INNOCENCE PROJECT INC

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

P20

Classification

1000

Street

40 WORTH ST RM 701

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

• LEGAL SERVICES (INCLUDES LEGAL, INTAKE, AND SOCIAL WORK): THE INNOCENCE PROJECT LEVERAGES THE FACT-FINDING SCIENCE OF DNA TESTING TO EXPOSE ERRORS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO EXONERATE PEOPLE IN PRISON OR ON DEATH ROW FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT. TO DETERMINE WHICH CASES WE CAN ACCEPT, OUR STEADFAST INTAKE TEAM REVIEWED 1781 LETTERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FROM INCARCERATED PEOPLE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR INNOCENCE CLAIMS. THE TEAM THEN CONDUCTS AN IN-DEPTH EVALUATION OF THE CASES TO DETERMINE WHETHER DNA TESTING CAN PROVE INNOCENCE AND PRESENTS THEM TO OUR LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION OF WHICH CASES TO ACCEPT. ONCE CASES ARE ACCEPTED, OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS WORK WITH LAW SCHOOL CLINIC STUDENTS TO INVESTIGATE THE CASES, TO FIND BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND TO GAIN ACCESS TO POST-CONVICTION TESTING THROUGH AGREEMENTS OR COURT ORDERS. WHEN DNA RESULTS PROVE OUR CLIENTS' INNOCENCE, WE SEEK THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE EXONERATED TWO INDIVIDUALS OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT AND WORKED TO FREE MANY MORE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 210 CLIENTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND EVALUATED THOUSANDS OF REQUESTS FOR HELP FROM INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR THEIR FAMILIES. TO DATE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS HELPED FREE MORE THAN 253 PEOPLE. FOR EACH EXONERATION CASE, INNOCENCE PROJECT SOCIAL WORKERS HELPED CLIENTS REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO SECURE HOUSING, DAY-TO-DAY TRANSPORTATION, CRITICAL MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND SUPPORT IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT REPRESENTED 250 CLIENTS, AND THE SOCIAL WORK TEAM WORKED WITH 65 FORMER CLIENTS DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.

  Expenses $9,132,599 · Revenue $394,747

• POLICY: THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS WITH CONGRESS, STATE LEGISLATURES AND COURTS, EXECUTIVE AGENCIES, LOCAL LEADERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PASS LAWS, POLICIES, AND RULES TO REVEAL, CORRECT, AND PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT USES ITS FEDERAL CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS THAT SUPPORT POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING AND THE REVIEW OF POTENTIAL WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS WHILE CLOSELY MONITORING AND PROVIDING ANALYSIS OF WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT MAY AFFECT OUR AREAS OF INTEREST. OUR POLICY PRIORITIES REFLECT THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM DNA EXONERATIONS AND ADDRESS THE CONTRIBUTORS TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION, FALSE CONFESSIONS, PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, AND FALSE TESTIMONY BY JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS TO POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING AND PRESERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR TESTING, AS WELL AS LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR INNOCENT PEOPLE SEEKING RELIEF THROUGH NEW NON-DNA EVIDENCE. WE ALSO PROMOTE POLICE PRACTICE REFORMS FROM IMPROVED IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES TO THE RECORDING OF CUSTODIAL INTERROGATIONS. THE POLICY DEPARTMENT ALSO EDUCATES SYSTEM ACTORS ABOUT THE HUMAN FACTORS THAT AFFECT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, SUCH AS RELYING ON FACIAL RECOGNITION "MATCHES" THAT ARE LATER PROVEN TO BE INACCURATE. IN ADDITION, WE ADVOCATE FOR LAWS THAT FAIRLY COMPENSATE EXONERATED PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL FOOTING AND OTHER SUPPORT THEY NEED AND DESERVE TO RESTART THEIR LIVES. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAD FIVE (5) LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE DEFEAT OF FOUR (4) REGRESSIVE BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE UNDERMINED PAST REFORMS.FORENSIC SCIENCE POLICY: THE MISAPPLICATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE CONTRIBUTED TO ALMOST HALF OF THE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARED THROUGH DNA TESTING IN THE UNITED STATES. TO ADDRESS THIS DIRE ISSUE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ADVOCATES CONGRESS AND EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH THAT WILL VALIDATE FORENSIC DISCIPLINES AND SET JUST, EQUITABLE, AND CONSISTENT STANDARDS AROUND THEIR USE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND IN COURT. WE ALSO WORK TO IMPROVE THE OVERSIGHT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSIONS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE STUDY, ADVANCING THE FIELD OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM DEATH IN CUSTODY INVESTIGATIONS, AND SUBMITTED WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IN JANUARY. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ALSO RESPONDED TO THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACTION PLAN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE USE OF AI IN FORENSIC SCIENCE MUST PRIORITIZE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY, BE GROUNDED IN A SOLID SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION, AND CONSIDER ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS (ELSI).

  Expenses $3,278,302

• STRATEGIC LITIGATION: COURT DECISIONS CAN LEAD TO WIDE-RANGING REFORM, SPURRING BETTER PRACTICES BY POLICE AND PROSECUTORS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S STRATEGIC LITIGATION DEPARTMENT WORKS THROUGH THE COURTS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE LEADING CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND TO MAKE JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND POLICYMAKERS AWARE OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WRONGFUL CONVICTION. OUR STRATEGIC LITIGATION ATTORNEYS USE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO CHANGE THE LAW AROUND THE USE OF UNVALIDATED FORENSIC TECHNIQUES, UNRELIABLE EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS, AND FALSE CONFESSIONS. THEY ENGAGE IN DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS, TAKING ON CASES THAT THEY BELIEVE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROMPT SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE ACROSS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ALSO SUBMITTED MORE THAN 35 INFLUENTIAL AMICUS BRIEFS IN STATE SUPREME COURTS, FEDERAL APPEAL COURTS, AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. ADDITIONALLY, THE STRATEGIC LITIGATION DEPARTMENT HELD OVER 50 TRAININGS, EDUCATING THOUSANDS OF JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THE USE OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION, FORENSIC SCIENCE, AND CONFESSION EVIDENCE IN COURTROOMS

  Expenses $2,010,115

• SCIENCE AND RESEARCH: THE DATA SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT DRIVES THE RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE INNOCENCE MOVEMENT AND SUPPORTS THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S LITIGATION, POLICY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SOCIAL WORK EFFORTS WITH STATISTICS, LITERATURE, AND OTHER RESOURCES. THE TEAM IS CENTRAL TO IMPROVING DATA CULTURE AND BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATE FOR RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION. DURING FY2025 (JULY 1, 2024-JUNE 30, 2025) EFFORTS FOCUSING ON INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE WERE SUBSTANTIAL AS THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE EFFORT TO CENTRALIZE, STANDARDIZE, CLEAN, AND EXPAND ALL INTERNAL DATA SOURCES - INCLUDING AUDITING THE DATABASE OF ALL INNOCENCE PROJECT VICTORIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION ON WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THROUGH SEVERAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS WITH A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES AND HOSTED THE THIRD VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL JUST DATA: ADVANCING THE INNOCENCE MOVEMENT CONFERENCE. COMMUNICATIONS: THE INNOCENCE PROJECT SEES EACH EXONERATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR CREATING MORE FAIR, COMPASSIONATE, AND EQUITABLE SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE. THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT KNOWS THAT EXONERATION STORIESCOMBINED WITH OUR LEGAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND POLICY EXPERTISEHAVE THE POWER TO DRIVE CHANGE AND THE TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THEY ARE GIVEN PROFILES IN ALL TYPES OF MEDIA OUTLETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. IT WORKS TO SHAPE AND ADVANCE THE AGENDA AND NATIONAL CONVERSATION AROUND SYSTEMIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND DESIGNS COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES TO FURTHER OUR PUBLIC POLICY AND LITIGATION GOALS.TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION IS REACHING A WIDE ARRAY OF AUDIENCES ACROSS AS MANY CHANNELS AS POSSIBLE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS BUILT A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY WITH A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH THAT LEVERAGES EARNED MEDIA, AS WELL DIGITAL PLATFORMS, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND OTHER CREATIVE CONTENT FOR IMPACT.THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY INCLUDE: BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH PROFILE IN THE MEDIA, SECURING COVERAGE OF OUR LEGAL AND POLICY WORK IN HUNDREDS OF OUTLETS ANNUALLY.-A ROBUST DIGITAL PRESENCE THAT AIMS TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE KEY AUDIENCES BY CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING MESSAGING AND OTHER CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE, VIA EMAILS, AND VIRTUAL EVENTS.-PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS THAT PROVIDE AUDIENCES WITH AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CLIENTS' CASES AND STORIES, OUR RESEARCH AND POLICY INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATION'S GOALS AND VICTORIES. -THE INNOCENCE PROJECT SPEAKERS BUREAU, WHICH OFFERS FORMER CLIENTS AND INNOCENCE PROJECT STAFF TO SPEAK AT HUNDREDS OF VENUESINCLUDING HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, CORPORATIONS, LAW FIRMS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONSAROUND THE COUNTRY. -PUBLIC EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN ITS OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY-CENTRIC EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF TACKLING THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND PROCESSES THAT COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND PUT PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES AT GREAT RISK OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION. NETWORK SUPPORT: THE ORGANIZATION'S NETWORK SUPPORT UNIT PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES TO THE INNOCENCE NETWORK, AN AFFILIATION OF 74 LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE. THE TEAM ALSO MANAGES AND RUNS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR NETWORK MEMBERS, FREED AND EXONERATED PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIESLAST YEAR, THE UNIT CONDUCTED TWELVE TAILORED IN-PERSON TRAININGS FOR NETWORK MEMBERS, HELD SIX WEBINARS, FACILITATED FOUR ONGOING PEER GROUPS, RELEASED SEVERAL ONLINE TOOLKITS, AND PROVIDED VIRTUAL COACHING TO MORE THAN 50 INNOCENCE ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ALSO HELD FOUR IN-PERSON REGIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMITS AND FACILITATED THE 11TH ANNUAL WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY, A DAY TO RAISE VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS AROUND THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION. THE TEAM ALSO PLANNED AND DELIVERED THE ANNUAL INNOCENCE NETWORK CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. MORE THAN 1,110 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MORE THAN 350 EXONERATED AND FREED PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, ATTENDED THE NETWORK CONFERENCE.

  Expenses $8,371,446

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

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.

The first 25 listed. 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

  $37,332,367

  Expenses

  $31,547,621

  Contributions

  $33,239,906

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2023

  Revenue

  $33,643,969

  Expenses

  $29,266,147

  Contributions

  $28,737,003

  Grants paid

  $0

• 2022

  Revenue

  $32,455,846

  Expenses

  $26,212,682

  Contributions

  $26,644,804

  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

  $42,317,102

  Expenses

  $23,028,732

  Assets (EOY)

  $89,892,529

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $39,853,614

  Expenses

  $18,549,932

  Assets (EOY)

  $73,728,840

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $21,373,256

  Expenses

  $15,944,005

  Assets (EOY)

  $49,137,501

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $27,701,377

  Expenses

  $15,053,163

  Assets (EOY)

  $40,873,244

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $13,426,018

  Expenses

  $13,608,849

  Assets (EOY)

  $27,393,869

• 2016 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,891,995

  Expenses

  $12,082,667

  Assets (EOY)

  $26,837,374

• 2015 · 990

  Revenue

  $15,027,779

  Expenses

  $10,880,440

  Assets (EOY)

  $22,111,511

• 2014 · 990

  Revenue

  $20,721,687

  Expenses

  $10,008,120

  Assets (EOY)

  $17,733,582

• 2013 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,622,929

  Expenses

  $9,994,574

  Assets (EOY)

  $7,034,237

• 2012 · 990

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  $9,478,625

  Assets (EOY)

  $6,220,549

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. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

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

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $2,371,290

  2024 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,665,623

  2023 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND

  $1,618,859

  2022 · For grant recipient's exempt purposes

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $1,439,438

  2022 · HUMAN SERVICES

• NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR

  $1,315,500

  2024 · HUMAN SERVICES

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $987,845

  2024 · HUMAN SERVICES

• DAYTON FOUNDATION PLUS INC

  $750,000

  2023 · PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR POST-CONVICTION LITIGATION AND STRATEGIC LITIGATION INITIATIVES

• AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC

  $572,244

  2022 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• VANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM

  $510,054

  2023 · FOR RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSE

• AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC

  $456,189

  2023 · GENERAL SUPPORT

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

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