What Equal Justice Initiative does
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was founded in 1989 by lawyer Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy, and is based in Montgomery, Alabama. It provides legal representation to people who were illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in jails and prisons. Its work focuses on death penalty cases, children prosecuted as adults, and excessive punishment, and it also offers reentry support to people leaving prison.
According to EJI, Stevenson and his staff have won reversals, relief, or release for more than 140 wrongly condemned people on death row. Stevenson's EJI biography also points to a landmark 2012 Supreme Court ruling that banned mandatory life-without-parole sentences for children 17 or younger. EJI also researches the history of racial injustice: its research documented more than 4,000 lynching victims in Southern states between 1877 and 1950. In 2018 it opened the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, followed by the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in 2024.
Charity Navigator gives EJI four stars with a score of 91%. It is a large organization: for its fiscal year ending September 2024 it reported about $80 million in revenue and $455 million in total assets.
Key facts
- Bryan Stevenson and EJI staff have won reversals, relief, or release for more than 140 wrongly condemned people on death row (EJI)
- Opened the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice on April 26, 2018, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in March 2024 (EJI; Wikipedia)
- EJI's research documented 4,084 lynching victims in Southern states from 1877 to 1950, plus 300 in other states (Wikipedia)
- Reported $79.6M revenue and $455.3M total assets for the fiscal year ending September 2024 (IRS 990 via ProPublica)
Common questions
Is Equal Justice Initiative a legitimate charity?
Tax status: US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers. It files with the IRS under EIN 63-1135091, and its annual returns are public on ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer. Independent ratings — Charity Navigator: 4 of 4 stars · score 91%. As with any charity, check its latest filings before a large gift.
Are donations to Equal Justice Initiative tax-deductible?
US 501(c)(3) — donations are tax-deductible for US taxpayers.
Where does Equal Justice Initiative work?
Equal Justice Initiative works in United States (based in Alabama; national reach). It is based in Montgomery, AL.
How do I donate to Equal Justice Initiative?
Use the Donate button on this page — it goes straight to Equal Justice Initiative's own donation page on eji.org. randomcharity.com doesn't process payments, doesn't see your card details and takes no cut.
Sources
- projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/631135091
- charitynavigator.org/ein/631135091
- eji.org/about/
- eji.org/bryan-stevenson/
- eji.org/donate/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Justice_Initiative
Profile researched and last reviewed September 2026. Ratings and figures change — the linked evaluator pages always show the current version.