Innocence Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, INC. (IP) IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WITH THE MISSION TO FREE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGLY CONVICTED AND REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PREVENT FUTURE INJUSTICE. THE IP HAS HELPED EXONERATE OVER 251 PEOPLE, A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND SOME WHO WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH. CUMULATIVELY, THEY SPENT THOUSANDS OF YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT, AND IN MANY CASES, THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED THE CRIME WENT ON TO COMMIT OTHERS. THE IP IS DEDICATED TO RESEARCHING, ANALYZING AND EDUCATING STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND OTHER SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS. THE IP WORKS TO PASS LAWS AND PREVENT THE ADMISSIBILITY OF UNRELIABLE, NON-SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO PREVENT FUTURE MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE. FOUNDED IN 1992 AS A CLINIC AT CARDOZO SCHOOL OF LAW AT YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, THE IP INCORPORATED AS A 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION IN 2004, THOUGH IT MAINTAINS AN AFFILIATION WITH CARDOZO.
- Income
- $37.3 million
- Spending
- $31.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 38.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 146
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $492,700, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 38.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
- $9.1 million spent. LEGAL SERVICES (INCLUDES LEGAL, INTAKE, AND SOCIAL WORK): THE INNOCENCE PROJECT LEVERAGES THE FACT-FINDING SCIENCE OF DNA TESTING TO EXPOSE ERRORS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO EXONERATE PEOPLE IN PRISON OR ON DEATH ROW FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT. TO DETERMINE WHICH CASES WE CAN ACCEPT, OUR STEADFAST INTAKE TEAM REVIEWED 1781 LETTERS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FROM INCARCERATED PEOPLE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR INNOCENCE CLAIMS. THE TEAM THEN CONDUCTS AN IN-DEPTH EVALUATION OF THE CASES TO DETERMINE WHETHER DNA TESTING CAN PROVE INNOCENCE AND PRESENTS THEM TO OUR LEGAL TEAM TO MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION OF WHICH CASES TO ACCEPT. ONCE CASES ARE ACCEPTED, OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS WORK WITH LAW SCHOOL CLINIC STUDENTS TO INVESTIGATE THE CASES, TO FIND BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND TO GAIN ACCESS TO POST-CONVICTION TESTING THROUGH AGREEMENTS OR COURT ORDERS. WHEN DNA RESULTS PROVE OUR CLIENTS' INNOCENCE, WE SEEK THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE EXONERATED TWO INDIVIDUALS OF CRIMES THEY DID NOT COMMIT AND WORKED TO FREE MANY MORE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 210 CLIENTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND EVALUATED THOUSANDS OF REQUESTS FOR HELP FROM INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF A CRIME OR THEIR FAMILIES. TO DATE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS HELPED FREE MORE THAN 253 PEOPLE. FOR EACH EXONERATION CASE, INNOCENCE PROJECT SOCIAL WORKERS HELPED CLIENTS REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO SECURE HOUSING, DAY-TO-DAY TRANSPORTATION, CRITICAL MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND SUPPORT IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT REPRESENTED 250 CLIENTS, AND THE SOCIAL WORK TEAM WORKED WITH 65 FORMER CLIENTS DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025.
- $3.3 million spent. POLICY: THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS WITH CONGRESS, STATE LEGISLATURES AND COURTS, EXECUTIVE AGENCIES, LOCAL LEADERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PASS LAWS, POLICIES, AND RULES TO REVEAL, CORRECT, AND PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT USES ITS FEDERAL CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS THAT SUPPORT POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING AND THE REVIEW OF POTENTIAL WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS WHILE CLOSELY MONITORING AND PROVIDING ANALYSIS OF WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT MAY AFFECT OUR AREAS OF INTEREST. OUR POLICY PRIORITIES REFLECT THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM DNA EXONERATIONS AND ADDRESS THE CONTRIBUTORS TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, WHICH INCLUDE EYEWITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION, FALSE CONFESSIONS, PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, AND FALSE TESTIMONY BY JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO ENSURE FAIR ACCESS TO POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING AND PRESERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR TESTING, AS WELL AS LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR INNOCENT PEOPLE SEEKING RELIEF THROUGH NEW NON-DNA EVIDENCE. WE ALSO PROMOTE POLICE PRACTICE REFORMS FROM IMPROVED IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES TO THE RECORDING OF CUSTODIAL INTERROGATIONS. THE POLICY DEPARTMENT ALSO EDUCATES SYSTEM ACTORS ABOUT THE HUMAN FACTORS THAT AFFECT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, SUCH AS RELYING ON FACIAL RECOGNITION "MATCHES" THAT ARE LATER PROVEN TO BE INACCURATE. IN ADDITION, WE ADVOCATE FOR LAWS THAT FAIRLY COMPENSATE EXONERATED PEOPLE SO THAT THEY HAVE THE FINANCIAL FOOTING AND OTHER SUPPORT THEY NEED AND DESERVE TO RESTART THEIR LIVES. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAD FIVE (5) LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THE DEFEAT OF FOUR (4) REGRESSIVE BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE UNDERMINED PAST REFORMS.FORENSIC SCIENCE POLICY: THE MISAPPLICATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE CONTRIBUTED TO ALMOST HALF OF THE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARED THROUGH DNA TESTING IN THE UNITED STATES. TO ADDRESS THIS DIRE ISSUE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ADVOCATES CONGRESS AND EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH THAT WILL VALIDATE FORENSIC DISCIPLINES AND SET JUST, EQUITABLE, AND CONSISTENT STANDARDS AROUND THEIR USE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND IN COURT. WE ALSO WORK TO IMPROVE THE OVERSIGHT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMISSIONS. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, WE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE STUDY, ADVANCING THE FIELD OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM DEATH IN CUSTODY INVESTIGATIONS, AND SUBMITTED WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IN JANUARY. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ALSO RESPONDED TO THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACTION PLAN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE USE OF AI IN FORENSIC SCIENCE MUST PRIORITIZE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY, BE GROUNDED IN A SOLID SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION, AND CONSIDER ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS (ELSI).
- $2.0 million spent. STRATEGIC LITIGATION: COURT DECISIONS CAN LEAD TO WIDE-RANGING REFORM, SPURRING BETTER PRACTICES BY POLICE AND PROSECUTORS. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S STRATEGIC LITIGATION DEPARTMENT WORKS THROUGH THE COURTS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THE LEADING CAUSES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND TO MAKE JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND POLICYMAKERS AWARE OF THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO WRONGFUL CONVICTION. OUR STRATEGIC LITIGATION ATTORNEYS USE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO CHANGE THE LAW AROUND THE USE OF UNVALIDATED FORENSIC TECHNIQUES, UNRELIABLE EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS, AND FALSE CONFESSIONS. THEY ENGAGE IN DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF CLIENTS, TAKING ON CASES THAT THEY BELIEVE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROMPT SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE ACROSS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT ALSO SUBMITTED MORE THAN 35 INFLUENTIAL AMICUS BRIEFS IN STATE SUPREME COURTS, FEDERAL APPEAL COURTS, AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. ADDITIONALLY, THE STRATEGIC LITIGATION DEPARTMENT HELD OVER 50 TRAININGS, EDUCATING THOUSANDS OF JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THE USE OF EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION, FORENSIC SCIENCE, AND CONFESSION EVIDENCE IN COURTROOMS
- $8.4 million spent. SCIENCE AND RESEARCH: THE DATA SCIENCE & RESEARCH DEPARTMENT DRIVES THE RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE INNOCENCE MOVEMENT AND SUPPORTS THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S LITIGATION, POLICY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SOCIAL WORK EFFORTS WITH STATISTICS, LITERATURE, AND OTHER RESOURCES. THE TEAM IS CENTRAL TO IMPROVING DATA CULTURE AND BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATE FOR RIGOROUS SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION. DURING FY2025 (JULY 1, 2024-JUNE 30, 2025) EFFORTS FOCUSING ON INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE WERE SUBSTANTIAL AS THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE EFFORT TO CENTRALIZE, STANDARDIZE, CLEAN, AND EXPAND ALL INTERNAL DATA SOURCES - INCLUDING AUDITING THE DATABASE OF ALL INNOCENCE PROJECT VICTORIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEPARTMENT CONTRIBUTED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION ON WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS THROUGH SEVERAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS WITH A VARIETY OF AUDIENCES AND HOSTED THE THIRD VIRTUAL INTERNATIONAL JUST DATA: ADVANCING THE INNOCENCE MOVEMENT CONFERENCE. COMMUNICATIONS: THE INNOCENCE PROJECT SEES EACH EXONERATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR CREATING MORE FAIR, COMPASSIONATE, AND EQUITABLE SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE. THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT KNOWS THAT EXONERATION STORIESCOMBINED WITH OUR LEGAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND POLICY EXPERTISEHAVE THE POWER TO DRIVE CHANGE AND THE TEAM WORKS TO ENSURE THEY ARE GIVEN PROFILES IN ALL TYPES OF MEDIA OUTLETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. IT WORKS TO SHAPE AND ADVANCE THE AGENDA AND NATIONAL CONVERSATION AROUND SYSTEMIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND DESIGNS COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES TO FURTHER OUR PUBLIC POLICY AND LITIGATION GOALS.TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION IS REACHING A WIDE ARRAY OF AUDIENCES ACROSS AS MANY CHANNELS AS POSSIBLE, THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS BUILT A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY WITH A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH THAT LEVERAGES EARNED MEDIA, AS WELL DIGITAL PLATFORMS, PUBLIC EVENTS, AND OTHER CREATIVE CONTENT FOR IMPACT.THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY INCLUDE: BUILDING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH PROFILE IN THE MEDIA, SECURING COVERAGE OF OUR LEGAL AND POLICY WORK IN HUNDREDS OF OUTLETS ANNUALLY.-A ROBUST DIGITAL PRESENCE THAT AIMS TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE KEY AUDIENCES BY CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING MESSAGING AND OTHER CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE, VIA EMAILS, AND VIRTUAL EVENTS.-PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS THAT PROVIDE AUDIENCES WITH AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CLIENTS' CASES AND STORIES, OUR RESEARCH AND POLICY INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATION'S GOALS AND VICTORIES. -THE INNOCENCE PROJECT SPEAKERS BUREAU, WHICH OFFERS FORMER CLIENTS AND INNOCENCE PROJECT STAFF TO SPEAK AT HUNDREDS OF VENUESINCLUDING HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES, CORPORATIONS, LAW FIRMS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONSAROUND THE COUNTRY. -PUBLIC EVENTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS. THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN ITS OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY-CENTRIC EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE INNOCENCE PROJECT'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF TACKLING THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND PROCESSES THAT COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM AND PUT PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES AT GREAT RISK OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION. NETWORK SUPPORT: THE ORGANIZATION'S NETWORK SUPPORT UNIT PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES TO THE INNOCENCE NETWORK, AN AFFILIATION OF 74 LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE. THE TEAM ALSO MANAGES AND RUNS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR NETWORK MEMBERS, FREED AND EXONERATED PEOPLE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIESLAST YEAR, THE UNIT CONDUCTED TWELVE TAILORED IN-PERSON TRAININGS FOR NETWORK MEMBERS, HELD SIX WEBINARS, FACILITATED FOUR ONGOING PEER GROUPS, RELEASED SEVERAL ONLINE TOOLKITS, AND PROVIDED VIRTUAL COACHING TO MORE THAN 50 INNOCENCE ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ALSO HELD FOUR IN-PERSON REGIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMITS AND FACILITATED THE 11TH ANNUAL WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY, A DAY TO RAISE VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS AROUND THE CAUSES AND REMEDIES OF WRONGFUL CONVICTION. THE TEAM ALSO PLANNED AND DELIVERED THE ANNUAL INNOCENCE NETWORK CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. MORE THAN 1,110 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MORE THAN 350 EXONERATED AND FREED PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, ATTENDED THE NETWORK CONFERENCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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