The Just Trust for Education

Foundation · Grantmaker Durham, NC EIN: 88-3436668 Website

The Just Trust For Education is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization based in Durham, North Carolina. Launched in January 2021, it serves as the nonprofit arm of The Just Trust, an organization dedicated to dramatically improving systems of safety and justice in the United States. The organization was founded by Ana Zamora with a $350 million seed investment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Key facts about The Just Trust for Education

EIN: 88-3436668
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $25,699,093
Grants made (2024): 151
Average grant: $170,193
Median grant: $100,000
Total assets: $66,897,589
Primary geography: New York (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: The organization is currently not accepting unsolicited applications. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Just Trust for Education funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Just Trust for Education's 151 itemized 2024 grants were New York (19%), District of Columbia (14%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (16 grants), New Orleans, LA (13 grants), New York, NY (12 grants) and Oakland, CA (9 grants). 41% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (65 grants).

Next steps with The Just Trust for Education

How to evaluate The Just Trust for Education as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to The Just Trust for Education with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$66.9M

+94.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$25.7M

Grant Count

151

Avg Grant Size

$170K

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

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: To ensure that the next chapter of justice reform in America is nimble, adaptable, well-funded, and able to make progress through the shifting tides of politics and culture. By connecting diverse groups of donors with smart investments at the local, state, and national level, the organization seeks to steward a generations-long effort for justice and safety into lasting solutions communities want and deserve.

Vision: Safe, thriving communities in every corner of the country, strengthened by the existence of a smaller, more humane justice system that prevents crime, centers safety, and fosters real accountability, rehabilitation, and healing.

Primary Focus Areas:

Criminal justice reform advocacy and educational work
Justice reform as a tool to unlock pathways to growth, stability, and prosperity for individuals and communities
Building advocacy infrastructure for criminal justice reform across all 50 states
Complementary national strategy efforts
Public opinion and narrative change initiatives

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$102,000

How to Apply

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Just Trust for Education?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Just Trust For Education has a national focus across the United States, with particular emphasis on building advocacy infrastructure for criminal justice reform in all 50 states.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $4.8M (19%)

District of Columbia $3.5M (14%)

California $3.2M (12%)

Louisiana $2.3M (9%)

Massachusetts $1.9M (7%)

All other $10.0M (39%)

Share of all 151 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

WashingtonNew OrleansNew YorkBrooklynOaklandOklahoma CityMontgomeryRaleighBaton RougeTulsaAlexandriaAustinCharlestonColumbiaDurhamJacksonLos AngelesPhiladelphiaAshevilleBirmingham

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total assets: $34,406,062
Total revenues: $45,424,094
Total expenses: $34,274,270
Net assets: $12,732,319
Annual giving: $29.3 million

Financial Sustainability Assessment: The organization demonstrates moderate financial vulnerability based on key indicators. It maintains healthy operating sustainability (24.5%) and adequate equity deficiency levels. However, the organization shows high revenue concentration (0.92) and operates with minimal administrative flexibility (0% room to cut), indicating reliance on concentrated funding sources and lean operational structures.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$66,897,589	$34,406,062	$1,583,840
Revenue	$41,430,950	$45,424,094	$1,583,870
Expenses	$32,440,909	$34,274,270	$1,375
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	$3,250,908	$1,802,838	—
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

151 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Texas Public Policy Foundation ($1,620,000 across 3 grants), The Marshall Project ($1,075,000 across 2 grants), Alliance for Safety and Justice ($1,025,000 across 2 grants).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION Austin, TX	PROJECT SUPPORT FOR RIGHT ON CRIME	$1,500,000
ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE Oakland, CA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$1,000,000
FAMILIES AGAINST MANDATORY MINIMUMS FOUNDATION Washington, DC	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$1,000,000
THE MARSHALL PROJECT New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$875,000
JUSTLEADERSHIPUSA New York, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$850,000
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMEN AND G Roxbury, MA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$850,000
FOR THE PEOPLE Oakland, CA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$600,000
EQUAL JUSTICE USA Brooklyn, NY	PROJECT SUPPORT	$500,000
PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES Lansdowne, VA	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$500,000
THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY Washington, DC	PROJECT SUPPORT	$500,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Founder & Chief Executive Officer: Ana Zamora

Staff Size: 13 employees (as of 2023)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Larry Miller	Treasurer	1	—
Brian Hooks	Secretary	1	—
Priscilla Chan	Board Chair	1	—
Ana Zamora	Chief Executive Officer	40	$373,750
Erslynn Annette Holmes	Chief Finance & Operations Officer	40	$264,857
Jolene Forman	Chief Program Officer	40	$280,167
Kenneth Oliver	Chief Innovation Officer	40	$271,040
Kyle Cornforth	Chief of Staff	40	$257,775
Jenna Ledoux	Chief Marketing Officer	40	$253,500
James Gore	Senior Program Officer	40	$178,256
Neha Raval	Senior Program Officer	40	$166,109
Rebecca Greenberg	Senior Program Officer	40	$156,893
Heather Brown Moore	Director of Grants Management	40	$144,036
Silas Horst	Program Manager	40	$134,031
Jay'len K a Boone	Marketing & Comms Manager	40	$121,775
Matthew Boitano	Investment & Partnerships Manager	40	$150,614
Elenie Martinez Lopez	Operations Associate	40	$100,860

Recent Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2022

Since launching its first wave of grantmaking in March 2022, The Just Trust For Education has distributed $77.69 million through its 501(c)(3) arm as part of the broader Just Trust's $127.9 million total movement to criminal justice reform work.

The organization is transitioning into a criminal justice funding intermediary as it spends down its initial seed capital while actively fundraising for additional investors.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Crime & Legal Related

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Just Trust for Education fund?

**Mission:** To ensure that the next chapter of justice reform in America is nimble, adaptable, well-funded, and able to make progress through the shifting tides of politics and culture. By connecting diverse groups of donors with smart investments at the local, state, and national level, the organization seeks to steward a generations-long effort for justice and safety into lasting solutions communities want and deserve. **Vision:** Safe, thriving communities in every corner of the country, st…

How do I apply for a grant from The Just Trust for Education?

The organization is currently not accepting unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does The Just Trust for Education make grants?

The Just Trust For Education has a national focus across the United States, with particular emphasis on building advocacy infrastructure for criminal justice reform in all 50 states.