Criminal Justice Reform | Inside Philanthropy

Criminal justice reform has become a vital issue as the United States grapples with highly publicized instances of police brutality, the ongoing toll of mass incarceration, and a growing understanding of the links between racial injustice and the carceral system. Giving for criminal justice and police reform encompasses an array of issues and ideas. Donors can give to direct services such as bail funds, antirecidivism programs, mental healthcare, and re-entry support for people coming out of prison. There are also nonprofits working on research, advocacy and grassroots movement building, focusing on issues from juvenile justice reform to alternatives to incarceration. Social movements such as Black Lives Matter and movements for immigrants’ rights also address policing, prisons and detention as part of their broad justice work. This guide offers advice about how donors can make a difference by giving for criminal justice reform and offers guidance for donors new to this space.

Strategies for Impact

Nonprofits are engaged in a range of efforts relating to criminal justice reform. All this work is important and could benefit from greater support. Below, we discuss areas where donors might focus their funding and spotlight organizations that represent the kind of nonprofits that donors might consider supporting.

Support grassroots groups. 2020 was a watershed year for grassroots movements to transform or abolish the current system of policing and incarceration. There has been a significant “law and order” backlash in the years since, and movements that are working to build a society that creates safety through care and community investment rather than punishment could use more resources. There are many ways to support grassroots movements, including giving directly to grassroots groups such as the New York-based Communities United for Police Reform, the Florida-based Dream Defenders, or the Los Angeles-based Dignity and Power Now. Donors can also contribute to a donor collaborative such as the Communities Transforming Policing Fund at Borealis Philanthropy, which helps donors move funds to local grassroots groups in the communities most impacted by deadly and discriminatory policing.

Give for research and advocacy. Advocates of criminal justice reform are trying to change sentencing laws, the cash bail system, police oversight and accountability, and more. Donors can support organizations advocating for criminal justice reform such as Families Against Mandatory Minimums, The Sentencing Project, Vera Institute of Justice and the Alliance for Safety and Justice. There is also a need to fund research that supports policy advocacy, such as research on the impacts of current policies and laws, and comparative analyses or projects to test new ideas. Organizations focused on research include the Prison Policy Initiative, the Center for Justice Innovation and Measures for Justice. Many organizations engage in both research and policy advocacy.
Give to groups trying to change the narrative. We know from history — including very recent history — that if the public narrative around criminal justice is based on fear, stereotypes and misinformation, it can lead to unjust policies and practices that do not actually make communities safe. By supporting efforts to change the narrative around justice and public safety, donors can shift attitudes and opinions, an important piece of any reform effort. Donors can give to media outlets focused on this issue, such as The Appeal and The Marshall Project, or to nonprofits that do narrative-change work such as Color of Change, Race Forward or The Opportunity Agenda.
Fund direct services. While efforts to reform the systems of policing and mass incarceration are underway, there is still a need for services for people impacted by those systems now, from antirecidivism and re-entry programs to education and mental healthcare. Some groups provide services while also engaging in grassroots organizing and movement-building, such as The Bail Project and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children .

Insights and Advice

In considering which impact strategies to support, donors should take into account their personal interests and outlook to find the best fit. They should also keep an eye out for emerging opportunities to give with maximum impact for criminal justice reform. Here, we offer some insights and suggestions:

Don’t go it alone. Intermediaries and philanthropy-serving organizations can do a huge amount of the leg work of identifying opportunities in the field, and getting involved with one of these groups is a great way for donors to save time and give more effectively. Notable groups include Funders for Justice, Circle for Justice Innovations, The Justice Fund and the Communities Transforming Policing Fund at Borealis Philanthropy.

Center the people most impacted. The people most impacted by a problem often have the best vantage point on solutions. In the field of philanthropy for criminal justice reform, there is a growing trend to back organizations led by formerly incarcerated people or the families of people who are incarcerated now, such as the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement, JustLeadershipUSA, Voice of the Experienced, All of Us or None, and the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls.

Give multiyear, general operating support. Long-term, unrestricted support is considered a best practice in trust-based philanthropy because it gives nonprofits funding they can count on to plan for the future and the flexibility to use funds where they are needed most. When it comes to funding for criminal justice reform, an area long underfunded by philanthropy that has received bursts of resources in recent years, multi-year commitments from donors can sustain organizations beyond and between funding surges.
Don’t let the backlash stop real progress. The racial justice reckoning of 2020 has been met with a major backlash, sparking debates about how far criminal justice reform can go. America may be at a hinge point, with a chance at real reform or change, or a deepening of the status quo of harsh sentencing, discriminatory policing and mass incarceration. Donors would do well to keep supporting the change they want, knowing that progress takes time.

For Donors Getting Started

Donors who are new to this space should take the time to learn about the landscape. A good place to start is by reading IP’s State of American Philanthropy brief on Giving for Criminal Justice. In addition, peruse recent articles that IP has published about what’s happening in this area of philanthropy. Some of the groups mentioned above also offer helpful information and articles, such as the Prison Policy Initiative and Funders for Justice.

But the best way to get started giving for criminal justice reform is to make some initial gifts, get to know the work of the groups you’re supporting, and connect early with a funding intermediary that can help you learn more about this giving area and increase your giving in a thoughtful way.

Have suggestions for improving this brief? Please email us at editor@insidephilanthropy.com.