National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) is an Oakland, California-based public charity formed in 2017. It works to reduce incarceration and violence, improve outcomes for system-involved youth and adults, and build the capacity of organizations serving them.
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform at a glance
In short: National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform gave $3.1M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $148K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,110,000
- +106.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +61.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $148,095
- +27.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $160,000
- Total assets
- $19,937,919
- +45.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
- Contact
Mailing address: 4900 Shattuck Avenue Unit 3817, Oakland, CA 94609
Phone: (510) 746-6111
Website: https://nicjr.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
Who National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Mentoring Center ($275K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 48 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NICJR says it works with government agencies and community-based organizations in more than 100 unique jurisdictions and supports jurisdictions nationwide. Its Giving Initiative reports awards across 13 cities and counties. In filing-year 2025 grant data, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California (35%), the District of Columbia (13%), Massachusetts (11%), Wisconsin (10%), and Ohio (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform gives
- 14% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $850 (2022) to $3.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $3.1M.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Mentoring Center Oakland, CA | General Support | $275,000 |
| End the Violence Columbus, OH | General Support | $250,000 |
| Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice DBA Curyj Oakland, CA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Innercity Collaborative Comm Development Corporation Washington, DC | General Support | $250,000 |
| Operation Good Foundation Jackson, MS | General Support | $250,000 |
| Nurtury Inc Roxbury, MA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Community Violence Legal Network West Hollywood, CA | General Support | $190,000 |
| Westcare Wisconsin Inc Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $187,500 |
| Eclectic Soul Voices Corporation Indianapolis, IN | General Support | $185,000 |
| Roots Community Health Center San Jose, CA | General Support | $160,000 |
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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 | $19,937,919 | $15,531,527 | $12,284,615 | $3,110,000 | 21 | $200,135 |
| 2024 | $13,688,973 | $7,139,067 | $6,171,308 | $1,509,262 | 13 | $123,245 |
| 2023 | $10,205,927 | $7,761,354 | $3,882,374 | $474,042 | 14 | $28,040 |
| 2022 | $6,217,454 | $5,042,511 | $2,262,400 | $850 | Total only | $2,065 |
| 2021 | $3,317,733 | $3,269,289 | $889,041 | — | — | $666 |
| 2020 | $827,005 | $626,604 | $538,420 | — | — | $489 |
| 2019 | $327,989 | $555,640 | $515,563 | $149,500 | 1 | $1,725 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
NICJR’s stated vision is a world free from unnecessary incarceration and gun violence, and that is safe, just, fair, and equitable. Its work includes violence reduction, justice system reform, youth development, research and data, and support for community violence intervention. Its service offerings include technical assistance, training, research, and planning related to gun violence reduction strategies, offices of violence prevention, and justice system reform.
The NICJR Giving Initiative provides financial support and capacity building for grassroots organizations involved in community violence intervention. The organization reports that its grants are intended to further recipients’ missions and support their individual needs. Examples of recipients’ stated missions include The Mentoring Center’s work to support young people toward healthy and successful lives; Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice’s work to invest in young people’s healing, activism, and aspirations; and Operation Good Foundation’s work to reduce recidivism and violent incidents. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
NICJR also leads or participates in initiatives that provide training and technical assistance. The Coalition to Advance Public Safety, established in 2022 with partner organizations, works to strengthen local community violence intervention ecosystems. NICJR’s National Offices of Violence Prevention Network had 78 local and state-level agency members as of June 30, 2025.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NICJR reported 21 grants totaling $3,110,000. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $275,000, with a median of $160,000. The largest awards included $275,000 to The Mentoring Center; $250,000 each to End the Violence, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, InnerCity Collaborative Community Development Corporation, Operation Good Foundation, and Nurtury Inc.; and $190,000 to Community Violence Legal Network. The listed grants were for general support.
NICJR reports that its Giving Initiative has distributed more than $5.17 million across 13 U.S. cities and counties since 2022. The website identifies contributions from philanthropic foundations and federal grants as supporting the initiative. It also describes pass-through funding for grassroots community violence intervention organizations receiving training and technical assistance through the Coalition to Advance Public Safety.
The Violence Reduction Management Institute’s 2026 cohort is a training and leadership development program, not a grant. Its listed application deadline, March 13, 2026, has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Muhammad as executive director; Diana Dahl as director of development and operations; Mikaela Rabinowitz as director of data and research; Keiland Henderson as associate director of violence reduction; Shantay Jackson as director of NOVPN; Amy Arthur as content development specialist; and Trevariana Mason as research and policy manager. It also lists Gordon Baranco as president, Alise Marshall as secretary, and Arnold Perkins as a board member.
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform is led by David Muhammad, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 7 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Muhammad
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
60 hrs/week
$36K (2019) → $241K (2025)
Gordon Baranco
President
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana Dahl
Director of Development & Operations
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$185K (2024) → $194K (2025)
Mikaela Rabinowitz
Director of Data & Research
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$155K (2025)
Shantay Jackson
Director of Novpn
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$145K (2025)
Amy Arthur
Content Development Specialist
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $117K (2025)
Keiland Henderson
Associate Director of Violence Reduction
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024) → $146K (2025)
Trevariana Mason
Research & Policy Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Arnold Perkins
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Bell
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Javier Stauring
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alise Marshall
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Judge Gordon Baranco (2019–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $241K, to David Muhammad (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
How much does National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform give each year?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform gave $3.1M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 13 grants.
What is National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's typical grant size?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's median grant in 2025 was $160,000, and its average grant was $148,095, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform give grants?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's top state is California, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (4 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants), Indianapolis, IN (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform give general operating support?
Yes: 95% of National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's largest grantees?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's largest 2025 grantees include The Mentoring Center ($275,000), End the Violence ($250,000) and Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice DBA Curyj ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform reported $19.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.5M.
What does National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform fund?
NICJR’s stated vision is a world free from unnecessary incarceration and gun violence, and that is safe, just, fair, and equitable. Its work includes violence reduction, justice system reform, youth development, research and data, and support for community violence intervention. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nicjr.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's EIN?
National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-5269212. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 2023 (received by the IRS August 19, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 5, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 29, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-institute-for-criminal-justice-reform-morg_c251eb7bb3fd42e29b81156689d61fe9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_815269212_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-institute-for-criminal-justice-reform-morg_c251eb7bb3fd42e29b81156689d61fe9},
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 National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform'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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