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JUST THE BEGINNING - A PIPELINE ORGANIZATION

EIN 36-3903197 CHICAGO, IL

Revenue 2024
$830,511
Expenses 2024
$901,687

Program services were 54.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
B82Z
Classification
1000
Street
1 S DEARBORN ST 20TH FLOOR

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

JUST THE BEGINNING - A PIPELINE ORGANIZATION ("JTB-APO") MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND NURTURE AN INTEREST IN THE LAW AMONG STUDENTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LIGHTING THE SPARK TO EXPLORE THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEAD.

  • SUMMER JUDICIAL INTERSHIP DIVERSITY PROGRAM -SUMMER JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP PROJECT (SJIP) HAS PLACED OVER 1,000 JUDICIAL INTERNS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS IN FEDERAL, APPELLATE, DISTRICT, BANKRUPTCY, MAGISTRATE, AND SELECT STATE APPELLATE JUDGES' CHAMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SINCE 2011.

    Expenses $242,222 · Revenue $23,226

  • SUMMER LEGAL INSTITUTE (SLI) IS JTB'S CORNERSTONE YOUTH PROGRAM. DURING THIS ONE-WEEK LEGAL IMMERSION PROGRAM, SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN INTERACTIVE, LEGAL-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THEIR READING, WRITING, CRITICAL THINKING, PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS.

    Expenses $118,949 · Revenue $11,149

  • OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING MIDDLE SCHOOL LAW CAMPS AND NATIONAL VIRTUAL PROGRAMS.MIDDLE SCHOOL LAW CAMP IS A FUN, EDUCATIONAL, AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO CAREERS IN LAW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND CONNECTIONS WITH JUDGES, LAWYERS, AND OTHER LEADERS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION. CONNECTED, IS A VIRTUAL VERSION OF THE WEEK-LONG LEGAL IMMERSION PROGRAM, PRESENTED THROUGH THE LEARNING PLATFORM, JTB UNIVERSITY. WITH A MIX OF VIDEO, LIVE, AND WEBINAR PRESENTATIONS, CONNECTEDED IS A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FACILITATED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMMING STAFF, VOLUNTEERS FROM CORPORATIONS, LAW FIRMS, AND COURTROOMS WHO ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S SCHOLARS.

    Expenses $126,907 · Revenue $12,078

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • EARL J BARNES II

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BEATRICE L JAMES-MOORE RET

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DANDREA M ANDERSON

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SEAN SUBER

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • SHARON BARNER

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ROBERT BAHRAMPOUR

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • VERONICA COUZO-KAMENJARIN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MARIE GILLIAM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • BRANDI HOWARD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • LINDSAY LAVINE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JOSEPH LEVENTHAL

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ELI LITOFF

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ERNESTO PALOMO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • PATRICE SABACH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • JACQUELYN STONE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • NICOLE WASHINGTON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DONNA WELCH

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • VANIA MONTERO WIT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • ANTONETTE N SMITH

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $188,750
    From this org
    $188,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $188,750
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $188,750

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $830,511
    Expenses
    $901,687
    Contributions
    $778,368
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $734,493
    Expenses
    $880,398
    Contributions
    $588,316
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $1,587,260
    Expenses
    $1,190,405
    Contributions
    $1,417,632
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $530,435
    Expenses
    $546,782
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,383,103

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $613,028
    Expenses
    $643,264
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,393,084

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $565,965
    Expenses
    $460,892
    Assets (EOY)
    $95,927

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $789,429
    Assets (EOY)
    $94,152

  • 2011 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $449,718
    Assets (EOY)
    $143,388

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 23 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.