Institute for Justice
Through strategic litigation, training, communication, activism and research, the Institute for Justice (IJ) advances a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and responsible members of society. IJ litigates to secure economic liberty, educational choice, private property rights, freedom of speech and other vital individual liberties, and to restore constitutional limits on the power of government. In addition, IJ trains law students, lawyers, and policy activists in the tactics of public interest litigation. Through these activities, IJ challenges the ideology of the welfare state and illustrates and extends the benefits of freedom to those whose full enjoyment of liberty is denied by government.
Institute for Justice at a glance
In short: Institute for Justice gave $78K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $77,500
- -94.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,917
- -93.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $178,026,163
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Virginia (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Institute for Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ($20K). Together the top 6 received $78K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 31 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Institute for Justice gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2023) to $1.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $78K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Arlington, VA | 2025 Membership Contributions | $20,000 |
| State Policy Network Arlington, VA | 2025 SPN Conference Sponsorship | $20,000 |
| InHeirit Chicago, IL | Cash prize given to the 1st place 2024 South Side Pitch Finalist. | $14,000 |
| 7323 Chicago Caf Chicago, IL | Cash prize given to the 2nd place 2024 South Side Pitch Finalist. | $10,000 |
| National Conference of State legislature Denver, CO | 2025 National Conference Learning Hub Sponsorship | $7,500 |
| Daniel's Test Kitchen Chicago, IL | Cash prize given to the 3rd place 2025 South Side Pitch Finalist. | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $178,026,163 | $55,276,320 | $47,571,842 | $77,500 | 6 | $7,666,033 |
| 2024 | $163,719,094 | $49,926,462 | $44,264,308 | $1,367,542 | 7 | $4,670,707 |
| 2023 | $144,590,449 | $38,753,383 | $37,733,069 | $61,500 | 5 | $3,422,745 |
| 2022 | $118,219,089 | $38,984,471 | $33,233,789 | $69,000 | 4 | $3,633,268 |
| 2021 | $122,859,049 | $37,879,934 | $29,193,641 | $123,632 | 9 | $3,397,998 |
| 2020 | $104,919,956 | $35,215,327 | $26,333,259 | $69,629 | 3 | $7,579,986 |
About Institute for Justice
Based on IRS filings
Institute for Justice is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Arlington, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $178.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $78K. Net investment income was $7.7M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Institute for Justice is led by Scott G. Bullock, President & Chief Counsel since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 11 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott G. Bullock
President & Chief Counsel
President & General Counsel → President & Chief Counsel, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$469K (2020) → $797K (2025)
Jim Lintott
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Berliner
Senior Vice President & Litigation Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$441K (2020) → $673K (2025)
Arthur Dantchik
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth N. Levy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Modzelewski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew D. Prins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Greenberg
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Gelfond
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tara Smith
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Stevens
Vice President for Development
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$277K (2020) → $378K (2025)
Daniel Knepper
CFO, General Counsel, Secretary & Treasurer
Managing Vp-Cfo, Secretary & Treasurer → Managing Vp-Cfo & Secretary, 2021
Managing Vp-Cfo & Secretary → CFO, General Counsel, Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$374K (2020) → $564K (2025)
Deborah Simpson
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$333K (2020) → $532K (2025)
John Kramer
Vice President for Strategic Relations
Vice President for Communications → Vice President for Strategic Relations, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$372K (2020) → $477K (2025)
Robert Gall
Managing Vice President & Senior Attorney
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$234K (2020) → $424K (2025)
Robert McNamara
Deputy Litigation Director
Senior Attorney → Deputy Litigation Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$294K (2020) → $371K (2025)
Wiliam Mellor
Chariman & Founding General Counsel
Chairman & Founding General Counsel → Chariman & Founding General Counsel, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$356K (2020) → $51K (2025)
Robert Johnson
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$232K (2022) → $284K (2025)
Robert Frommer
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$248K (2023) → $281K (2025)
Former officers (8)
- Former: Bob Gelfond (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Mary E. Stiefel (2020–2024) — Outgoing Director
- Former: Michael Bindas (2020–2024) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Jeffrey Rowes (2020–2022) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Melanie Hildreth (2020–2022) — Vice President for External Relations
- Former: Robert A. Levy (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Paul Sherman (2021) — Senior Attorney
- Former: Abigail Thernstrom (2020) — Director
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 $797K, to Scott Bullock (President and Chief Counsel). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Institute for Justice
How much does Institute for Justice give each year?
Institute for Justice gave $78K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 7 grants.
What is Institute for Justice's typical grant size?
Institute for Justice's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $12,917, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Institute for Justice give grants?
Institute for Justice gives mostly in Virginia: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (39%) and Colorado (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does Institute for Justice give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Institute for Justice's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Institute for Justice's largest grantees?
Institute for Justice's largest 2025 grantees include American legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ($20,000), State Policy Network ($20,000) and InHeirit ($14,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Institute for Justice?
Institute for Justice reported $178.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $55.3M.
What is Institute for Justice?
Institute for Justice is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Arlington, VA. It holds $178.0M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Institute for Justice's EIN?
Institute for Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1744337. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2020 (received by the IRS February 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Institute for Justice funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Institute for Justice's focus areas in our free grants database
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More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
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Institute for Justice down — hundreds of funders to go?