Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 1986. It creates opportunities for lawyers to turn their commitment to equal justice into public service, primarily by connecting law students, lawyers, and advocates with fellowships at legal services organizations and other public-interest opportunities.
Equal Justice Works at a glance
In short: Equal Justice Works gave $12.5M across 201 grants in 2025 (avg $62K), top state California. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,496,776
- -6.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 201
- +1.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $62,173
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $59,000
- Total assets
- $40,999,909
- -2.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (36 of 200, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (16% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Equal Justice Works
- Contact
Mailing address: 1730 M Street Nw 800, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 466-3686
Website: https://equaljusticeworks.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Equal Justice Works
Crime Victims Advocacy Program Fellowship Grant
Equal Justice Works
Amount
More than US $7,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Design-Your-Own Fellowship Grant
Equal Justice Works
Amount
Up to US $140,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Disaster Resilience Program - Host Organization Grant
Equal Justice Works
Amount
Up to US $146,800
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Equal Justice Works funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New Mexico Immigrant Law Center ($252K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($73,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
897 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 525 grants of 897 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Equal Justice Works describes its fellowship work as serving underserved communities across the country. Its 2024 filing reported Design-Your-Own Fellows working across 22 states. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (16%), New York (14%), Texas (9%), the District of Columbia (9%), and Illinois (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 201 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Equal Justice Works open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 200 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $59K; repeat grants $63K. How we count
Medians: $62K first-time, $59K 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 $9.6M (2022) to $13.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 201 grants totaling $12.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico Immigrant Law Center Albuquerque, NM | Fellowship Support | $251,877 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation New York, NY | Fellowship Support | $245,000 |
| Roderick and Solange Macarthur Justice Center Chicago, IL | Fellowship Support | $205,317 |
| Legal Aid Chicago Chicago, IL | Fellowship Support | $186,000 |
| Public Counsel Los Angeles, CA | Fellowship Support | $183,000 |
| Equip for Equality Chicago, IL | Fellowship Support | $180,000 |
| New York Legal Assistance Group New York, NY | Fellowship Support | $180,000 |
| Texas Riogrande Legal Aid Inc Weslaco, TX | Fellowship Support | $175,646 |
| Community Legal Services of Prince George's County Greenbelt, MD | Fellowship Support | $163,223 |
| Southeast Louisiana Legal Services New Orleans, LA | Fellowship Support | $135,571 |
Ready to take the next step with Equal Justice Works?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,999,909 | $23,406,772 | $23,986,551 | $12,496,776 | 201 | $1,259,900 |
| 2024 | $41,853,650 | $23,999,649 | $25,056,566 | $13,379,577 | 198 | $816,043 |
| 2023 | $41,483,131 | $21,173,089 | $22,713,463 | $11,018,765 | 175 | $400,121 |
| 2022 | $34,685,624 | $23,316,842 | $20,442,752 | $9,552,360 | 170 | $537,601 |
| 2021 | $35,351,731 | $18,508,627 | $18,800,828 | $9,915,424 | 153 | $994,699 |
| 2020 | $34,571,402 | $33,458,024 | $22,726,761 | $12,456,377 | 201 | $1,574,970 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to create opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. Its programs include fellowships addressing a range of legal needs, such as housing instability, disaster resilience, financial empowerment, crime victims’ rights, and legal issues affecting communities impacted by substance use disorders. Its website also describes law student engagement, a public-interest legal career fair, and education and advocacy around student debt management.
In its 2024 filing, Equal Justice Works reported supporting 181 Design-Your-Own Fellows at 82 host organizations across 47 cities in 22 states, as well as 70 fellows through six issue-focused programs at 56 legal services providers. It also described law school engagement and student programs, including the Rural Summer Legal Corps, a joint partnership with the Legal Services Corporation.
The 2025 grants listed in the filing were designated for fellowship support. Among the recipients, the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center says its mission is to provide legal services and education to low-income immigrants and their families in New Mexico. Legal Aid Chicago describes its work as providing civil legal aid to people living in poverty and other vulnerable groups. Equip for Equality says it advances the human and civil rights of children and adults with disabilities in Illinois. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not Equal Justice Works’ own.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Equal Justice Works reported 201 grants totaling $12,496,776. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $251,877, with a median of $59,000. The largest listed grants included $251,877 to the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, $245,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, $205,317 to the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, $186,000 to Legal Aid Chicago, and $183,000 to Public Counsel. Each was designated for fellowship support.
The Design-Your-Own Fellowship lets lawyers propose a project with an organization of their choice. The organization’s website describes a two-year term and salary support to the host organization of up to $66,500 per year, along with health insurance, fringe benefits, and up to $5,000 in loan repayment assistance. Applicants and hosts submit a joint application. The website listed September 17, 2026 as the application deadline; that deadline has passed.
Other opportunities described by the organization include issue-focused fellowships, some of which combine attorney fellowships with summer service for students. The Housing Justice Program grant listing says applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Equal Justice Works also describes the Regional Public Interest Awards, which recognize law students with a cash prize and plaque; these are awards to individuals, not grants to outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Frank R. Jimenez as chair, Jami McKeon as vice chair, James Chosy as treasurer, and Jennifer Schott as secretary. It also lists Jonathan Chiel, Michael Fricklas, Kathryn Fritz, Molly Giguiere, and Dean Risa Goluboff as members. Brackett B. Denniston III is listed as a member until December 2024.
Equal Justice Works is led by Verna Williams, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2023; 6 of 35 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Verna Williams
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$173K (2023) → $365K (2025)
Frank R. Jimenez
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Uhler-McKeown
Director for Public Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$210K (2023) → $204K (2025)
Timothy S. Wierzbicki
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$266K (2020) → $325K (2025)
Mia Sussman Sr Vp
Senior Vice President of Network Engagement
Of Institutional Advancement → Senior Vice President of Network Engagement, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$212K (2023) → $233K (2025)
Aoife Delargy Lowe
Vice President of Lsea
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$205K (2024) → $195K (2025)
Michael Futrell Executive
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$206K (2025)
Brackett B. Denniston III
Member
Member & Secretary → Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald B. Verrilli Jr.
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ernest Lamont Greer
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fatima Goss Graves
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Honorable Cornelia Tl
Pillard & Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jami McKeon
Vice Chair
Member → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Chiel
Member
Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Koopersmith
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maryanne Lavan
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Honorable James E. Graves
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn J. Fritz
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve McManus
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abid Riaz Qureshi
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dean Risa Goluboff
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Johnson
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kace Rodwell
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc H. Morial
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Martinez
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Camille Nelson
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Levine
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Chosy
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Schott
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hueston
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Fricklas
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly Giguiere
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Younger
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracie Johnson
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ramiah Johnson
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (39)
- Former: Julia R. Wilson (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Ivan K. Fong (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Michael Harding (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Sarah Lackritz (2022–2024) — Vice President of Marketing & Committee
- Former: John Farrel (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Jonathan Selbin (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Juliette Pryor (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Sara Morello (2020–2023) — Former Executive Vice President
- Former: Sharon Ryan (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: William Treanor (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Zakia Nesbitt (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Garry W. Jenkins (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Janie Payne (2021–2023) — Vice President of Administration
- Former: Joshua Medina (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: David Stern Executive (2023) — Director
- Former: Anna Uhler-McKeown (2020–2022) — Director for Public Programs
- Former: David Stern (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: M. Randall Oppenheimer (2020–2022) — Member -
- Former: Mia Sussman (2020–2022) — Director of Fellowships
- Former: Walter Jean-Jacques (2020–2022) — Member -
- Former: Sharon Ryan Member (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Carissa Peterson (2020–2021) — Member -
- Former: Michael L. Lehr (2020–2021) — Member -
- Former: Sheila C. Cheston (2020–2021) — Member -
- Former: Steven Denne (2020–2021) — Vice President of Institutional Advisor
- Former: Vanita Gupta (2020–2021) — Member -
- Former: Julia R. Wilson Member (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Carter G. Phillips (2020) — Member
- Former: Frank R. Jimenez Member (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall (2020) — Member
- Former: Ivan K. Fong Vice Chair (2020)
- Former: John F. Schultz (2020) — Member
- Former: Josh Medina (2020) — Member
- Former: Kathryn J. Fritz Member (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Kendall Williams Onyendu (2020) — Member -
- Former: Margaret Raymond (2020) — Member
- Former: Michael D. Jones (2020) — Member -
- Former: Patricia Reilly (2020) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Randal S. Milch (2020) — Chair -
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $365K, to Verna Williams (Chief Executive Officer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Equal Justice Works
How much does Equal Justice Works give each year?
Equal Justice Works gave $12.5M across 201 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $13.4M across 198 grants.
What is Equal Justice Works's typical grant size?
Equal Justice Works's median grant in 2025 was $59,000, and its average grant was $62,173, across 201 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Equal Justice Works that year got $59K on average.
Where does Equal Justice Works give grants?
Equal Justice Works's top state is California, with 16% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (14%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (18 grants), Washington, DC (15 grants), Chicago, IL (9 grants) and San Francisco, CA (7 grants).
Does Equal Justice Works give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 201 grants with a stated purpose on Equal Justice Works's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fellowship Support" (201 grants).
Who are Equal Justice Works's largest grantees?
Equal Justice Works's largest 2025 grantees include New Mexico Immigrant Law Center ($251,877), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($245,000) and Roderick and Solange Macarthur Justice Center ($205,317), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($73,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Equal Justice Works?
Equal Justice Works reported $41.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $23.4M.
What does Equal Justice Works fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to create opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Equal Justice Works?
Equal Justice Works has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check equaljusticeworks.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Equal Justice Works's EIN?
Equal Justice Works's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1469738. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Equal Justice Works's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Equal Justice Works funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/equal-justice-works-morg_9d1fc7cc6a594eb692d68fdbc703bd67
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521469738_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Equal Justice Works funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/equal-justice-works-morg_9d1fc7cc6a594eb692d68fdbc703bd67},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Equal Justice Works'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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