Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works reported $23.4 million in revenue and $24.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $72.10 went to program services, $15.44 to management and general costs and $12.46 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 93.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $424,978 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 30% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 274 covered crime & legal-related charities: $87.85 programs, $11.30 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $23MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 72.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 12.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.14 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 93.7% | 94.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 4.7% | 50.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $424,978 | $245,814 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.77% | 1.41% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 18 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 15.8 | 6.4 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 27 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseLegal fellowships in the public interest:Equal Justice Works supported 181 design your own fellows serving in two-year fellowships at 82 host organizations across 47 cities in 22 states. Through the dyo fellowship, fellows design and lead innovative legal service projects that address unmet legal needs in their communities while launching long-term careers in public interest law. Dyo fellows provide direct legal services, policy and advocacy, and community education in areas such as veterans' benefits, civil rights, access to education, community economic development, and voting rights. In…
Law school engagement and advocacy:Equal Justice Works also offers programs to increase the number of law students and lawyers dedicating all or part of their careers to public service by engaging and collaborating with law schools, students, and attorneys. Equal Justice Works maintains a robust law school membership, which includes over 90% of aba-accredited law schools, and helps ensure those members know of and participate in the programs offered by Equal Justice Works, including fellowships described above as well as the following programming for law students. The organization provides…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $364,866 | $0 | $60,112 | $424,978 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $324,512 | $0 | $36,585 | $361,097 |
| SENIOR VP OF NETWORK ENGAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,027 | $0 | $29,078 | $262,105 |
| VP AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $206,274 | $0 | $39,925 | $246,199 |
| DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $204,054 | $0 | $36,025 | $240,079 |
| VP OF LSEA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,262 | $0 | $27,946 | $223,208 |
18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Equal Justice Works (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $424K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b27 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 551
- Volunteers Part I, line 626
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MARCUM LLP Accounting | $599,636 |
| MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL Event venue | $308,005 |
| ORR GROUP Event management and consulting | $299,646 |
| THE RABEN GROUP Consulting | $240,031 |
| LINDER & ASSOCIATES INC Consulting | $171,299 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
22 private foundations reported grants to Equal Justice Works totaling $3.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Equal Justice Works's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Equal Justice Works, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Equal Justice Works spent in FY2025, $72.10 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Anti-Recidivism CoalitionLos Angeles, CA · revenue $23M · programs 82.6% · FY2025
- Center for Family RepresentationNew York, NY · revenue $24M · programs 85.7% · 2024
- Essex Non-Profit Housing CorporationWarren, MI · revenue $23M · programs 95.2% · FY2025
- Legal Aid of Southeast and Central OhioColumbus, OH · revenue $24M · programs 89.0% · 2024
- Snohomish County Public Defender AssociationEverett, WA · revenue $23M · programs 91.7% · 2024
All crime & legal-related charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Equal Justice Works's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, Equal Justice Works reported that 72.1% of its $24.0 million in expenses went to program services, 15.4% to management and general and 12.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Equal Justice Works pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Equal Justice Works reported for one person in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025 was $424,978, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Equal Justice Works get its money?
Of $23.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, 93.7% came from contributions and grants (including 4.7% from government grants) and 0.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Equal Justice Works a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1469738 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025, object 202631819349300343 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, object 202511649349300416 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2023, object 202431909349301513 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022, object 202341929349300609 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, object 202241809349300434 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2020, object 202101599349300320 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1469738: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.