GOLD2023

COMPANIONS JOURNEYING TOGETHER INC

Innovative services impacting incarcerated persons and their families

Western Sprgs, IL   |  www.cjtinc.org

Mission

Companions Journeying Together, Inc., provides a forum to personally impact the emotional, spiritual, and social lives of the incarcerated and their families. Our vision is for a society that lives by the principles of restorative justice.

Ruling year info

1987

Executive Director

Mr Marv Baldwin

Main address

Po Box 457

Western Sprgs, IL 60558 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

36-3486812

NTEE code info

Family Services (P40)

Children's and Youth Services (P30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

This profile needs more info.

If it is your nonprofit, add a problem overview.

Login and update

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Aunt Mary's Storybook

Companions Journeying Together staff and trained volunteers bring into the jail or prison a selection of brand new books, along with audio recorders. They assist participating parents in choosing an age-appropriate book for each one of their children. Each of the participants are then given an opportunity to record him or herself reading the books for their children. If the participant wishes, he or she may end with a message of love to the children and thanks to the caregiver. On behalf of the parent, we then send the books and CD to the caregiver to give to the children.

Population(s) Served
Incarcerated people
Children and youth

We organize pen pal clubs whose members correspond one-on-one with prisoners. There is a tremendous hunger among people who are imprisoned for people with whom they can communicate living in the outside world. To meet this need, Companions has started pen pal clubs through which volunteers will have the opportunity to be a pen pal with such a person and at the same time receive helpful suggestions and support from others also in such a correspondence. Companions offers training, a post office box to use as a return address, and ongoing support.

Population(s) Served
Incarcerated people

We send birthday, Mother’s Day, and Christmas cards to imprisoned people. We at Companions believe that each person was created by God with talent, gifts and dignity. The courts have judged those who are imprisoned. It is our mission to convey to them our belief that they are more than their worst actions and decisions. We also believe that communication with their loved ones and others who can be a positive force in their lives is critical.

Population(s) Served
Incarcerated people

Where we work

Affiliations & memberships

American Jail Association 2017

Videos

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection

Financials

COMPANIONS JOURNEYING TOGETHER INC
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

COMPANIONS JOURNEYING TOGETHER INC

Board of directors
as of 11/01/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Jana Minor

Carolyn Croft

Sinsinawa Dominicans

Jana Minor

Ashley N. Downing

Office of the State Appellate Defender

Paula Blew Sims

Dennis Kitchen

The Azek Company (Ret)

Monica Halloran

Dominican University

Michele Rammien

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes