Northwest Justice Project (NJP) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) public charity and Washington’s largest publicly funded legal aid program. It provides free civil legal assistance and representation to eligible low-income people, addressing needs such as housing, family safety, income security, health care, and education.
Key facts about Northwest Justice Project
In short: Northwest Justice Project gave $5.2M across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $520K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 91-1687791
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,202,122
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $520,212
- Median grant
- $111,569
- Total assets
- $37,657,849
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$37.7M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
+49.4% YoY
Grant Count
10
+900.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$520K
-85.1% YoY
How Northwest Justice Project gives
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
NJP’s mission is “Combating Injustice, strengthening communities and protecting human dignity.” Its stated vision is justice for all low-income people in Washington. NJP provides legal advice and representation, community education, and self-help resources. Its work includes civil legal issues involving domestic violence, housing, employment, public benefits, health care, education, consumer matters, and access to courts. Its board sets general case-service priorities, which can vary by location and program.
NJP’s 2024 filing reports that 30,050 people, including clients and their families, benefited from direct legal advocacy, while 1.3 million people accessed legal resources through Washington Law Help. The filing also reports that NJP protected $50.12 million in home equity, eliminated $2.4 million in unfair debt, and secured $1.54 million in veterans’ benefits through its advocacy.
Grantmaking
NJP reported 10 grants totaling $5,202,122 in filing year 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $18,773 to $4,069,034, with a median of $111,568. The largest grants included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NJP describes its legal services as statewide, serving people in locations across Washington. Its 2024 itemized grants were primarily to Washington organizations; the list also includes a $25,000 grant to Kinds in Need of Defense in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2020) to $5.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Legal Foundation of WA ($4.1M). Together the top 10 received $5.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 14 (36%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Foundation of WA Seattle, WA | Lawyer Programs | $4,069,034 |
| Team Child Seattle, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $385,584 |
| Living With Conviction Seattle, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $197,169 |
| Northwest Health Law Advocate Seattle, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $171,399 |
| Crisis Connections Seattle, WA | Enhanced Screening & Referral | $150,000 |
| WA Autism Alliance Kirkland, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $73,137 |
| Skagit Domestic Violence SAS Mt Vernon, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $69,025 |
| Disability Rights Washington Seattle, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $43,001 |
| Kinds in Need of Defense Washington, DC | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $25,000 |
| Solid Ground Washington Seattle, WA | Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach | $18,773 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants given |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,657,849 | $54,112,564 | $53,691,668 | $5,202,122 (10 grants) |
| 2023 | $36,453,705 | $55,768,328 | $47,936,053 | $3,481,523 (1 grant) |
| 2022 | $27,390,501 | $48,019,592 | $47,382,621 | $3,451,500 (1 grant) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,657,849 | $36,453,705 | $27,390,501 |
| Revenue | $54,112,564 | $55,768,328 | $48,019,592 |
| Expenses | $53,691,668 | $47,936,053 | $47,382,621 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $792,899 | $329,552 | $24,695 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following officers and directors: Cesar Torres, Executive Dir.; Abigail Daquiz and Hickory Gateless, Interim E.D.; Michelle Besso, Steve Robins, John Purbaugh, Eva Wescott, and Luanne Serafin, Managing Attorneys; and Kris Breton and Steven Pelletier, Directors of Finance.
Northwest Justice Project is led by Cesar Torres, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 10 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cesar Torres
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$169K (2020) → $289K (2024)
Hickory Gateless
Interim Executive Director
Deputy Director → Interim Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$136K (2021) → $172K (2024)
Abigail Daquiz
Interim Executive Director
Director of Advocacy → Interim Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$141K (2022) → $167K (2024)
Toni Hood
President
Board Member → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Pelletier
Director of Finance
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $90K (2024)
Kris Breton
Director of Finance
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$135K (2024)
Carolyn Estrada
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Waite
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zach Pekelis
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Pacheco-Jones
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Bargala
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Landry
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert J Ault
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandro Kirgin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brennan Schreibman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Lewis
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Purbaugh
Managing Attorney
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$148K (2020) → $164K (2024)
Michelle Besso
Managing Attorney
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $158K (2024)
Steve Robins
Managing Attorney
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $144K (2024)
Luanne Serafin
Managing Attorney
Senior Managing Attorney → Managing Attorney, 2024
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$142K (2023) → $148K (2024)
Eva Wescott
Managing Attorney
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$144K (2024)
Richard J Harrison
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine West
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Hsieh
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Brendan Donckers (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Hannah Stearns (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Natasha Hill (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Carmen Pacheco Jones (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Chiedza Nziramasanga (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Judith A. Lurie (2020–2022) — Attorney
- Former: Raul Martinez (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Vicente Omar Barraza (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: David Lasarte-Meeks (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Neidzwski (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Kelly Owen (2020–2021) — Managing Attorney
- Former: Maggie Kennedy (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Marsha Chien (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Roche (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jhovona Duggins (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Keith Howard (2021) — Managing Attorney
- Former: Vanessa Arno Martinez (2021) — Board Member
- Former: James Corning (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Richard White (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Russell Speidel (2020) — Board Member
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 $289K, to Cesar Torres (Executive Dir.). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 401 Second Ave S 407, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 464-1519
Website: https://nwjustice.org
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Justice Project
How much does Northwest Justice Project give each year?
Northwest Justice Project gave $5.2M across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 1 grant.
What is Northwest Justice Project's typical grant size?
Northwest Justice Project's median grant in 2024 was $111,569, and its average grant was $520,212, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does Northwest Justice Project give grants?
Northwest Justice Project gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (7 grants).
Does Northwest Justice Project give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Northwest Justice Project's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civil Legal Aid Support & Outreach" (8 grants).
Who are Northwest Justice Project's largest grantees?
Northwest Justice Project's largest 2024 grantees include Legal Foundation of WA ($4,069,034), Team Child ($385,584) and Living With Conviction ($197,169), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Northwest Justice Project?
Northwest Justice Project reported $37.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $54.1M.
What does Northwest Justice Project fund?
NJP’s mission is “Combating Injustice, strengthening communities and protecting human dignity.” Its stated vision is justice for all low-income people in Washington. NJP provides legal advice and representation, community education, and self-help resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northwest Justice Project?
NJP reported 10 grants totaling $5,202,122 in filing year 2024. Grant amounts ranged from $18,773 to $4,069,034, with a median of $111,568. The largest grants included:
What is Northwest Justice Project's EIN?
Northwest Justice Project's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1687791. 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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