Needmor Fund for Social Justice
The Needmor Fund for Social Justice is a private foundation based in Perrysburg, Ohio. Established in 1956, it supports grassroots community organizing that builds community power and challenges conditions that limit participation in democracy.
Needmor Fund for Social Justice at a glance
In short: Needmor Fund for Social Justice gave $1.1M across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,105,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- Average grant
- $34,553
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $25,323,423
- Primary geography
- Illinois (27% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Needmor Fund for Social Justice
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The funder states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website describes an online process: organizations that have never received Needmor funding may submit a Letter of Inquiry, while previously funded organizations and those invited through the LOI process may submit a full application. Continuing grantees have a separate process. Applications should not include video or audio materials. The instructions state that applicants are notified about six weeks after the submission deadline and that approved grants can be expected about six months after it.
- Review Cycle
- The listed application windows are April 1–May 15 for Letters of Inquiry and May 1–July 3 for full applications and continuing-grantee applications. The website’s general instructions say funded organizations may apply for up to four consecutive years before a two-year break; its Core Grants description instead says eligibility lasts up to three years before a two-year break.
- Deadline
- The listed application windows are April 1–May 15 for Letters of Inquiry and May 1–July 3 for full applications and…
- Contact
Mailing address: 539 East Front Street, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Phone: (419) 872-1490
Website: https://www.needmorfund.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 Needmor Fund for Social Justice
Who Needmor Fund for Social Justice funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Arise Chicago ($90K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $476K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 32 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Needmor’s Core Grants Program focuses on eight Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In 2024, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois (27%), Missouri (19%), and Michigan (14%), followed by Iowa and Minnesota (8% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
How Needmor Fund for Social Justice gives
- In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Action St Louis St. Louis, MO | General operating to build power for black communities throughout the st. Louis region | $50,000 |
| Arise Chicago Chicago, IL | General operating to fight workplace injustice through education, organizing, and advocating. | $50,000 |
| Worker Defense Project Austin, TX | General operating to empower low-income workers to achie e fair employment through education, direct services, organizing and strategic partnerships. | $50,000 |
| 482FORWARD Detroit, MI | General operating to create a detroit where every student graduates ready to become a fully engaged participant in the world | $40,000 |
| Amos Institute Des Moines, IA | General operating to equip ordinary people with the skills they need to be effective leaders | $40,000 |
| Arise Chicago Chicago, IL | General operating to build partnerships between faith communities and workers | $40,000 |
| Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa Iowa City, IA | General Operating to Unite Low Wage Workers | $40,000 |
| Common Ground Milwaukee, WI | General operating for alliance of congregations, schools, nonprofits, small business and neighborhoods to build non-partisan political power | $40,000 |
| Faith in Indiana Indianapolis, IN | General operating for faith communities and marginalized people to act collectively for racial and economic justice | $40,000 |
| Freedom Roc Akron, OH | General operating to create sytemic change that leads to a more equitable society by uplifting the voices of directly impacted black people | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Needmor Fund for Social Justice?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $25,323,423 | $1,477,379 | $1,899,865 | $1,105,700 | 32 | $1,635,853 | $1,236,457 | $1,388,100 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Needmor Fund for Social Justice reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Needmor’s mission is to work with others to bring about social justice. It supports groups that organize their communities, build power, and challenge social, economic, or political conditions that restrict participation in a democratic society.
The funder describes its intended partners as grassroots, membership-based organizations that are democratically led, engage in direct-action campaigns, and develop community leadership. Its guidelines emphasize organizing low- and moderate-income people, serving communities whose voices have historically gone unheard, and working across issues such as race, immigration, poverty, economic justice, and low-wage work.
Examples of grantees’ own stated missions illustrate the range of work supported. Arise Chicago says it builds partnerships between faith communities and workers to fight workplace injustice. Action St. Louis describes itself as a grassroots organization using organizing, advocacy, and communications to transform the St. Louis region. The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa identifies workers’ rights, housing, equal access to community services, and support for people affected by immigration policies among its priorities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Needmor reported 32 grants totaling $1,105,700. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $40,000. The largest awards included $50,000 each to Action St. Louis and Arise Chicago, and $50,000 to Worker Defense Project. Other notable awards were $40,000 to the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, Common Ground, Faith in Indiana, and Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia (United Renters for Justice).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jhatayn Travis as executive director; Kirk Noden as chair; Kevin Ryan as vice-chair; and David Ward as secretary/treasurer. Trustees listed are Laine Stranahan, Daniel Stranahan, Cris Doby, Gabe Gonzalez, EB Blakney, and Chase Cantrell.
Needmor Fund for Social Justice is led by Jhatayn Travis, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jhatayn Travis
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$157K (2024)
Kirk Noden
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cris Doby
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Stranahan
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabe Gonzalez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laine Stranahan
Trustee
Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chase Cantrell
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Harrington
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eb Blakney
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Ward
Secretary & Treasurer
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Ryan
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jeff Helmick (2022) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Sobecki (2022) — Transition Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 $157K, to Jhatayn Travis (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Needmor Fund for Social Justice
How much does Needmor Fund for Social Justice give each year?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice gave $1.1M across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Needmor Fund for Social Justice's typical grant size?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $34,553, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Needmor Fund for Social Justice give grants?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice's top state is Illinois, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (19%) and Michigan (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants), St. Louis, MO (5 grants), Minneapolis, MN (3 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does Needmor Fund for Social Justice give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Needmor Fund for Social Justice's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Needmor Fund for Social Justice's largest grantees?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice's largest 2024 grantees include Arise Chicago ($90,000 across 2 grants), Action St Louis ($50,000) and Worker Defense Project ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Needmor Fund for Social Justice?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice reported $25.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Needmor Fund for Social Justice fund?
Needmor’s mission is to work with others to bring about social justice. It supports groups that organize their communities, build power, and challenge social, economic, or political conditions that restrict participation in a democratic society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Needmor Fund for Social Justice?
The funder states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Needmor Fund for Social Justice's EIN?
Needmor Fund for Social Justice's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-1083786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does Needmor Fund for Social Justice accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Needmor Fund for Social Justice funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/needmor-fund-for-social-justice-morg_b2eddcda189d456e80ebf09f8fb14559
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_921083786_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Needmor Fund for Social Justice funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/needmor-fund-for-social-justice-morg_b2eddcda189d456e80ebf09f8fb14559},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Needmor Fund for Social 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.
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