The Civil Justice Reform Group
The Civil Justice Reform Group (CJRG) is a public charity based in Palmyra, Virginia. Formed in 2006, it supports initiatives and organizations working to improve the civil litigation climate and foster a fair and balanced civil justice system at the state and federal levels.
Key facts about The Civil Justice Reform Group
In short: The Civil Justice Reform Group gave $1.8M across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $153K), mostly in District of Columbia. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 80-0154271
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,830,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $152,500
- Median grant
- $48,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $1,605,546
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
12
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$153K
-2.2% YoY
Is The Civil Justice Reform Group open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 12 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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
CJRG states that its mission is to advance civil justice reform locally, at the state level, and nationally. Its filing describes support for a variety of initiatives and organizations across the country. The 2025 grants included program support for organizations focused on civil justice reform, litigation, courts, and legal policy.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. The Washington Legal Foundation says it works to maintain balance in the courts and strengthen the free enterprise system, while championing free-market principles, individual rights, business civil liberties, and legal ethics. The Colorado Civil Justice League describes itself as an advocacy organization fostering a balanced and efficient civil justice system. Texans for Lawsuit Reform says it works on Texas civil justice and court policy through public education, legislative advocacy, and public support for a fair judiciary and balanced dispute resolution. The George Mason University Foundation says it receives and administers private gifts for the benefit of the university.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CJRG reported 12 grants totaling $1,830,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,007,500, with a median grant of $48,750. All 12 listed grants were for program support.
The largest grants were $1,007,500 to the American Tort Reform Association and $365,000 to Lawyers for Civil Justice, both in Washington, DC. Other notable awards included $95,000 to the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute; $85,000 to the Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform; $55,000 each to the Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition and the Washington Legal Foundation; and $42,500 to the New York Civil Justice Institute.
CJRG says it undertakes an annual budget process to determine the projects and activities it will fund. After the budget is approved, its members oversee grant allocation and distribution to ensure funds are used for the purposes outlined by CJRG.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CJRG states that it advances civil justice reform at local, state, and national levels and supports organizations across the country. In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC, 5% each to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and 3% each to New York and Missouri. Its listed recipients were also located in Colorado, Texas, Virginia, and Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $2.4M (2019). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Tort Reform Association ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 63 (51%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Tort Reform Association Washington, DC | Program support | $1,007,500 |
| Lawyers for Civil Justice Washington, DC | Program support | $365,000 |
| New Jersey Civil Justice Institute Tenton, NJ | Program support | $95,000 |
| Pennsylvania Coalition for Civil Justice Reform Harrisburg, PA | Program support | $85,000 |
| Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition Inc Jefferson City, MO | Program support | $55,000 |
| Washington Legal Foundation Washington, DC | Program support | $55,000 |
| New York Civil Justice Institute Albany, NY | Program support | $42,500 |
| Colorado Civil Justice League Denver, CO | Program support | $40,000 |
| Texans for Lawsuit Reform Houston, TX | Program support | $40,000 |
| Center for Jurisprudence Albany, NY | Program support | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,605,546 | $2,667,842 | $3,042,704 | $1,830,000 (12) |
| 2024 | $1,682,618 | $2,956,290 | $2,989,415 | $1,871,000 (12) |
| 2023 | $1,662,338 | $2,931,151 | $2,807,864 | $1,675,000 (12) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,605,546 | $1,682,618 | $1,662,338 |
| Revenue | $2,667,842 | $2,956,290 | $2,931,151 |
| Expenses | $3,042,704 | $2,989,415 | $2,807,864 |
| Net Investment Income | $67,842 | $106,290 | $56,151 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Melissa Brown as president; Marcus Rayner as treasurer; Molly Jones as secretary; Bill Dodero and Tye Darland as steering committee co-chairs; and Anthony M. Anastasio as managing director. Anne Saxon was president through June 30, 2025; Chris Guth was secretary through June 30, 2025; and Mark Howard was a steering committee co-chair through June 30, 2025.
The filing reports that TISM Strategies LLC, wholly owned by CJRG Managing Director Anthony M. Anastasio, provided management services to CJRG for $320,000 in 2025.
The Civil Justice Reform Group is led by Anne Saxon, President since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne Saxon
President
Secretary & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Brown
President
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony M Anastasio
Managing Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcus Rayner
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Dodero
Steering Committee Co-Chair
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Guth
Secretary
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Howard - Steering
Committee Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Molly Jones
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tye Darland
Steering Committee Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Cynthia E Berry Esq. (2019–2024) — Managing Director
- Former: Mark Howard (2022–2024) — Steering Committee Co-Chair
- Former: Scott Partridge (2023) — Steering Committee Co-Chair
- Former: Erin Engle (2019–2022) — President
- Former: James Ford (2019–2022) — Steering Committee Co-Chair
- Former: Leah Lorber (2019–2022) — Secretary & President
- Former: Steve McManus (2019–2022) — Steering Committee Co-Chair
- Former: Michael Freeman (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Christopher Gramling (2019) — President
- Former: Mike Harrington (2019) — Steering Committee Co-Chair
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.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 51, Palmyra, VA 22963
Phone: (908) 797-7785
Frequently asked questions about The Civil Justice Reform Group
How much does The Civil Justice Reform Group give each year?
The Civil Justice Reform Group gave $1.8M across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 12 grants.
What is The Civil Justice Reform Group's typical grant size?
The Civil Justice Reform Group's median grant in 2025 was $48,750, and its average grant was $152,500, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Civil Justice Reform Group give grants?
The Civil Justice Reform Group gives mostly in District of Columbia: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants) and Albany, NY (2 grants).
Does The Civil Justice Reform Group give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Civil Justice Reform Group's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program support" (12 grants).
Who are The Civil Justice Reform Group's largest grantees?
The Civil Justice Reform Group's largest 2025 grantees include American Tort Reform Association ($1,007,500), Lawyers for Civil Justice ($365,000) and New Jersey Civil Justice Institute ($95,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Civil Justice Reform Group?
The Civil Justice Reform Group reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What does The Civil Justice Reform Group fund?
CJRG states that its mission is to advance civil justice reform locally, at the state level, and nationally. Its filing describes support for a variety of initiatives and organizations across the country. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Civil Justice Reform Group?
The Civil Justice Reform Group has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Civil Justice Reform Group's EIN?
The Civil Justice Reform Group's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0154271. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Civil Justice Reform Group by hand.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Civil Justice Reform Group funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-civil-justice-reform-group-morg_ae157d4465f14d17aab086e85a33b9e9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_800154271_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Civil Justice Reform Group funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-civil-justice-reform-group-morg_ae157d4465f14d17aab086e85a33b9e9},
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 The Civil Justice Reform Group'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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