Equal Access to Justice
To increase access to justice by supporting and expanding free civil legal services for low-income new mexicans. Equal Access to Justice provides unrestricted, noncompetitive funds to legal aid organizations who provide free civil legal services to indigent new mexicans.
Equal Access to Justice at a glance
In short: Equal Access to Justice gave $309K across 3 grants in 2026 (avg $103K), mostly in New Mexico. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $308,749
- -0.5% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $102,916
- -0.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $102,833
- Total assets
- $457,088
- +30.4% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (64% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated September 2026.
Who Equal Access to Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was DNA People's Legal Services ($110K). Together the top 3 received $309K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 10 grants of 15 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Equal Access to Justice gives
- Giving grew 57% from 2023 to 2026. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $119K (2021) to $310K (2025). In 2026 it made 3 grants totaling $309K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DNA People's Legal Services Window Rock, AZ | Legal Aid Assistance | $110,333 |
| New Mexico Legal Aid Albuquerque, NM | Legal Aid Assistance | $102,833 |
| New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty Albuquerque, NM | Legal Aid Assistance | $95,583 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $457,088 | $513,873 | $407,699 | $308,749 | 3 |
| 2025 | $350,647 | $362,280 | $414,173 | $310,199 | 3 |
| 2024 | $402,066 | $410,403 | $304,084 | $211,200 | 3 |
| 2023 | $291,848 | $292,370 | $274,890 | $196,493 | 3 |
| 2022 | $274,563 | $274,678 | $249,837 | $178,575 | 3 |
| 2021 | $259,860 | $233,898 | $183,502 | $119,310 | 3 |
| 2020 | $198,424 | $200,908 | $207,925 | $126,124 | 3 |
About Equal Access to Justice
Based on IRS filings
Equal Access to Justice is a public charity, based in Albuquerque, NM. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $457K in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 3 grants totaling $309K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Equal Access to Justice is led by Heather Norfleet, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Heather Norfleet
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
30 hrs/week
$53K (2022) → $58K (2026)
M. Karen Kilgore
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Cottrell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Akenhead
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rodolfo Sanchez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sireesha Manne
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Stout
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonya Bellafant
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles K. Purcell
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Miller
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Jeanine Steffy (2023–2025) — Director
- Former: Rosalie Lisa Chavez (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Susan G. Chappell (2020–2023) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Lewis Creekmore (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Amy Brown (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Susan Miller Bisong (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Mikal Altomare (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $58K, to Heather Norfleet (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Equal Access to Justice
How much does Equal Access to Justice give each year?
Equal Access to Justice gave $309K across 3 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $310K across 3 grants.
What is Equal Access to Justice's typical grant size?
Equal Access to Justice's median grant in 2026 was $102,833, and its average grant was $102,916, across 3 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does Equal Access to Justice give grants?
Equal Access to Justice gives mostly in New Mexico: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Albuquerque, NM (2 grants).
Does Equal Access to Justice give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Equal Access to Justice's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Legal Aid Assistance" (3 grants).
How large is Equal Access to Justice?
Equal Access to Justice reported $457K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $514K.
What is Equal Access to Justice's EIN?
Equal Access to Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0437183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
Live grants for the work Equal Access to Justice funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Equal Access to Justice's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
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Through its Access to Justice Fund, the State Bar of New Mexico funds qualified nonprofit providers of civil legal services for low-income people, primarily in New Mexico; out-of-state organizations may apply to serve New Mexico residents. Recent grants ranged from $20,000 to $347,362, with a median of $72,000. The Commission solicits applications annually.
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Bob & Lamee Holscher Charitable NKA
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Center for Taxpayer Rights
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The Center for Taxpayer Rights is dedicated to furthering taxpayers' awareness of and access to taxpayer rights. The Center accomplishes its mission, in part, by educating the public and government officials about the role taxpayer rights plays in promoting compliance and trust in systems of taxation.
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American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education
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The American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education supports ABA law-related public service, policy, and education programs, including access to justice, legal services, public education, diversity and inclusion, and international justice. Its 2025 grants ranged from $7,500 to $6.69 million, with a median of $69,713; recipients were across the United States, though most grant dollars went to Illinois. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$42.4M
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Total Given
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Figures come from Equal Access to 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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