,402
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $396,860 · end of year $991,447
-
8 · Inventories for sale or use
beginning of year $156,966 · end of year $153,404
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $12,314 · end of year $21,290
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$9,682,836
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$1,682,312
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $7,610,844 · end of year $8,000,524
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $82,419
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $0 · end of year $7,967
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $340,470 · end of year $556,914
-
23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable
beginning of year $3,247,940 · end of year $3,880,879
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $0 · end of year $18,648
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $5,439,746 · end of year -$1,692,364
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $214,377 · end of year $6,956,433
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON ARE TYPICALLY STIGMATIZED, OVERLOOKED, AND PIGEONHOLED BY SOCIETY. WHEN THEY WALK(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)INTO PROJECT RETURN, THEY DISCOVER THAT HERE THEY ARE VALUED, HEARD, AND ENCOURAGED. WHILE REDUCTION OF INCARCERATION AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM CONTINUES TO ELUDE THE U.S., PROJECT RETURN SERVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION. PROJECT RETURN IS SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESSFUL NEW BEGINNINGS OF PEOPLE RETURNING TO OUR COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION. NOW IN ITS 45TH YEAR OF SERVICE TO TENNESSEE, PROJECT RETURN PROVIDES REENTRY ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TO HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN EACH YEAR.
Activities or mission (Part I)
DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESSFUL NEW BEGINNINGS OF PEOPLE RETURNING TO OUR COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION.
-
JOB READINESS PROGRAM AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES: EVERY WEEK, PROJECT RETURN CONDUCTS A 2.5-DAY COURSE THAT EQUIPS OUR PARTICIPANTS WITH THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE WORKPLACE. FOR PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON AND RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SKILLS, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, AND OPORTUNITIES TO FIND AND KEEP A JOB. OUR CURRICULUM INCORPORATES FINANCIAL LITERACY, RELAPSE PREVENTION, AND DIGITAL LITERACY. COMPLETION OF OUR JOB READINESS CLASSES LEADS TO A STRUCTURED DAY OF INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING RESUME DEVELOPMENT, MOCK INTERVIEWING, AND JOB SEARCH PLANNING. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)DURING CLASS COMPLETION DAY, PROJECT RETURN STAFF EVALUATES AND ADDRESS PARTICIPANTS' IMMEDIATE, CRITICAL NEEDS, PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES SUCH AS: PURCHASING BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND PHOTO IDS; HOUSING ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF REFERRALS; PAYING FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND VISION EXAMS; BUS PASSES AND FOOD BAGS; AND TOOLS AND CLOTHING FOR WORK. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS AT PROJECT RETURN INCLUDE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES, JOB RETENTION SERVICES, HARD SKILLS TRAINING COURSES, AND AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM.
Expenses $1,376,162 · Grants $199,470 · Revenue $49,561
-
PRO HOUSING: THE TYPICAL HOUSING TRAJECTORY WE SEE FOR OUR PEOPLE IS THAT THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO RESIDE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF THEIR RELEASE, BUT IT EVENTUALLY COMES TO AN END AND THEY MUST LOOK FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS EARN SATISFACTORY WAGES AND ARE RELIABLE TAXPAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, STIGMA OFTEN LEADS TO EXCLUSION FROM THE PRIVATE MARKET, AS LANDLORDS ARE FREE TO USE CONVICTION HISTORY AS A BASIS FOR REJECTING THEIR APPLICATIONS. IT CAN BE PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GET ON A LEASE, DESPITE THEIR STEADY INCOME, SOLID REFERENCES, CAREFUL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND OVERALL WHEREWITHAL. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)ADDITIONALLY, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO PRISON JUST ONCE EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AT A RATE 7 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHILE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED MULTIPLE TIMES EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS AT A RATE 13 TIMES HIGHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN INCARCERATED AT ALL. RECOGNIZING THIS SEVERE NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH A CONVICTION HISTORY, AND FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF PROE PROJECT RETURN LAUNCHED ITS SECOND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, PROH (PROJECT RETURN OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING), IN 2017. THROUGH PROH, PROJECT RETURN ACQUIRES AND REHABS MODEST, SCATTERED-SITE (ANTI-ENCLAVE), MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTIES, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO RENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME THROUGH PROJECT RETURN'S PROGRAMS. SINCE LAUNCH IN 2017, PROJECT RETURN HAS PURCHASED AND REHABBED 38 UNITS (DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES) IN SITES SCATTERED ACROSS NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA FOR RENT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE LEADING SUCCESSFUL NEW LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION. SPEAKING TO THE SUCCESS OF PROH, RECIDIVISM RATES OF OUR PROH TENANTS IS 3% AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF OPERATION. BY PROVIDING SAFE, STABLE, PERMANENT HOUSING, INDIVIDUALS CAN LEAD PRODUCTIVE, SUCCESSFUL LIVES AND LEAVE PRISON BEHIND.
Expenses $308,631 · Revenue $283,788
-
PRO EMPLOYMENT (PROE) AND PRO PROPERTY SOLUTIONS (PROPS): DESPITE INCREASING AWARENESS AND WILLINGNESS OF EMPLOYERS TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH CONVICTION HISTORIES, THERE IS STILL TREMENDOUS RELUCTANCE TO HIRE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION. PROJECT RETURN OFFERS INNOVATIVE, EMPLOYMENT-CREATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AS A SOLUTION. PROE (PROJECT RETURN OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT), LAUNCHED IN 2013, FUNCTIONS AS A TRANSITIONAL JOBS PROGRAM THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN INCARCERATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH PROE, PROJECT RETURN HIRES ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS TEMPORARILY AND PLACES THEM IN JOBS ON THE WORKSITES OF PARTNERING EMPLOYERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THOSE COMPANIES GAIN MUCH-NEEDED WORKERS, WHILE PROJECT RETURN'S MOTIVATED JOB SEEKERS GAIN AN IMMEDIATE INCOME AND VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE, PROPELLING THEM INTO LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT. PROJECT RETURN OUTFITS THEM FOR THE JOB, AND PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYEES WITH JOB COACHING, TRAINING, TRANSPORTATION, AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT. THROUGH PROE, OUR PARTICIPANTS GAIN REAL-WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE ON THE JOB, AS WELL AS OUR INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND FEEDBACK, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER CRITICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PROJECT RETURN GENERATES EARNED INCOME FOR THE OPERATION AND GROWTH OF THIS EMPLOYMENT-CREATING SOCIAL ENTERPRISE.
Expenses $1,665,516 · Revenue $1,083,211
As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Kelly HarterKELLY HARTER
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Virginia BurnettVIRGINIA BURNETT
VICE PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Bob BrewerBOB BREWER
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Bernard TurnerBERNARD TURNER
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Dustin CarltonDUSTIN CARLTON
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Alonzo CheeksALONZO CHEEKS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mark EppsMARK EPPS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Mark FlemingMARK FLEMING
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Malcolm HarrisMALCOLM HARRIS
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Ike NwaeleleIKE NWAELELE
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Cathy SpencerCATHY SPENCER
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Charles StoryCHARLES STORY
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Kurt WestgardKURT WESTGARD
BOARD MEMBER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Rico XRICO X
CEO
- Total calculated
- $153,334
- From this org
- $153,334
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $153,334
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $0
- Nontaxable benefits
- $0
- Filer's total
- $153,334
-
Rosalie RussoROSALIE RUSSO
CFO
- Total calculated
- $60,867
- From this org
- $60,867
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Hours/week
- 40
-
Elizabeth HayesELIZABETH HAYES
COO
- Total calculated
- $134,915
- From this org
- $117,727
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $17,188
- Hours/week
- 40
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Independent compensation consultant
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
Answered no
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
No itemized grants to organizations on this return.
Taxable family on this return
Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.
Disregarded entities
Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.
-
INNOVESTMENTS LLC
REAL ESTATE · TN · income $762,236 · assets $4,017,163
Directly controlled by PROJECT RETURN
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 21 July 2026
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.5
- Source object
- 202602039349300900
Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.
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