Initiate Justice
Initiate Justice's mission is to activate the power of people directly impacted by mass incarceration to be leaders in the movement to end it. Through direct outreach and trainings,we develop organizers both inside and outside of prisons, and identify our members' top priorities to reduce prison populations and increase the human rights of those currently incarcerated. We envision a California with healthy and economically empowered communities, free from mass criminalization.
Initiate Justice at a glance
In short: Initiate Justice reported $3K in grants paid in 2024 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2024)
- $3,050 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -98.9% vs 2023
- Total assets
- $3,614,552
- +61.1% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $3,036,251
- +110.8% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $39,977
- +336.8% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $1,526,190
- -12.9% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Initiate Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 4 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2024) to $275K (2023). In 2024 it reported $3K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Initiate Justice Action Los Angeles, CA | contributions/grants | $275,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,614,552 | $3,036,251 | $1,526,190 | $3,050 | Total only | $39,977 |
| 2023 | $2,244,084 | $1,440,499 | $1,751,715 | $275,000 | 1 | $9,152 |
| 2022 | $2,227,656 | $1,995,677 | $1,471,055 | $54,060 | 2 | $3,256 |
| 2021 | $1,653,344 | $1,915,300 | $1,351,757 | $20,510 | 1 | $1,555 |
| 2020 | $1,183,224 | $1,405,429 | $863,226 | $8,763 | Total only | $1,735 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Initiate Justice
Based on IRS filings
Initiate Justice is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.6M in total assets. In 2024, it reported $3K in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $40K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Initiate Justice is led by Taina Vargas, Chair & President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Taina Vargas
Chair & President
President & Executive Director → President & Board Member, 2022
President & Board Member → Chair & President, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Antoinette Ratcliffe
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$110K (2023) → $131K (2024)
Marta Zepeda
Director of Finance
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2024)
Rahsaan Thomas
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathyn Barber
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay Hockley
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mireya Gonzalez
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Zakiya Prince (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Nathaniel James Doernberg (2020–2022) — Compliance Mngr
- Former: Diana Zuiga (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Hugo Gonzalez (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lisa Castellanos (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Mireles (2020) — Director
- Former: Taina Vargas-Edmond (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $131K, to Antoinette Ratcliffe (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Initiate Justice
How much does Initiate Justice give each year?
Initiate Justice reported $3K in grants paid in 2024 on its 2024 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2023 it gave $275K across 1 grant.
How large is Initiate Justice?
Initiate Justice reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.0M.
What is Initiate Justice?
Initiate Justice is a public charity focused on Crime & Legal Related, based in Los Angeles, CA. It holds $3.6M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Initiate Justice operate?
Initiate Justice has awarded grants in California.
What is Initiate Justice's EIN?
Initiate Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1028920. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 22, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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