Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog
Top Rated

Equal Justice Initiative

CharityWatch report issued
March 2019

Top-Rated Charity
A+
CharityWatch Grade
Our independent grade based
on a number of factors.
 
92%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$1
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.
Ratings & Metrics

Contact Information

Equal Justice Initiative
122 Commerce Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Other Names

EJI

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.eji.org

Stated Mission

To end mass incarceration & excessive punishment in the U.S.; to challenge racial & economic injustice; and to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.

View similar charities

Ratings & Metrics

Learn more about Ratings & Metrics
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 09/30/2018

Program Percentage: 92%

The percentage of Equal Justice Initiative's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$16,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $1

How many dollars Equal Justice Initiative spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$37,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
Equal Justice Initiative IRS Form 990 63-1135091
Equal Justice Initiative Audited Financial Statements 63-1135091
Entity: Equal Justice Initiative
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 63-1135091
Entity: Equal Justice Initiative
Document Type: Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: 63-1135091

Governance & Transparency

Learn more about Governance & Transparency
CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
This charity is Top-Rated
What does it mean to be Top-Rated?
 
Equal Justice Initiative
meets governance benchmarks.
 
Equal Justice Initiative
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy No Sharing  

Top Salaries

Learn more about Top Salaries

Unable to Provide Salaries

CharityWatch is unable to provide a range of Top Three Salaries for this charity for the above fiscal reporting year because we lack complete salary data for the organization. Except for officers, directors, and trustees, the IRS does not require breakouts of salaries totaling less than $100,000.

For example, XYZ charity would be required to provide a breakout in its tax form of compensation to its president of $55,000, but would not be required to provide a breakout of $99,000 in compensation to its top medical researcher if that person is not also an officer, director, or trustee of the organization.

This charity reports that compensation to its officers, directors, and trustees is under $100,000 per individual. Donors who would like to view limited salary data for this organization should refer to its tax form, which may be available on the charity's web site or from a number of third-party sources. See CharityWatch's Links page for information on obtaining copies of charity tax forms.

Analysts' Notes

Learn more about Analysts' Notes
CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.
According to the Equal Justice Initiative audit of September 30, 2018 (Note 11, Temporarily Restricted Net Assets):

"During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Organization began a Capital Campaign designed to raise funds for the construction of The Memorial to Peace and Justice and From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration Museum. These projects were completed during the year ended September 30, 2018. During the year ended September 30, 2017, the Organization began a Capital Campaign designed to raise funds for the construction of The Memorial to Peace and Justice Center. Total anticipated costs associated with The Memorial to Peace and Justice Center are about $8 million dollars..."