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Aequitas

EIN 47-1847298 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AEQUITAS' MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, STALKING, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES BY DEVELOPING, EVALUATING, AND REFINING PROSECUTION PRACTICES THAT INCREASE VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
25
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$208,497, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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)
  1. $1.5 million spent. INNOVATIVE PROSECUTION PRACTICES - IDENTIFY AND SUSTAIN DATA-DRIVEN, RESEARCH-BASED PROSECUTION PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE CAPACITY AND OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PROMOTE MULTI- AND INTRA-DISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION TO ACHIEVE FAIR, IMPARTIAL AND EXPEDITIOUS PURSUITS OF JUSTICE; ENSURE SAFE COMMUNITIES; AND PROMOTE INTEGRITY IN THE PROSECUTION PROFESSION AND COORDINATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING RESEARCH-INFORMED, DATA-DRIVEN TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., UTILIZING ALGORITHMS TO IDENTIFY HIGH RISK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE OFFENDERS; PROSECUTOR-LED YOUTHFUL OFFENDER DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND SPECIALIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING COURTS, PROSECUTION PRACTICES RELATED TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING, AND RELATED HUMAN TRAFFICKING), CONVENING MEETINGS, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER EDUCATION SESSIONS, AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES.
  2. $1.3 million spent. HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATION - CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE DYNAMICS AND INDICATORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHALLENGE PROSECUTORS AND ALLIED PROFESSIONALS (INCLUDING TASK FORCES) TO REEVALUATE THEIR APPROACH TO DETECTING, INVESTIGATING, AND PROSECUTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING CRIMES BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (E.G., CONDUCTING TRAUMA-INFORMED INTERVIEWS, COLLECTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE, CHARGING CONSIDERATIONS, CLOSING ONRAMPS TO AND PROVIDING EXIT RAMPS FROM EXPLOITATION), INFORMED BY RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING PROFESSIONALS ON CUSTOMIZABLE STRATEGIES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE, RESPONSIVE, AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT.
  3. $790,956 spent. STALKING - ENSURE FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHER ALLIED PROFESSIONALS HAVE THE SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO THE CRIME OF STALKING BY PROVIDING SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON BEST AND PROMISING PRACTICES (E.G., IDENTIFYING STALKING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF INTERSECTING CRIMES (E.G., INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE), STALKING SPECIFIC THREAT ASSESSMENT); DEVELOPING AND DISTRIBUTING ACCURATE, CURRENT, AND PRACTICAL RESOURCES ON STALKING (E.G., STALKING INCIDENT AND BEHAVIOR LOG; ADVOCATE GUIDE ON STALKING; PROSECUTORS' GUIDE TO STALKING); AND PROMOTING AWARENESS-RAISING ACTIVITIES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STALKING AWARENESS MONTH.
  4. $271,664 spent. SEXUAL VIOLENCE - SUPPORT PROSECUTORS' CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY PROSECUTE KNOWN OFFENDER, COLD CASE, MULTIPLE DEFENDANT, TECHNOLOGY-FACILITATED, INTIMATE PARTNER, AND CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE CASES BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO DATA-DRIVEN, RESEARCH- INFORMED, AND EXPERIENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MENTORSHIP, AND CASE CONSULTATION (E.G., CONSULTING WITH EXPERTS, PREPARING TO SELECT JURORS, ANTICIPATING AND COUNTERING DEFENSES). ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING AND DEVELOP RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS TO HELP SUSTAIN EFFECTIVE PRACTICES AND PROMOTE SYSTEMIC CHANGE (E.G., MODEL RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE FOR PROSECUTORS).

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

  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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.