irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $3.28MPOLICY: 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 $2.01MSTRATEGIC 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
named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Conviction Integrity Work
Provides legal representation to individuals claiming innocence, including filing habeas petitions and presenting new evidence such as recanted testimony or scientific research
Preventing Wrongful Convictions
Advocates for systemic reforms to prevent wrongful convictions, particularly in cases involving flawed forensic science or bias against caregivers of color
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 7 activities
- Advocacy for criminal legal system reformLeads advocacy campaigns to pass state and federal laws reforming the criminal legal system, including reforms to jury selection and compensation for the wrongfully convicted. Has contributed to the passage of over 250 laws and supports legislative initiatives such as New York Senate Bill 2491.
- Legal representation and exoneration of wrongfully convicted individualsProvides direct legal representation to individuals wrongfully convicted, securing exonerations through DNA evidence, reinvestigation, and court appeals. The organization has secured the exoneration of over 200 individuals who collectively spent more than 3,700 years incarcerated.
- Network support and capacity building for innocence organizationsSupports a national network of organizations working to exonerate the wrongfully convicted, collectively responsible for over 750 exonerations since 2005, through collaboration, resource sharing, and strategic advocacy.
- Preservation of oral histories from exonerees and familiesBuilds and preserves a permanent archive of oral histories from individuals impacted by wrongful convictions, including exonerees and their families, in collaboration with institutions such as the Library of Congress.
- Public education and storytelling on wrongful convictionsEngages the public through digital content, a Speakers Bureau, Ambassadors program, webinars, and cultural projects such as the Broadway play “The Fear of 13” to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and systemic flaws.
- Reinvestigation and litigation to overturn wrongful convictionsConducts in-depth reinvestigations of wrongful conviction cases, files habeas corpus petitions, and pursues appeals to vacate convictions based on new evidence, discredited forensics, or procedural injustice—such as in the cases of James Genrich, Carmen Mejia, and Norberto Peets.
- Research on causes and prevention of wrongful convictionsConducts, publishes, and disseminates research to analyze the root causes of wrongful convictions, including flawed forensic methods and language barriers. Issues calls to action and provides data resources to researchers and legal professionals.
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Reentry Support Services 1 activity
- Post-exoneration re-entry and social support servicesProvides trauma-informed social work support to exonerees, including assistance with housing, health care, employment, daily necessities, and access to support groups. Facilitates partnerships to deliver financial assistance to newly freed individuals.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$37.33M
Contributions & grants$33.24M89%
Program service revenue$395K1%
Investment income$3.99M11%
Other revenue$-292K
expenses
Total expenses$31.55M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$20.26M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$121.92M
Cash$14.59M
Investments$87.73M
Liabilities$13.21M
Net assets$108.71M
Liquid reserves38.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +11.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINA SWARNS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $493K |
| BHAVANDEEP SODHI | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $307K |
| JOSEPH THOMPSON | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $306K |
| FIONA GUTHRIE | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFIC | 40 | $294K |
| CORRINE PADAVANO | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | 40 | $294K |
| JESSICA RAWLINS SMITH | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | 40 | $261K |
| WILL WOODS | DIRECTOR OF INTAKE AND CASE EVAL | 40 | $228K |
board members · 16
- ANDREW TANANBAUM — BOARD MEMBER/ASST. TREASURER
- BRETT HART — BOARD MEMBER
- CEDRIC L ALEXANDER — BOARD MEMBER
- CYNTHIA AUGUSTINE — BOARD MEMBER
- EKOW YANKAH — BOARD MEMBER/EXECUTIVE CMT
- GORDON DUGAN — BOARD MEMBER/TREASURER
- JACK TAYLOR — BOARD MEMBER/CHAIR
- JENNIFER EBERHARDT — BOARD MEMBER
- JESSICA AROTH — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN GRISHAM — BOARD MEMBER
- MARVIN ANDERSON — BOARD MEMBER
- NELSON ALONDRA — BOARD MEMBER
- PIA COHLER — BOARD MEMBER
- SARA NAISOM-TARAJANO — BOARD MEMBER
- STEVEN REISS — BOARD MEMBER
- TONY GOLDWYN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project Partner — Collaborated on a joint reinvestigation with the Innocence Project and Dallas County’s Conviction Integrity Unit that resulted in the posthumous exoneration of Tommy Lee Walker.
- Dallas County’s Conviction Integrity Unit Partner — Jointly conducted a reinvestigation that led to the posthumous exoneration of Tommy Lee Walker.
- Exoneration Project Partner — Co-represented a wrongfully convicted individual in a joint legal effort.
- Exoneration Registry Network — Shares data on DNA-related exonerations through collaborative reporting.
- Exoneree Fund Partner — Provides funding and support for trauma-informed re-entry services for exonerees.
- George Mason University Partner — Collaborated with researcher Jessica Arredondo Cruz on language assistance and barriers in criminal proceedings.
- Innocence Network Coalition — The Innocence Project is a founding member of the Innocence Network, an affiliation of organizations working to overturn wrongful convictions and improve the criminal justice system.
- Innocence Network Network — Collaborates with other Innocence Network organizations to advocate for compensation laws for wrongfully convicted individuals.
- Innocence Network Network — THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC serves as the headquarters of the Innocence Network, a coalition of over 70 organizations working on wrongful conviction cases.
- Innocence Project of Florida Partner — Represented Stephanie Spurgeon, who is featured in the 'Stories of Freedom' archive.
- Jane Pucher Partner — Innocence Project attorney who represented Norberto Peets and participated in a public webinar about his case.
- Korey Wise Innocence Project Partner — Organization co-representing James Genrich alongside the Innocence Project.
- NYU School of Law Partner — Partnership includes a post-conviction litigation clinic where NYU Law students work directly with Innocence Project attorneys on innocence cases.
- Northwestern University Partner — Collaborated with the Innocence Project and Rutgers University to secure the exoneration of Mr. Burton.
- Pennsylvania Innocence Project Partner — Represented a co-defendant in the same wrongful conviction case alongside the Innocence Project.
- Philadelphia District Attorney Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit Partner — Conducted a joint investigation leading to the vacatur of wrongful convictions.
- Rutgers University Partner — Collaborated with the Innocence Project and Northwestern University to secure the exoneration of Mr. Burton.
- Saddleback Leather Co. Partner — Donated leather travel bags and keychains for gala attendees and raffle prizes at the 2026 event.
- StoryCorps Studios Partner — Collaborating with the Innocence Project to create and preserve oral histories of people impacted by wrongful conviction.
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Government — Overturned Carmen Mejia’s conviction based on findings of actual innocence, following the Innocence Project’s advocacy.
- The Fear of 13 Partner — Collaborated with the Innocence Project on the Broadway play about a death row exoneree.
- Tony’s Chocolonely Partner — Provided branded chocolate bars as mementos for attendees at the 2026 gala.
- Travis County District Attorney’s Office Partner — Collaborated with the Innocence Project through its Conviction Integrity Unit to reinvestigate Carmen Mejia’s case.
- Travis County District Attorney’s Office Partner — Collaborated with the Innocence Project to reinvestigate the case of Carmen Mejia.
- United Airlines Partner — Provided a pair of first-class tickets as a raffle prize for exoneree Leonard Mack at the 2026 gala.
- University of Chicago Partner — Collaborated with Dr. Sharese King on research examining how stigmatized dialects affect courtroom outcomes.
- Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP Partner — Firm collaborating with the Innocence Project on James Genrich's legal representation.
- Wisconsin Innocence Project Partner — Co-represented Christopher Ochoa in his exoneration case alongside the Innocence Project.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advocacy Through Storytelling and Narrative Changemethodology: storytelling_as_advocacyBy amplifying personal narratives of exonerees, we shift public perception and policy discourse, because humanizing individuals through storytelling counters dehumanizing statistical narratives and builds public will for reform.
- Network-Based Movement Buildingmethodology: network_based_advocacyBy serving as a central hub for a national and international network of innocence organizations, we amplify impact and drive systemic change, because coordinated advocacy, shared learning, and capacity-building across independently funded groups strengthens the overall innocence movement beyond what any single entity could achieve.
- Post-Exoneration Reintegration with Trauma-Informed Supportmethodology: reentry_supportBy providing social work and emergency financial assistance to exonerees, we support long-term stability and reintegration, because addressing immediate practical and emotional needs after release reduces re-traumatization and enables individuals to participate in advocacy and healing.
- Scientific Exoneration and Systemic Reformmethodology: scientific_exonerationBy using DNA testing and scientifically grounded reinvestigation methods, we exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals and expose systemic flaws in the criminal justice system, because identifying and correcting errors through rigorous science creates opportunities to advocate for structural reforms that prevent future injustices.
- Systemic Legal and Procedural Reformmethodology: systemic_reformBy advocating for legislative reforms, prosecutorial collaboration, and changes to flawed forensic and identification practices, we address root causes of wrongful convictions, because transforming policies and institutional behaviors prevents future injustice more sustainably than case-by-case litigation alone.