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Pennsylvania Innocence Project

EIN 26-3176893 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PENNSYLVANIA INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO EXONERATE THOSE CONVICTED OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, TO PREVENT INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM BEING CONVICTED AND TO HELP THE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IN THEIR TRANSITION TO FREEDOM.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
13.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
16
Volunteers
345
Highest pay
$134,465, legal direct

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. PAIP EXECUTES THE MISSION IN SEVERAL WAYS: (1) CONDUCTING THOROUGH LEGAL AND FACTUAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE RAISED BY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND WHERE SUCH REVIEW REVEALS CREDIBLE CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE, PARTNERS WITH PRO BONO OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION SEEKING EXONERATION; (2) ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY, AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, WORKING WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS; (3) PROVIDING CLINICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS IN THE FIELDS OF LAW, JOURNALISM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND FORENSIC SCIENCE TO EDUCATE A NEW GENERATION OF ADVOCATES FOR THE INNOCENT; AND 4) PROVIDING SUPPORT TO EXONEREES WHO, OFTEN AFTER MANY YEARS IN PRISON, RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. PAIP RECEIVES PARTICIPATION BY LAW STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA AND THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA, AS WELL AS STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN VARIOUS OTHER DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING JOURNALISM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FORENSIC SCIENCE WHOSE ACADEMIC FOCUS IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO ADVANCING PAIP'S MISSION. PAIP EXECUTES THE MISSION IN SEVERAL WAYS: (1) CONDUCTING THOROUGH LEGAL AND FACTUAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS OF INNOCENCE RAISED BY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND WHERE SUCH REVIEW REVEALS CREDIBLE CLAIMS OF ACTUAL INNOCENCE, PARTNERS WITH PRO BONO OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION SEEKING EXONERATION; (2) ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY, AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, WORKING WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS; (3) PROVIDING CLINICAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS IN THE FIELDS OF LAW, JOURNALISM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND FORENSIC SCIENCE TO EDUCATE A NEW GENERATION OF ADVOCATES FOR THE INNOCENT; AND 4) PROVIDING SUPPORT TO EXONEREES WHO, OFTEN AFTER MANY YEARS IN PRISON, RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. PAIP RECEIVES PARTICIPATION BY LAW STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS IN GREATER PHILADELPHIA AND THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA, AS WELL AS STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN VARIOUS OTHER DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING JOURNALISM, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FORENSIC SCIENCE WHOSE ACADEMIC FOCUS IS DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO ADVANCING PAIP'S MISSION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2009.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.