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Amistad Law Project

EIN 47-2112376 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMISTAD LAW PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FREE AND LOW-COST LEGAL SERVICES TO PHILADELPHIANS AND THOSE INCARCERATED IN PENNSYLVANIA'S PRISONS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ADVOCATE FOR LAWS AND POLICIES THAT REFLECT OUR VISION FOR A NEW JUSTICE PARADIGM AND ORGANIZE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THEIR RIGHTS AND THE LAW.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
9
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$67,679, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 2024, 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. $885,270 spent. 1)CAMPAIGN TO END DEATH BY INCARCERATION: THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO FIND AVENUES FOR PEOPLE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN PENNSYLVANIA TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PA BOARD OF PARDONS, HELD PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROLE IN LIFE AND LONG-TERM SENTENCES, PROVIDED TECHNICAL AND SUPPORTIVE ASSISTANCE TO INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES IN APPLYING FOR CLEMENCY, AND FILED LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF LIFE-SENTENCED INDIVIDUALS TO FIND A PATHWAY HOME. 2)SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE AROUND CRIME AND POLICING: THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO SHIFT THE POPULAR NARRATIVE AROUND CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN PHILADELPHIA AND QUESTION THE ROLE OF POLICING AS A RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE CREATED VISUAL AND AUDIO MEDIA TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO HARM, HELPED SHAPE CONCRETE POLICY DEMANDS TO THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IN RESPONSE TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE SUBSEQUENT UPRISINGS, CONDUCTED RESEARCH OF PHILADELPHIANS' IDEA OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND DEVELOPED PROPOSALS FOR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES. 1)CAMPAIGN TO END DEATH BY INCARCERATION: THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO FIND AVENUES FOR PEOPLE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN PENNSYLVANIA TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PA BOARD OF PARDONS, HELD PUBLIC OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ROLE IN LIFE AND LONG-TERM SENTENCES, PROVIDED TECHNICAL AND SUPPORTIVE ASSISTANCE TO INCARCERATED PEOPLE AND THE FAMILIES IN APPLYING FOR CLEMENCY, AND FILED LAWSUITS ON BEHALF OF LIFE-SENTENCED INDIVIDUALS TO FIND A PATHWAY HOME. 2)SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE AROUND CRIME AND POLICING: THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO SHIFT THE POPULAR NARRATIVE AROUND CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN PHILADELPHIA AND QUESTION THE ROLE OF POLICING AS A RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE CREATED VISUAL AND AUDIO MEDIA TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO HARM, HELPED SHAPE CONCRETE POLICY DEMANDS TO THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IN RESPONSE TO THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE SUBSEQUENT UPRISINGS, CONDUCTED RESEARCH OF PHILADELPHIANS' IDEA OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND DEVELOPED PROPOSALS FOR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 September 2019.

    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.