Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women
Ujima The National Center on Violence is a Washington, DC-based public charity that supports efforts to respond to and prevent domestic, sexual, and community violence in the Black community. Its work includes research, public awareness, community engagement, training, technical assistance, and grants to organizations.
Key facts about Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women
In short: Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women gave $6.1M across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $160K), top state Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 85-3490414
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,063,427
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- Average grant
- $159,564
- Median grant
- $126,849
- Total assets
- $4,466,792
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (19% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The listed deadline for the Culturally Responsive Victim Services grant program was January 23, 2025; this was a past…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
+31.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
+26.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$160K
+26.9% YoY
How Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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
Ujima’s website states that its mission is to inspire and support the Black community in responding to and preventing domestic and community violence and sexual assault. Its 2024 filing describes its mission as mobilizing the community to respond to and end domestic, sexual, and community violence in the Black community through research, public awareness and community engagement, and resource development.
Ujima’s programs include training and technical assistance, community education and outreach, research, and culturally specific subawards. Its website describes support for culturally responsive victim services and capacity-building for organizations serving survivors. For example, grantee Positive Results Center describes its work as providing culturally specific training for youth, families, and youth-serving organizations, with an emphasis on mental health, trauma-informed care, peer leadership, and art-based prevention education. A Long Walk Home says it uses art to empower young people to end violence against girls and women. Our House describes its work as eliminating domestic and sexual violence in rural communities through intervention, prevention, prosecution, victim protection, and survivor services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Ujima reported 38 grants totaling $6,063,427. Grant amounts ranged from $10,310 to $1,039,542, with a median grant of $126,849. The largest listed award was $1,039,542 to the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA), for general support. Other large awards included $286,975 to Positive Results Center and $286,959 to Delaware State University Foundation, both for general support; $265,000 to Wellspring Global Fellowship; and $260,275 to the National Institute on Transformation and Equity. The listed purposes for the latter two awards were also general support.
Ujima’s website describes the Building the Capacity of Black Programs (BCBP) as a national program supporting culturally specific services for Black domestic-violence survivors and increasing organizations’ capacity to deliver those services. Its National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services page described a grant program for culturally specific organizations, with applications accepted through January 23, 2025. That application cycle has passed.
Review Cycle
The listed deadline for the Culturally Responsive Victim Services grant program was January 23, 2025; this was a past cycle.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Ujima’s website describes the BCBP program as national in scope. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (19%), Michigan (16%), California (10%), Washington, DC (8%), and Massachusetts (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $76K (2022) to $6.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Scesa National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 40 grants of 109 (37%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scesa National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault Windsor, CT | General Support | $1,039,542 |
| Positive Results Center Lawndale, CA | General Support | $286,975 |
| Delaware State University Foundation Dover, DE | General Support | $286,959 |
| Wellspring Global Fellowship Stoughton, MA | General Support | $265,000 |
| National Institute on Transformation and Equity Detroit, MI | General Support | $260,275 |
| Motivating Inspiring Supporting & Serving Oakland, CA | General Support | $259,685 |
| Lauren H Collins Wellness Washington, DC | General Support | $244,386 |
| Eleven 24 Detroit, MI | General Support | $239,229 |
| A Long Walk Home Inc Chicago, IL | General Support | $177,265 |
| Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education Inc Lee, MA | General Support | $176,714 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,466,792 | $12,188,837 | $11,332,352 | $6,063,427 (38 grants) |
| 2024 | $3,398,646 | $9,375,273 | $9,716,257 | $4,779,510 (38 grants) |
| 2023 | $2,942,290 | $7,246,433 | $5,991,269 | $2,212,470 (32 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,466,792 | $3,398,646 | $2,942,290 |
| Revenue | $12,188,837 | $9,375,273 | $7,246,433 |
| Expenses | $11,332,352 | $9,716,257 | $5,991,269 |
| Net Investment Income | $885 | — | $96 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jamien Jordan as chair, Melinda Woolbright as treasurer, and John Goodlow as secretary. Directors listed are Adrienne Biddings, Faith Gibson Hubbard, and Antonia Vann. The filing also lists Karma Cottman as CEO/executive director; Jennifer Hooker as chief finance and operations; Gretta Gardner as chief legal and programs officer; and Millicent Shaw as legal director.
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women is led by Karma Cottman, CEO & Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 8 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karma Cottman
CEO & Executive Director
Executive Director → CEO & Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$195K (2022) → $237K (2025)
Jamien Jordan
Chair
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
April Bonner
Communication Director
Compliance Grant Manager → Communication Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$104K (2024) → $106K (2025)
Joy Fennel
Creative Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$118K (2025)
Millicent Shaw
Legal Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$128K (2025)
Adrienne Biddings
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Antonia Vann
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faith Gibson Hubbard
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gretta Gardner
Chief Legal & Programs Officer
Chief Legal Officer → Chief Legal & Programs Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$152K (2022) → $176K (2025)
Jennifer Hooker
Chief Finance & Operations
Chief Finance & Operations Officer → Chief Finance & Operations, 2023
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$152K (2022) → $183K (2025)
Chrishania Robinson
Training & Technical Assistant
Training & Technical Assistant Director → Training & Technical Assistant, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$116K (2024) → $112K (2025)
Sarah Henry
Senior Attorney
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024) → $120K (2025)
John Goodlow
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melinda Woolbright
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Melinda Coleau (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Millicent Shaw-Phipps (2024) — Legal Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $237K, to Karma Cottman (CEO/Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 633 Pennsylvania Avenue Nw, Washington, DC 20004
Phone: (202) 758-3874
Frequently asked questions about Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women
How much does Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women give each year?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women gave $6.1M across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.8M across 38 grants.
What is Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's typical grant size?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's median grant in 2025 was $126,849, and its average grant was $159,564, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women give grants?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's top state is Connecticut, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (16%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (5 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Windsor, CT (2 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's largest grantees?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's largest 2025 grantees include Scesa National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault ($1,039,542), Positive Results Center ($286,975) and Delaware State University Foundation ($286,959), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.2M.
What does Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women fund?
Ujima’s website states that its mission is to inspire and support the Black community in responding to and preventing domestic and community violence and sexual assault. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's EIN?
Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3490414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Ujima the National Center on Violence Against Women by hand.
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