Detention Watch Network
Detention Watch Network (DWN) is a Washington, DC-based public charity and national coalition working to abolish immigration detention in the United States through collective advocacy, grassroots organizing, and strategic communications. The organization was formed in 2018.
Detention Watch Network at a glance
In short: Detention Watch Network gave $574K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), top state California. 60% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $573,622
- +270.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,945
- +48.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,000
- Total assets
- $7,017,345
- -1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (15 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (31% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Detention Watch Network
- Contact
Mailing address: 1730 Rhode Island Ave 711, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 301-9350
Website: https://detentionwatchnetwork.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Detention Watch Network
Who Detention Watch Network funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Immigrant Legal Resource Center ($129K). Together the top 10 received $384K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 83 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DWN describes its work as national and focused on immigration detention in the United States. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares by recipient state were California (31%), Pennsylvania (9%), Georgia (9%), New Mexico (8%), and Louisiana (7%). The Organizing Support Program’s stated geographic scope is the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Detention Watch Network open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 25 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2024) to $574K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $574K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Immigrant Legal Resource Center San Francisco, CA | Anti-detention work | $128,872 |
| Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Shreveport, LA | Anti-detention work | $38,150 |
| American Friends Service Committee Philadelphia, PA | Anti-detention work | $34,000 |
| Action of Greater Lansing Lansing, MI | Anti-detention work. | $32,000 |
| Center for Civic Policy Albuquerque, NM | Anti-detention work | $30,150 |
| Community Initiatives Oakland, CA | Anti-detention work | $30,150 |
| Movimiento Cosecha Support Network Easthampton, MA | Anti-detention work | $30,000 |
| Alliance for Global Justice Tucson, AZ | Anti-detention work | $21,000 |
| Advocates for Immigration Rights and Reconciliation Inc Kansas City, KS | Anti-detention work | $20,000 |
| Dolores Huerta Foundation Bakersfield, CA | Anti-detention work | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts are from the organization’s IRS filings.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,017,345 | $3,094,402 | $3,333,776 | $573,622 | 25 | $219,978 |
| 2024 | $7,152,273 | $3,531,701 | $3,237,898 | $155,000 | 10 | $243,812 |
| 2023 | $6,897,089 | $2,510,720 | $3,287,364 | $171,000 | 12 | $200,478 |
| 2022 | $7,747,600 | $2,592,686 | $3,531,690 | $412,784 | 23 | $378 |
| 2021 | $8,535,044 | $4,963,081 | $2,461,382 | $259,113 | 13 | $162 |
| 2020 | $6,042,001 | $3,984,411 | $2,278,867 | $296,000 | 23 | $141 |
| 2019 | $4,299,640 | $4,299,640 | $15,196 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
DWN states that it seeks to end the “cruel system of immigration detention” through grassroots organizing, strategic communications, and collective advocacy. Its broader approach also includes advocacy, litigation, direct service, research, communications, member training, and peer exchange.
DWN’s Organizing Support Program supports local grassroots member organizations working to build a base and increase public engagement in ending detention. Its stated focus areas are campaigns to shut down detention centers and ensure just closures, opposition to new facility expansion, and innovative approaches to supporting people in detention. Eligibility is limited to local grassroots organizations with active DWN membership.
The 2025 grantees included organizations with a range of missions, as described by the organizations themselves. Immigrant Legal Resource Center says it works with and educates immigrants, community organizations, and the legal sector to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Movimiento Cosecha Support Network describes its work as educating the public about undocumented immigrants, developing community leadership, and promoting their permanent protection. Migrant Equity Southeast says it advocates for immigrant rights and provides mutual aid, education, and outreach to migrant and refugee communities in South Georgia. The Dolores C. Huerta Foundation describes its mission as building organized communities pursuing social justice through systemic and structural transformation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, DWN reported 25 grants totaling $573,622. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $128,872, with a median of $16,000. The largest grants included $128,872 to Immigrant Legal Resource Center; $38,150 to Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention; $34,000 to American Friends Service Committee; $32,000 to Action of Greater Lansing; and $30,150 each to Center for Civic Policy and Community Initiatives. The filing lists the purpose of these grants as anti-detention work.
DWN’s 2024 annual report says it provided $150,000 to 10 grassroots grantees. Its Organizing Support Program is listed as currently open and is for local grassroots organizations with active DWN membership. The available program information identifies its purpose, focus areas, and eligibility, but does not specify an application process or required materials.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Silky Shah as Executive Director. Officers and directors listed on that filing are Danielle Alvarado, Board President; Emily Tucker, Vice President; Tony Nam, Board Treasurer; Sarah Sherman-Stokes, Board Secretary; and board members Jacob Flowers, Alaide Vilches Ibarra, Santana Moreno, Faith Oviedo, Aaliya Zaveri, and Silky Shah.
Detention Watch Network is led by Silky Shah, Executive Director since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 6 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Silky Shah
Executive Director
Member → Executive Director, 2020
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $149K (2025)
Danielle Alvarado
Board President
Board Member → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Board President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aimee Nichols
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $126K (2025)
Beom Sun Suh
Program Director
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$101K (2021) → $117K (2025)
Carly G Perez Fernandez
Communications Director
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $109K (2025)
Setareh Ghandehari
Advocacy Director
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$103K (2022) → $115K (2025)
Marcela Hernandez Ponce
Organizing Director
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $109K (2025)
Emily Tucker
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Nam
Board Treasurer
Board Member → Board Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alaide Vilches Ibarra
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Flowers
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faith Oviedo
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Sherman-Stokes
Board Secretary
Board Member → Board Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaliya Zaveri
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Santana Moreno
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Victoria Lopez (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Amilcar Valencia (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ana Ortiz Varela (2020–2023) — Board Secretary
- Former: Elizabeth Sweet (2019–2021) — Board President
- Former: Lauren Dasse (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Amber Akemi Piatt (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Eunice Cho (2019–2020) — Board Vice President
- Former: Romy Lerner (2019–2020) — Board Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $149K, to Silky Shah (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Detention Watch Network
How much does Detention Watch Network give each year?
Detention Watch Network gave $574K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $155K across 10 grants.
What is Detention Watch Network's typical grant size?
Detention Watch Network's median grant in 2025 was $16,000, and its average grant was $22,945, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Detention Watch Network that year got $27K on average.
Where does Detention Watch Network give grants?
Detention Watch Network's top state is California, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (9%) and Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (2 grants), Albuquerque, NM (2 grants), Tucson, AZ (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Detention Watch Network give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Detention Watch Network's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Anti-detention work." (25 grants).
Who are Detention Watch Network's largest grantees?
Detention Watch Network's largest 2025 grantees include Immigrant Legal Resource Center ($128,872), Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention ($38,150) and American Friends Service Committee ($34,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Detention Watch Network?
Detention Watch Network reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.1M.
What does Detention Watch Network fund?
DWN states that it seeks to end the “cruel system of immigration detention” through grassroots organizing, strategic communications, and collective advocacy. Its broader approach also includes advocacy, litigation, direct service, research, communications, member training, and peer exchange. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Detention Watch Network?
Detention Watch Network has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check detentionwatchnetwork.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Detention Watch Network's EIN?
Detention Watch Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3874583. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 9, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 2, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Detention Watch Network funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Detention Watch Network funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/detention-watch-network-morg_006da388d3bf46638435970c9c1a8348
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_833874583_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Detention Watch Network funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/detention-watch-network-morg_006da388d3bf46638435970c9c1a8348},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Detention Watch Network'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.
Detention Watch Network down — hundreds of funders to go?