Interfaith Worker Justice
Interfaith Worker Justice is a Chicago, Illinois-based public charity that filed Form 990. Formed in 1996, it reported making grants to worker and community organizations in 2022. Its most recent filing on record is for 2022, with nothing filed since; it therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Interfaith Worker Justice at a glance
In short: Interfaith Worker Justice gave $165K across 11 grants in 2022 (avg $15K), top state Wisconsin. 73% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $165,000
- -67.2% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 11
- +57.1% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $15,000
- -79.1% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $58,071
- -76.9% vs 2021
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (8 of 11, 2022; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (18% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Interfaith Worker Justice
- Contact
Mailing address: 1020 W Bryn Mawr 3Rd Fl, Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: (773) 728-8400
Website: https://iwj.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Interfaith Worker Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center ($15K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 28 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2022 grants went to organizations in multiple states. Wisconsin and New York each accounted for 18% of grant dollars; Ohio, North Carolina, and Florida each accounted for 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Interfaith Worker Justice open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 8 of 11 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 9% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2020) to $503K (2021). In 2022 it made 11 grants totaling $165K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center Cincinnati, OH | General support | $15,000 |
| Western North Carolina Workers' Center Hickory, NC | General support | $15,000 |
| South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice Miami, FL | General support | $15,000 |
| Workers' Rights Center Madison, WI | General support | $15,000 |
| Pilipino Workers Center Los Angeles, CA | General support | $15,000 |
| New Labor New Brunswick, NJ | General support | $15,000 |
| Fe Y Justicia Houston, TX | General support | $15,000 |
| Damayan Migrant Worker Association New York, NY | General support | $15,000 |
| Workers' Center of Central New York Syracuse, NY | General support | $15,000 |
| Voces de la Frontera Milwaukee, WI | General support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Interfaith Worker Justice?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $58,071 | $15 | $191,313 | $165,000 | 11 | $15 |
| 2021 | $251,612 | $394,451 | $698,967 | $503,000 | 7 | $1,892 |
| 2020 | $599,854 | $49,084 | $296,859 | $100,000 | 10 | $2,353 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Interfaith Worker Justice’s stated mission is to advance workers’ rights by engaging diverse faith communities in action, from grassroots organizing to policy work at local, state, and national levels. Its stated strategies include public policy education and advocacy, support for worker campaigns, technical assistance and training for its network of more than 60 affiliated organizations, programs for future religious leaders, and educational resources for religious communities and individuals.
The organizations it supported in 2022 described their work in their own terms. Voces de la Frontera said it is a membership-based grassroots organization led by low-wage workers, immigrants, and youth, working for long-term societal change through community organizing and empowerment. The Western North Carolina Workers Center said it works to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for low-wage and immigrant workers in western North Carolina. The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa identified workers’ rights to proper payment and safe work, housing, equal access to community services, and assistance for people affected by immigration policies as priority issues. The Workers’ Center of Central New York described itself as a grassroots organization focused on workplace and economic justice through advocacy, leadership development, organizing, and popular education.
Grantmaking
In 2022, Interfaith Worker Justice gave $165,000 through 11 grants. Each grant was $15,000. Recipients included Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center, Western North Carolina Workers’ Center, South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice, Workers’ Rights Center in Madison, Pilipino Workers Center, New Labor, Fe y Justicia, Damayan Migrant Worker Association, Workers’ Center of Central New York, Voces de la Frontera, and Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa. Each was listed as receiving $15,000 for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing listed Ms Jeanette Smith and Ms Nora Morales as Co-Presidents; Bishop Howard Hubbard as Vice President; Mr Mustafa White as Treasurer; Ms Karen Hessel as Fundraising Chair; Mr Naeem Baig as Communications Chair; The Rev Troy Jackson as Organizing Chair; Rev Dr Ken Brooker-Langston as Public Policy Chair; and Mr Jules Bernstein and The Rev Dr Lillian Daniel as Directors.
Interfaith Worker Justice is led by Jeanette Smith, Co-President on every filing since 2020; none of the 30 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Jeanette Smith
Co-President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nora Morales
Co-President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Hessel
Fundraising Chair
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ken Brooker-Langston
Public Policy Chair
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Naeem Baig
Communications Chair
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
The Rev Troy Jackson
Organizing Chair
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Smoucha
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Kang Bartlett
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brennan Grayson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Wildman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Rodriguez
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gema Lowe
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hunter Ogletree
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Imam Taha Hassane
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph McCartin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jules Bernstein
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ligia Guallpa
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lolita Lledo
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis Kimmel
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Sneiderman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mario Ramiriz
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Livingston
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rabbi Jonathan Klein
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Rivera
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
The Rev Doug Mork
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
The Rev Dr Lillian Daniel
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
The Rev Dr Paul Sherry
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bishop Howard Hubbard
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mustafa White
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Martha Ojeda (2021) — Senior National Field Organizer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Interfaith Worker Justice
How much does Interfaith Worker Justice give each year?
Interfaith Worker Justice gave $165K across 11 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990. In 2021 it gave $503K across 7 grants.
What is Interfaith Worker Justice's typical grant size?
Interfaith Worker Justice's median grant in 2022 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,000, across 11 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Interfaith Worker Justice that year got $15K on average.
Where does Interfaith Worker Justice give grants?
Interfaith Worker Justice's top state is Wisconsin, with 18% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Ohio (9%).
Does Interfaith Worker Justice give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Interfaith Worker Justice's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990.
Who are Interfaith Worker Justice's largest grantees?
Interfaith Worker Justice's largest 2022 grantees include Cincinnati Interfaith Worker Center ($15,000), Western North Carolina Workers' Center ($15,000) and South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice ($15,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is Interfaith Worker Justice?
Interfaith Worker Justice reported $58K in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.
What does Interfaith Worker Justice fund?
Interfaith Worker Justice’s stated mission is to advance workers’ rights by engaging diverse faith communities in action, from grassroots organizing to policy work at local, state, and national levels. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Interfaith Worker Justice?
Interfaith Worker Justice has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check iwj.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Interfaith Worker Justice's EIN?
Interfaith Worker Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4063982. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 15, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Live grants for the work Interfaith Worker Justice funds
Religion Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Interfaith Worker Justice's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Hispanics in Philanthropy
San Francisco, CA
Hispanics in Philanthropy funds organizations advancing Latine communities through work such as racial and gender equity, leadership, migration, justice, entrepreneurship, and climate action. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,112 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000, supporting organizations across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$17.3M
Grants
46
Total Given
$1.0M
NEO Philanthropy Inc
New York, NY
NEO Philanthropy funds social-justice movements and community organizations, including work on immigration, democracy, reproductive, racial and climate justice, and LGBTQ rights. In 2024, its 558 grants ranged from $5,000 to $23.58 million, with a median of $50,000; grants went mainly to Washington state, Washington, DC, North Carolina, California, and New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests or proposals; potential grantees are generally invited to apply.
Assets
$185.6M
Grants
558
Total Given
$103.5M
Food Chain Workers Alliance
Los Angeles, CA
The Food Chain Workers Alliance is a coalition of worker-based organizations whose members plant, harvest, process, pack, transport, prepare, serve, and sell food, organizing to improve wages and working conditions for all workers along the food chain. The alliance works together to build a more sustainable food system that respects workers' rights, based on the principles of social, environmental and racial justice, in which everyone has access to healthy and affordable food.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
6
Total Given
$130K
Five Together Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
Five Together Foundation funds services for families in need, youth development and leadership, and community building, including education, food and housing security, and civic engagement. Its 2025 grants ranged from $25,000 to $750,000, with a median of $100,000, focused primarily on Maine, New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, San Diego, and East Africa. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$43.0M
Grants
37
Total Given
$4.5M
Spectemur Agendo Inc
Washington, DC
SPECTEMUR AGENDO INC’s 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including foreign policy, international affairs, reproductive rights, media, human rights, and social justice, with most reported funding going to recipients in Washington, DC and New York. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $60,000, with a median of $40,000; the filing says there is no specific application form or deadline.
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
19
Total Given
$775K
Winslow Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The Wilmington, Delaware-based Winslow Foundation funds climate and environmental work, health initiatives, and civic education, with 2024 grants concentrated in Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., California, and North Carolina. Its 57 grants ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $20,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$30.4M
Grants
57
Total Given
$1.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Interfaith Worker 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.
Interfaith Worker Justice down — hundreds of funders to go?