National Religious Campaign Against Torture
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.
Key facts about National Religious Campaign Against Torture
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.
- EIN
- 20-8832485
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $900,475
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- Average grant
- $47,393
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (4 of 19, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,800,626
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (14% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+45.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$900K
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+1.3% YoY
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. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $43K first-time, $50K repeat.
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.
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.
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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
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $452K (2020) to $900K (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $900K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 86 (67%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Interfaith Action for Human Rights Washington, DC | Grant in support of efforts to end solitary in Maryland and Virginia | $75,000 |
| Trinity Episcopal Church Buffalo, NY | Grant in support of reducing the use of solitary confinement in ny prisons and jails | $65,000 |
| Abolitionist Law Center Pittsburgh, PA | Grant in support of "campaign to abolish solitary confinement" project | $59,000 |
| DC Justice Lab Washington, DC | Grant in support of "unlock the box dc" project | $55,000 |
| Opendoors Providence, RI | Grant in support of the stop torture ri campaign project | $53,000 |
| Justice and Accountability Center of LA New Orleans, LA | Grant to support the activities of the Louisiana stop solitary coalition & campaign | $50,000 |
| Disability Rights North Carolina Raleigh, NC | Grant to Support the #Endsolitarync Campaign | $50,000 |
| Unitarian Universalist Massachusetts Action Network Inc Marlborough, MA | Grant in support of the ending solitary now project | $50,000 |
| Salvation and Social Justice Woodbury, NJ | Grant to support the project New Jersey prison justice watch (nj-pjw) | $50,000 |
| Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Chicago, IL | Grant in support of activities to reform use of solitary confinement in Illinois | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,800,626 | $5,442,489 | $3,393,607 | $900,475 (19 grants) |
| 2023 | $4,670,379 | $2,499,143 | $3,158,733 | $888,884 (19 grants) |
| 2022 | $5,299,175 | $4,134,459 | $2,783,058 | $846,172 (17 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,800,626 | $4,670,379 | $5,299,175 |
| Revenue | $5,442,489 | $2,499,143 | $4,134,459 |
| Expenses | $3,393,607 | $3,158,733 | $2,783,058 |
| Net Investment Income | $189,230 | $91,170 | $5,117 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
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.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090
Phone: (202) 547-1920
Website: https://nrcat.org
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.
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