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Nonprofiteer
← GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT.

Totals

Total revenue
$1,187,613
Total expenses
$1,236,199
Contributions and grants received
$1,274,513
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$64
Other revenue
-$86,964
Total assets, end of year
$1,083,661
Total liabilities, end of year
$106,400
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$977,261
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$925,337
Management and general expenses
$164,257
Fundraising expenses
$146,605
Program service expenses (Part III)
$925,337

Program services were 74.9% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $293,787

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $321,772

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $658,954

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $64 · excluded $64

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $293,787

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $86,964

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$86,964 · excluded -$86,964

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $285,216 · program services $199,672 · management and general $36,197 · fundraising $49,347

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $386,134 · program services $276,385 · management and general $40,557 · fundraising $69,192

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $14,732 · program services $10,600 · management and general $1,441 · fundraising $2,691

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $63,124 · program services $35,213 · management and general $20,569 · fundraising $7,342

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $52,931 · program services $38,845 · management and general $4,886 · fundraising $9,200

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $50,919 · program services $19,326 · management and general $31,593

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $26,369 · program services $7,356 · management and general $13,898 · fundraising $5,115

  • 17 · Travel

    total $45,931 · program services $41,468 · management and general $1,335 · fundraising $3,128

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $7,734 · program services $1,889 · management and general $5,845

  • 24a · Other expenses: CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT

    total $238,600 · program services $238,600

  • 24b · Other expenses: INVESTIGATION AND RELAT

    total $43,341 · program services $43,341

  • 24c · Other expenses: BANK CHARGES AND CC PRO

    total $15,344 · program services $7,891 · management and general $7,310 · fundraising $143

  • 24d · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $2,322 · program services $1,841 · management and general $481

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $3,502 · program services $2,910 · management and general $145 · fundraising $447

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $761,887 · end of year $129,246

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    end of year $537,260

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $52,382 · end of year $126,971

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $12,401 · end of year $16,121

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $259,086 · end of year $274,063

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $74,886 · end of year $106,400

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $989,372 · end of year $975,690

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $21,498 · end of year $1,571

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO FREE THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND PREVENT FUTURE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS FROM OCCURING IN MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND SOUTH DAKOTA.

Activities or mission (Part I)

WE WORK TO FREE THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND PREVENT FUTURE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS FROM OCCURRING. WE ALSO EDUCATE ATTORNEYS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND OTHER UNJUST RESULTS IN CRIMINAL CASES.

  • EACH YEAR OUR TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY TO SCREEN HUNDREDS OF REQUESTS FOR HELP, TO GIVE FREEDOM BACK TO PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT. GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT STAFF, LAW STUDENTS, INVESTIGATORS, AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS SPEND THOUSANDS OF HOURS CAREFULLY ANALYZING THESE CASES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS NEW EVIDENCE THAT COULD SHOW ACTUAL INNOCENCE. WE LITIGATE CASES WHERE NEWLY DISCOVERED EVIDENCE IS IDENTIFIABLE AND CAN PROVIDE CLEAR AND CONVINCING PROOF OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE. THE GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT ALSO WORKS TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM TO PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND EDUCATES LAW STUDENTS, THE COURTS, LAWYERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM.LAST YEAR, WE RESPONDED TO HUNDREDS OF PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND LETTERS REQUESTING INFORMATION ON OUR SERVICES. WE RECEIVED 303 LETTERS REQUESTING OUR ASSISTANCE AND SENT 93 APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRES IN RESPONSE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOLLOWING OUR INITIAL SCREENING OF THE LETTERS RECEIVED. WE RECEIVED 132 COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES FROM APPLICANTS. WE SCREENED AND INVESTIGATED THOSE REQUESTS. LAST YEAR, AS IS TYPICAL FOR THE GREAT NORTH INNOCENCE PROJECT, WE HAD MORE THAN 227 CASES OPENED IN SCREENING AND INVESTIGATION, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 CASES OPEN IN SOME FORM OF LITIGATION, COURT-ORDERED DNA TESTING, OR FORMAL REVIEW BY THE MINNESOTA CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.TWO OF THOSE CLIENTS WERE FREED IN 2024 AFTER GNIP PREVAILED IN ITS EFFORT TO HAVE THEIR MURDER CONVICTIONS VACATED.THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WE CREATED, IMPLEMENTED, AND CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT FOR, A STATEWIDE CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT TO PROVIDE A POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL AVENUE FOR RELIEF FOR PEOPLE CLAIMING THEY ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED. WE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 61 STUDENTS THROUGH CLASSES AND CLINICS TAUGHT AT 4 LAW SCHOOLS AND PROVIDED COMMUNITY AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION TO MORE THAN 1,400 PEOPLE. WE ALSO ACTIVELY ADVOCATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA.

    Expenses $925,337

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Sara Jones

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $161,067
    From this org
    $130,411
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,656
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $130,411
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,856
    Filer's total
    $161,067
  • James Volling

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1.5
  • Tara Duginske

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • John Kingrey

    PAST CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5
  • James Mayer

    LEGAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $124,420
    From this org
    $116,264
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,156
    Hours/week
    40
  • John Hart

    DIRECTOR/TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5
  • Rachel Bond

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Timothy Walsh

    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5
  • Ben Vickers

    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER AT-LARGE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5
  • Kevin Riach

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Beth Forsythe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Jr Laplante

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Adam Martin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Jazz Hampton

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Susan Roe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Tatewin Means

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Joanna Curry

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Lousene Hoppe

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25
  • Catherine Lipinsky

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5
  • Delinda Washington

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.25

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 · 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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
1 August 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202502189349300830

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