Acacia Center for Justice
Acacia Center for Justice is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, non-governmental organization and public charity that supports and partners with a national network of human rights defenders providing legal defense to immigrants at risk of detention or deportation. Its work includes coordinating legal assistance programs and strengthening the infrastructure and partnerships needed to expand access to legal support.
Acacia Center for Justice at a glance
In short: Acacia Center for Justice gave $5.0M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $294K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,996,131
- +132.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $293,890
- +105.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $267,367
- Total assets
- $114,465,138
- +122.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Acacia Center for Justice
- Contact
Mailing address: 1025 Connecticut Ave Nw 1000A 10, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (213) 660-9093
Website: https://acaciajustice.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Acacia Center for Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Justice Alliance Inc ($613K). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 17 grants of 32 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were reported as 93% for recipients in California and 7% for recipients in Washington, DC; Georgia accounted for 0%. The listed grants included recipients in California and Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
How Acacia Center for Justice gives
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2023) to $5.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $5.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Justice Alliance Inc Sacramento, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $613,487 |
| Immigration Center for Women and Children Los Angeles, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $588,110 |
| Central American Resource Center - Carecen - of California Los Angeles, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $542,454 |
| Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Inc Los Angeles, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $533,213 |
| Kind Inc Washington, DC | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $348,422 |
| Canal Alliance San Rafael, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $306,608 |
| East Bay Sanctuary Covenant Berkeley, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $294,087 |
| East Bay Community Law Center Berkeley, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $278,643 |
| Bet Tzedek Los Angeles, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $267,367 |
| Immigrant Defenders Law Center Los Angeles, CA | Children's Holistic Immigration Representation Project Support | $232,594 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing reports the following financials by year:
The 2024 filing reports $4,996,131 in grants. Separately, Acacia’s financials page says that in FY2024, $291 million—$0.89 of every dollar it sent—went directly to legal service providers. The page identifies those 2024 figures as unaudited and based on projections.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $114,465,138 | $353,995,304 | $326,816,853 | $4,996,131 | 17 | $606 |
| 2023 | $51,440,759 | $87,600,743 | $80,440,553 | $2,149,094 | 15 | $15,311 |
| 2022 | $17,081,960 | $22,476,850 | $19,249,676 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Acacia’s stated mission is to fight, in coordination with field partners, for the right to legal defense for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation and to cultivate the conditions needed to realize that right.
Its filing describes three areas of work: legal representation for adults and children, including detained adults found unable to represent themselves and children in immigration proceedings; legal orientations and self-help workshops for adults, caregivers, and families; and capacity building with partners, including attorney recruitment and policy and outreach work. The filing also describes a litigation support fund for certain legal cases involving unaccompanied children.
In 2024, the grants listed in the filing were for the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project. Grantees’ own descriptions show the range of organizations supported: Community Justice Alliance describes its work as pursuing social change through advocacy, community healing, and litigation in racial justice and immigrant rights; KIND describes its work as assisting and protecting unaccompanied children through legal representation and other means; and East Bay Sanctuary Covenant describes providing legal services, community organizing, and education for low-income immigrants and people fleeing violence and persecution.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Acacia reported 17 grants totaling $4,996,131. Grant amounts ranged from $12,460 to $613,487, with a median of $267,367. The listed grants supported the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project.
The largest awards included $613,487 to Community Justice Alliance; $588,110 to Immigration Center for Women and Children; $542,454 to Central American Resource Center–CARECEN of California; $533,213 to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles; and $348,422 to KIND. Other listed awards included $306,608 to Canal Alliance, $294,087 to East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, and $278,643 to East Bay Community Law Center.
Grantees’ own mission statements provide further context: Catholic Charities of Los Angeles says it serves poor and vulnerable people and promotes human dignity and social justice; Canal Alliance describes serving Marin’s low-income immigrant community; and Bet Tzedek describes providing free legal services to people who need them most.
Acacia’s filing says subgrantees are selected and vetted by program specialists, receive funds under fully executed agreements, and are monitored through reporting, typically narrative and expense reports.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Andrew Genz as board chair and Julia Hedlund as treasurer. Directors listed were Jojo Annobil, Eileen Blessinger, Jazmin Chavez, Sam Elkin, Marsha Griffin, Rachel Jordan, Judy London, and Luke Meier. Acacia’s 2024 annual review identifies Shaina Aber as executive director.
Acacia Center for Justice is led by Olisa Shaina Aber-Hanson, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 11 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Olisa Shaina Aber-Hanson
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$219K (2024)
Andrew Genz
Board Chair
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adepeju Onile-Ere
Managing Director of Its
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$185K (2023) → $192K (2024)
Philip Kretsedemas
Managing Director for Reda
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$166K (2023) → $173K (2024)
Clarisa Ailin Buigues
Managing Director of Legal Representation
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$180K (2024)
Cassandra Lopez Managing
Director of Learning & Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$172K (2024)
Sara Van Hofwegen Managing
Director & Legal Access Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$173K (2024)
David Nidiffer
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Blessinger
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaya Ramji-Nogales
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jojo Annobil
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joy Olson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy London
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luke Meier
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marsha Griffin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oren Root
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Jordan
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Elkin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jazmin Chavez
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Lee
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$85K (2022) → $210K (2024)
Leah Prestamo
General Counsel
General Counsel & Secretary → General Counsel, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$87K (2022) → $198K (2024)
Anne Marie Mulcahy
Chief Program Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$187K (2023) → $194K (2024)
Charles Slocumb
Chief Operations & People Operations
Chief Operations & People Officer → Chief Operations & People Operations, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$190K (2023) → $197K (2024)
Bettina Rodriguez Schlegel
Chief of Staff
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$185K (2024)
Julia Hedlund
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Oscar Chacon (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Shaina Aber-Hanson (2022–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Adela Mason (2023) — Director, Helpdesk & Family Group
- Former: Cassandra Lopez (2023) — Managing Director of Legal Rep Programs
- Former: Tania Sawczuk (2023) — Managing Director of Tech Compliance
- Former: Michael Lukens (2022) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $219K, to Olisa Shaina Aber-Hanson (Executive Director). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Acacia Center for Justice
How much does Acacia Center for Justice give each year?
Acacia Center for Justice gave $5.0M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 15 grants.
What is Acacia Center for Justice's typical grant size?
Acacia Center for Justice's median grant in 2024 was $267,367, and its average grant was $293,890, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Acacia Center for Justice give grants?
Acacia Center for Justice gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (6 grants), Sacramento, CA (2 grants), Berkeley, CA (2 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Acacia Center for Justice give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Acacia Center for Justice's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Acacia Center for Justice's largest grantees?
Acacia Center for Justice's largest 2024 grantees include Community Justice Alliance Inc ($613,487), Immigration Center for Women and Children ($588,110) and Central American Resource Center - Carecen - of California ($542,454), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Acacia Center for Justice?
Acacia Center for Justice reported $114.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $354.0M.
What does Acacia Center for Justice fund?
Acacia’s stated mission is to fight, in coordination with field partners, for the right to legal defense for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation and to cultivate the conditions needed to realize that right. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Acacia Center for Justice?
Acacia Center for Justice has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check acaciajustice.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Acacia Center for Justice's EIN?
Acacia Center for Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4099467. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work Acacia Center for Justice funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Acacia Center for Justice's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Acacia Center for Justice funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/acacia-center-for-justice-morg_121304ca47c44e97810cb28826ad9bb2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_874099467_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Acacia Center for Justice funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/acacia-center-for-justice-morg_121304ca47c44e97810cb28826ad9bb2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Acacia Center for Justice's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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