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Forward Impact at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Forward Impact

Represent justice turns stories into action to change the justice system, while building the capacity of system-impacted communities.

$148k
Granted FY2024still arriving
1
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$23k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Crime & Legal$1.3MHousing & Shelter$509kCivil Rights$466kArts & Culture$108kPublic Benefit$100kCommunity Improvement$80kInternational$55kPhilanthropy$25kOther$0
02FY2024 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 1 grants below total $23,000, the rows itemized in this filing. The $148,157 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $125,157 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.
$23,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$3.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LIFE LIFE LLC$23,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–20, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%YOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER: $9k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
OH
PA
CA
CO
MO
VA
SC
DC
LA
AL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

6%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$179k · 3 repeat orgs$2.6M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +176% since the first grant, against +17% for those funded once.

3 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

3
31

Total granted

$179k
$2.6M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+176%
+17%

Still filing today

100%
84%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $23k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
Crime & LegalCivil RightsCommunity ImprovementPublic BenefitInternationalPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TC
    THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH
    2× · 2020–2021 · $130k · revenue +18%
  • TA
    THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION
    2× · 2020–2021 · $29k · revenue +176%
  • LP
    LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $20k · revenue +251%

Funded once

  • EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
    one grant, 2020 · $1.0M · revenue -66%
  • AF
    ART FOR JUSTICE
    one grant, 2020 · $500k
  • TA
    TIDES ADVOCACY
    one grant, 2020 · $246k · revenue -40%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Promise of Justice Initiative

The promise of justice initiative works to create positive change for people in the criminal legal system at the intersection of impact litigation, direct services and community engagement.

Crime & Legal
2
Fund for Justice

Fund for Justice is a nationally connected social impact research and advocacy organization that works to achieve fundamental, systemic reform by addressing policies and practicies that prevent individuals from reaching their full…

Crime & Legal
3
Los Angeles Innocence Project Inc

The purpose is to exonerate the wrongly convicted, uncover and remedy past misuse of evidence in the courtroom, and improve the dialogue among stakeholders in the criminal legal system to prevent future injustice.

Crime & Legal
4
Colorofchangeorg

Colorofchange.org works to strengthen the voice of black americans and increase the level of accountability and responsiveness of elected officials to underrepresented black constituencies using the internet as a lobbying and…

—
5
Oregon Justice Network

Oregon Justice Network is an alliance built and staffed by criminal legal system impacted people advocating for the well-being of people affected or at-risk of being affected by carceral systems. Our work centers around restorative…

Human Services
6
Jobs with Justice San Francisco

A long-term, strategic alliance of labor, community, faith-based, and student organizations working together to build greater economic power for workers and community members through employee rights at work and access to good jobs,…

Employment
7
Innocence Project New Orleans

Ipno frees innocent people sentenced to life in prison and those serving unjust sentences. we recognize the root causes of wrongful convictions and unjust sentences as systemic racism and inequities. we work to expose and address these…

Crime & Legal
8
Alliance for Justice

Alliance for justice builds the strength of progressive movements by training and educating nonprofit organizations on advocacy, while harnessing their collective power to transform our state and federal courts.

Civil Rights
9
The Liberty Initiative Inc

Work to end mass incarceration led by the voices of the families and individuals of those directly impacted. we envision a community that centers safety, prevention of harm, and alternatives to incarceration.

Crime & Legal
10
Life After Justice

Life After Justice (LAJ) fights to free the wrongfully convicted and provides support in reclaiming their lives after justice. Created by exonerees, the majority exoneree-led Board of Directors' approach is rooted in the knowledge,…

Crime & Legal
11
Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Southern coalition for social justice partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities across the south to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights. through an intersectional and…

Crime & Legal
12
Prison Policy Initiative

The Organization challenges over-criminalizationand mass incarceration through research, advocacyand organizing.

Civil Rights
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Sentencing Project; the most unlike its peers is Living Through Giving Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

30 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 30 of the 36 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/30
Grantees still filing
17/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $1,000,000 · Civil RightsEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVECOLOR OF CHANGEORG EDUCATION FUND: $150,000 · Civil RightsCOLOR OF CHANGEORG EDUCATION FUND+3 more: $27,000 · Civil RightsART FOR JUSTICE: $500,000 · OtherART FOR JUSTICETIDES ADVOCACY: $246,000 · OtherTIDES ADVOCACYWOMEN ON THE RISE: $70,000 · OtherWOMEN ON THE RISE+13 more: $185,500 · Other+13 moreTHE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH: $130,000 · Crime & LegalTHE CAMPAIG…VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE INC: $50,000 · Crime & LegalVERA INSTIT…VOICE OF THE EXPERIENCED VOTE: $30,000 · Crime & LegalVOICE OF TH…THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION: $29,000 · Crime & LegalTHE ANTI-RE…LOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT INC: $20,000 · Crime & LegalLOUISIANA P…PHILADELPHIA LAWYERS FOR SOCIAL EQUITY: $20,000 · Crime & LegalPHILADELPHI…WITNESS TO INNOCENCE: $15,000 · Crime & LegalMILLENNIAL ACTION PROJECT DBA FUTURE CAUCUS: $100,000 · Public BenefitTHE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE: $25,000 · Public BenefitTHE LADIES OF HOPE MINISTRIES INC: $60,000 · Community ImprovementFAITH IN ACTION NETWORK: $10,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: $10,000 · Community ImprovementHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $35,000 · InternationalHUMAN RIGHTS FOR KIDS: $20,000 · InternationalSOUTHSIDERS ORGANIZED FOR UNITY AND LIBERATION: $45,000 · Philanthropy
Civil Rights$1,177,000Other$1,001,500Crime & Legal$294,000Public Benefit$125,000Community Improvement$80,000International$55,000Philanthropy$45,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $1,000,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTIDES ADVOCACY: $246,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH: $130,000 over 2y, 4.1% of budgetMILLENNIAL ACTION PROJECT DBA FUTURE CAUCUS: $100,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetVERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHSIDERS ORGANIZED FOR UNITY AND LIBERATION: $45,000 over 1y, 4.9% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $35,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVOICE OF THE EXPERIENCED VOTE: $30,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION: $29,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetEVERYBLACKGIRL INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetLIVING THROUGH GIVING FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetAMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATIONINC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLOUISIANA PAROLE PROJECT INC: $20,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetNEW VENTURE FUND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS FOR KIDS: $20,000 over 1y, 10.0% of budgetWITNESS TO INNOCENCE: $15,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetBROOKLYN DEFENDER SERVICES: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SENTENCING PROJECT: $12,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetFAITH IN ACTION NETWORK: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY PARTNERS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetYOUNG WOMEN'S FREEDOM CENTER: $9,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetA LITTLE PIECE OF LIGHT INC: $8,500 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetThe Story Project: $8,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetAIM 4 THE HEART A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $7,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetOHIO JUSTICE AND POLICY CENTER: $4,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Rockefeller Philanthr…Tides FoundationThe Ford FoundationBorealis PhilanthropyFoundation to Promote…NEO Philanthropy IncTides CenterThe Just Trust for Ed…Solidago FoundationPublic Welfare Founda…Silicon Valley Commun…Proteus Fund Inc
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors IncNY27.8× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc · Tides Foundation · The Ford Foundation · Borealis Philanthropy · Foundation to Promote Open Society · NEO Philanthropy Inc · Tides Center · The Just Trust for Education · Solidago Foundation · Public Welfare Foundation Inc · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · Proteus Fund Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Forward Impact funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Forward Impact. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Forward Impact?

    Find your warmest path to Forward Impact through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 36 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Forward Impact’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home