National Religious Campaign Against Torture logo

National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Public charity · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 20-8832485 Website

National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a Washington, DC-based public charity that mobilizes people of faith to end torture in U.S. policy, practice, and culture. Its work includes education and advocacy to reduce solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention centers, alongside human-rights and national-security advocacy.

National Religious Campaign Against Torture at a glance

In short: National Religious Campaign Against Torture gave $900K across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), top state District of Columbia. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$900,475
+1.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
19
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$47,393
+1.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$6,800,626
+45.6% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
District of Columbia (14% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to National Religious Campaign Against Torture

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090
Phone: (202) 547-1920
Website: https://nrcat.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who National Religious Campaign Against Torture funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Interfaith Action for Human Rights: $75KInterfaith Action for HumanRights$75KTrinity Episcopal Church: $65KTrinity Episcopal Church$65KAbolitionist Law Center: $59KAbolitionist Law Center$59KDC Justice Lab: $55KDC Justice Lab$55KOpendoors: $53KOpendoors$53KJustice and Accountability Center of LA: $50KJustice and AccountabilityCenter of LA$50KDisability Rights North Carolina: $50KDisability Rights NorthCarolina$50KUnitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network Inc: $50KUnitarian UniversalistMassachusetts Action Network…$50KSalvation and Social Justice: $50KSalvation and Social Justice$50KChicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: $50KChicago Lawyers' Committee forCivil Rights$50K

The largest 2024 recipient was Interfaith Action for Human Rights ($75K). Together the top 10 received $557K.

Grant Size Distribution

86 grants across all recorded years

58<$50K26$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 86 (67%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

NRCAT states that it supports state and local campaign partners working on torture in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention centers, and that it supports state-level campaigns in more than twenty states. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states and the District of Columbia. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were DC (14%), NY (9%), PA (7%), RI (6%), and LA (6%).

Grant Distribution by State

21states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonAlbuquerqueLansingLincolnLittle RockMarlboroughNew OrleansPittsburghSeattleBuffaloProvidenceRaleighAtlantaLas VegasWoodburyCarson CityLos AngelesNew HavenNew York CityRichmond

Is National Religious Campaign Against Torture open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 19 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $49K. How we count

Medians: $43K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M13 grants2020 18 grants2021 17 grants2022 19 grants2023 19 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $452K (2020) to $900K (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $900K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Interfaith Action for Human Rights Washington, DCGrant in support of efforts to end solitary in Maryland and Virginia$75,000
Trinity Episcopal Church Buffalo, NYGrant in support of reducing the use of solitary confinement in ny prisons and jails$65,000
Abolitionist Law Center Pittsburgh, PAGrant in support of "campaign to abolish solitary confinement" project$59,000
DC Justice Lab Washington, DCGrant in support of "unlock the box dc" project$55,000
Opendoors Providence, RIGrant in support of the stop torture ri campaign project$53,000
Justice and Accountability Center of LA New Orleans, LAGrant to support the activities of the Louisiana stop solitary coalition & campaign$50,000
Disability Rights North Carolina Raleigh, NCGrant to Support the #Endsolitarync Campaign$50,000
Unitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network Inc Marlborough, MAGrant in support of the ending solitary now project$50,000
Salvation and Social Justice Woodbury, NJGrant to support the project New Jersey prison justice watch (nj-pjw)$50,000
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Chicago, ILGrant in support of activities to reform use of solitary confinement in Illinois$50,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$6,800,626$5,442,489$3,393,607$900,47519$189,230
2023$4,670,379$2,499,143$3,158,733$888,88419$91,170
2022$5,299,175$4,134,459$2,783,058$846,17217$5,117
2021$3,891,593$1,972,078$2,318,143$722,58418$-316
2020$4,276,194$3,723,064$1,321,862$451,68413$1,455

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

NRCAT’s stated mission is to mobilize people of faith to end torture in U.S. policy, practice, and culture. Its stated goals include ending U.S.-sponsored torture of detainees, ending torture in U.S. prisons and detention facilities—with particular attention to prolonged solitary confinement—and opposing bigotry and hatred that promote torture.

In its 2024 filing, NRCAT describes education and advocacy to shift U.S. carceral practices from punishment toward restoration and healing, including support for state-level campaigns in more than twenty states. It also describes work on post-9/11 detainee torture, Islamophobia, indefinite imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay, and grassroots and direct lobbying.

Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working on solitary-confinement reform and related prison-justice efforts. For example, grantee DC Justice Lab describes its mission as advancing large-scale changes to the District’s criminal legal system through research, organizing, and advocacy. OpenDoors says it supports justice-involved and unhoused people through housing, reentry, and other services. Disability Rights North Carolina describes its work as advancing and defending the rights of people with disabilities, while Citizens for Prison Reform says it promotes education for families and people affected by crime and punishment.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, NRCAT reported 19 grants totaling $900,475. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $75,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest awards included $75,000 to Interfaith Action for Human Rights for efforts to end solitary confinement in Maryland and Virginia; $65,000 to Trinity Episcopal Church for solitary-confinement reform in New York prisons and jails; $59,000 to Abolitionist Law Center for its Campaign to Abolish Solitary Confinement project; and $55,000 to DC Justice Lab for the Unlock the Box DC project.

Other awards included $53,000 to OpenDoors for the Stop Torture RI campaign, $50,000 to Disability Rights North Carolina for the #EndSolitaryNC campaign, and $47,000 to Citizens for Prison Reform for the Open MI Door campaign. The filing also lists grants supporting campaigns or projects in Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and New Mexico.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Joshua Levine Grater as president; Elizabeth Beavers as vice president/secretary; Jimmie Hawkins as treasurer; George Hunsinger as founder; Rebecca Linder Blachy, Jasmeet Sidhu, Dolores Canales, Saffet Abid Catovic, and Kendal McBroom as directors; and Rev Ron Stief as executive director.

National Religious Campaign Against Torture is led by Ron Stief, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 7 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Ron Stief

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $127K (2020) → $164K (2024)

  • Joshua Levine Grater

    President

    Secretary → President, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tara Morrow

    Director of Finance & Operations

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $100K (2021) → $124K (2024)

  • Johnny Perez

    Director of U.s.prisons Program

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $106K (2022) → $123K (2024)

  • Dolores Canales

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    $3K (2024)

  • Rebecca Linder Blachy

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jasmeet Sidhu

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kendal McBroom

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Saffet Abid Catovic

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jessica Lawrence Director

    Unlock the Box Campaign

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $133K (2021) → $156K (2024)

  • Laura Downton Director Of

    Faith & Community Engagement

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $117K (2023) → $124K (2024)

  • Scott Paltrowitz

    Advisor & Unlock the Box

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $118K (2024)

  • Elizabeth Beavers

    Vice President & Secretary

    Vice President → Vice President & Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George Hunsinger

    Founder

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jimmie Hawkins

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (9)
  • Former: David Leslie (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Aundreia Alexander (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Laura Magnani (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Janis Rosheuvel (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Lennox Yearwood (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Kit Evans-Ford (2021) — Director
  • Former: Matthew Hawthorne (2021) — Policy Director
  • Former: Dianna Ortiz (2020) — Director
  • Former: Seth Kaper-Dale (2020) — President

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

Rev Ron Stief — Executive Director: $164KRev Ron StiefExecutive Director$164KJessica Lawrence Director — Unlock the Box Campaign: $156KJessica Lawrence…Unlock the Box Campaign$156KTara Morrow — Director of Finance and Operations: $124KTara MorrowDirector of Finance and…$124KLaura Downton Director of — Faith and Community Engagement: $124KLaura Downton Director…Faith and Community Engagement$124KJohnny Perez — Director of U.s.prisons Program: $123KJohnny PerezDirector of U.s.prisons Program$123KScott Paltrowitz — Advisor, Unlock the Box: $118KScott PaltrowitzAdvisor, Unlock the Box$118KDolores Canales — Director: $3KDolores CanalesDirector$3K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $164K, to Rev Ron Stief (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about National Religious Campaign Against Torture

How much does National Religious Campaign Against Torture give each year?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture gave $900K across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $889K across 19 grants.

What is National Religious Campaign Against Torture's typical grant size?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $47,393, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Religious Campaign Against Torture that year got $42K on average.

Where does National Religious Campaign Against Torture give grants?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture's top state is District of Columbia, with 14% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (9%) and Pennsylvania (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does National Religious Campaign Against Torture give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on National Religious Campaign Against Torture's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are National Religious Campaign Against Torture's largest grantees?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture's largest 2024 grantees include Interfaith Action for Human Rights ($75,000), Trinity Episcopal Church ($65,000) and Abolitionist Law Center ($59,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is National Religious Campaign Against Torture?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture reported $6.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.

What does National Religious Campaign Against Torture fund?

NRCAT’s stated mission is to mobilize people of faith to end torture in U.S. policy, practice, and culture. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from National Religious Campaign Against Torture?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check nrcat.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is National Religious Campaign Against Torture's EIN?

National Religious Campaign Against Torture's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8832485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). National Religious Campaign Against Torture funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-religious-campaign-against-torture-morg_bf59b1028ee943779a6e16c455bfb7bf

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208832485_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{National Religious Campaign Against Torture funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-religious-campaign-against-torture-morg_bf59b1028ee943779a6e16c455bfb7bf},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Religious Campaign Against Torture'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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