irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $223KOther programs include:JUSTICE LEAGUE NYC | CA IS A TASK FORCE OF JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS, ADVOCATES, ARTISTS AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, BROUGHT TOGETHER UNDER THE BANNER OF THE GATHERING FOR JUSTICE IN 2013 FIRST IN NYC. JUSTICE LEAGUE IS BUILDING A MOVEMENT THAT IS INTERGENERATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-CENTERED. WE BELIEVE IN ANORGANIZING MODEL WHICH DRAWS FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO UTILIZE OUR COMBINED POWER TO BUILD THE AGENDA FOR SUSTAINED BLACK AND BROWN LIBERATION. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR LEGENDARY FOUNDER'S ACTIVISM,JUSTICE LEAGUE BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF OUR ELDERS' WISDOM AND THE YOUTH'S ENERGY, AND WE UTILIZE BOTH TO ACT AS CATALYSTS FOR SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY CHANGE. JUSTICE LEAGUE UTILIZES THE PRINCIPLES OF KINGIANNONVIOLENCE AS A SOCIAL APPLICATION FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.RADICAL READZ :INSPIRED BY OUR FOUNDER'S IDEA FOR A SUSTAINED 'RADICAL BOOK CLUB', JUSTICE LEAGUE NYC / CA MEMBERS SUGGEST A RECOMMENDED BOOK EVERY MONTH, ALONG WITH AN ANALYSIS OF WHY IT WAS SELECTED AS A "RADICAL READ". THE MONTHLY SERIES, WHICH BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2018, HELPS SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT MARGINALIZED AND UNDERREPRESENTED AUTHORS AND ENCOURAGES EXPOSURE TO MORE INCLUSIVE PERSPECTIVES, WHILE ALSO GENERATING SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT. OUR LIVE EVENTS CREATE MOMENTS THAT FEATURE THE VOICES OF WRITERS, CULTURAL INFLUENCERS AND PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE SUBJECT MATTER.TROUBLEMAKERS FOR LIBERATION :THE TROUBLEMAKERS FOR LIBERATION FELLOWSHIP IS TRAINING THIS GENERATION'S ELLA BAKERS, BAYARD RUSTINS, AND JOHN LEWISES, WHO ARE GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE BY EXPANDING OUR YOUTH ORGANIZING PROGRAMS DURING THIS SIX-MONTH FELLOWSHIP. SIXTEEN YOUTH FELLOWS AGES 16-25 WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE THROUGH A RIGOROUS APPLICATION PROCESS. TROUBLEMAKERS FOR LIBERATION FELLOWS WILL SUPPORT THE GATHERING FOR JUSTICE STAFF IN THE PUBLIC RELAUNCH OF JUSTICE UNIVERSITY, ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, TRAINING HUNDREDS IN OUR ORGANIZING MODEL, AND PREPARING OUR YOUTH JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZERS TO LAUNCH SUSTAINABLE CAMPAIGNS, SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVES AND RAPID RESPONSE ACTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE GRANT/REVENUE CAME FROM OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION. WE DISBURSED FUNDS FOR THIS PROGRAM STARTING IN 2021.JUSTICE UNIVERSITY:JUSTICE UNIVERSITY IS A MOVEMENT SCHOOL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. IT DEVELOPS HISTORICAL LITERACY OF MOVEMENTS PAST, IMMERSES PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRINCIPLES OF KINGIAN NONVIOLENCE, PROVIDES SKILL-BUILDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONNECTS PEER SUPPORT AND MENTORSHIP, ALL TO CULTIVATE PARTICIPANTS' KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR NONVIOLENT COLLECTIVE ACTION. JUSTICE UNIVERSITY IS MORE THAN A CURRICULUM, IT ISA PROCESS OF COMMUNITY-BUILDING, MENTORSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT PROVIDES ONGOING, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN TRANSFORMATIVE ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE.
- #2 $96KCalifornia Violence Intervention & Prevention Grant- CalVIP Provides funding for community-based organizations with the goal of reducing violence. The purpose is to improve public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Justice League NYC|CA
Intergenerational task forces of justice experts, advocates, artists, and formerly incarcerated individuals working to advance criminal justice reform through direct action, policy advocacy, and cultural organizing in New York and California.
Justice University
Training program that equips participants with skills to become effective organizers and advocates for criminal justice reform.
Radical Readz
Monthly book club highlighting marginalized authors and social justice themes, featuring analysis and social media engagement to broaden awareness and dialogue.
Revolutionary Reels
Film series showcasing documentaries and films on police brutality, mass incarceration, and systemic injustice, designed to inspire conversation and action.
Troublemakers for Liberation Fellowship
Six-month leadership program training youth ages 16–25 in organizing, movement-building, and civic engagement, modeled after historic civil rights leaders.
Youth Policy Roundtable
Program that centers youth leadership in policy discussions, particularly in communities harmed by the war on drugs and systemic inequities.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Criminal Justice Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Community organizing and policy advocacy for criminal justice reformConducts grassroots organizing, rapid response actions, and policy advocacy campaigns to advance juvenile and criminal justice reform, including specific legislative efforts such as closing Rikers Island, ending qualified immunity, and expanding youth justice protections. Mobilizes communities nationwide through direct action task forces and movements like March2Justice and the Campaign to Close Rikers.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Facilitation of book clubs and public educational eventsOperates a monthly Radical Readz book club highlighting marginalized authors and hosts public conferences such as the 2014 “Growing Up Locked Down” juvenile justice conference, which drew over 600 attendees, to foster community engagement and education around justice issues.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Funding frontline organizations through grantmaking and funder networksAdministers grant programs such as the California Violence Intervention & Prevention (CalVIP) initiative and manages quarterly funder salons that connect institutional funders with abolition and defund the police campaigns to direct resources to frontline organizations advancing racial and criminal justice.
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Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
- Production and distribution of educational materials on social justiceProduces and disseminates a book series and film series on social justice topics such as mass incarceration, police brutality, and the school-to-prison pipeline, with accompanying discussion guides and public screenings to promote learning, dialogue, and civic engagement.
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Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
- Teaching and promotion of Kingian Nonviolence principlesTeaches and promotes the six principles of Kingian Nonviolence as a foundational approach to conflict reconciliation and movement building within its organizing and training programs.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Training and leadership development programs for racial justice advocatesOperates training programs and fellowships, including the Troublemakers for Liberation Fellowship, which annually trains 16 youth in community organizing and leadership development, and broader initiatives that equip participants with skills in nonviolent resistance and movement building to advance racial justice.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Establishment and support of regional justice leaguesEstablished Justice League NYC in 2013 and Justice League California in 2017 as task forces uniting justice experts, advocates, artists, and directly impacted individuals to advance intergenerational, community-centered organizing and Black and Brown liberation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.08M
Contributions & grants$1.05M98%
Program service revenue$24K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$1.22M
Program expenses68%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$697K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$422K
Cash$256K
Investments$0
Liabilities$33K
Net assets$389K
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dannese Mapanda | COO | 40 | $180K |
| Jessica Persaud | Director of Policy | 40 | $125K |
| Carmen Perez | President & CEO | 40 | $107K |
board members · 8
- Brea Baker — Board Member
- Dorothy Toran — Board Member
- Ebro Darden — Board Member
- Ira J Gilbert — Board Member
- Jamira Burley — Board Member
- Jason Daley Kennedy — Board Member
- Khephra Burns — Board Member
- Susan Taylor — Board Member
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- #Right2RemainSilent Campaign Partner — Coalition partner advocating for youth legal consultation before police interrogation.
- Alliance for Quality Education Partner — Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, recognized by The Gathering for Justice, serves as Co-Executive Director of this organization advancing educational justice in New York State.
- Campaign to Close Rikers Partner — Coalition partner working to close Rikers Island by 2026 and reduce jail populations.
- Congress on Racial Equality Partner — Worked with The Gathering to bridge gaps between generations of activists and community members.
- Disband the SRG Initiative Partner — Partner initiative advocating for the disbandment of NYPD’s Strategic Response Groups.
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Partner — Leadership training and movement-building ideology are inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
- End QI Campaign Partner — Partner campaign to eliminate qualified immunity for public officials in New York.
- For the People Partner — Had a fiscal sponsorship relationship until June 2020, after which fiscal responsibility was transferred to For the People.
- Great Performances Partner — Provided staff and chefs for the 20th Anniversary Gala.
- Griffin Koebel Partner — Provided lighting and sound design for the 20th Anniversary Gala.
- How Many Stops Act Partner — Partner advocacy effort to increase transparency of NYPD stops and searches.
- Justice League NYC Partner — Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, awardee of The Gathering for Justice, is a member of this task force of activists, artists, and formerly incarcerated leaders advancing criminal justice reform.
- Justice League NYC|CA Partner — Collaborative task force co-leading issue-based mobilizations and policy campaigns with The Gathering for Justice.
- NAACP Partner — Partnered with The Gathering to facilitate conversations across communities and cultures.
- Open Society Foundation Funder — Provided grant revenue for the Troublemakers for Liberation Fellowship program starting in 2021.
- Resistance Revival Chorus Partner — Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, honored by The Gathering for Justice, serves as Rapid Response Coordinator for this activist vocal collective.
- Roc Nation Partner — Collaborates with The Gathering for Justice through its activism and philanthropy division, Team Roc, to amplify advocacy efforts and community-based campaigns.
- Roc Nation Partner — Recognized as a partner in justice, led by Desiree Perez.
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference Partner — Collaborated with The Gathering through its youth divisions to support intergenerational dialogue and movement building.
- The Church of St Paul and St Andrew Partner — Provided venue support for the 20th Anniversary Gala.
- The New School Partner — Hosted the "Growing Up Locked Down" juvenile justice conference in September 2014.
- The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Partner — Partnered with The Gathering to facilitate dialogue and cultural exchange among activists and community members.
- Yet To Evolve Prod. Partner — Provided film, video, and photography services for the 20th Anniversary Gala.
- not specified Funder — General public and individual donors who contribute to support the organization's work
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.
- Art-Integrated Social Change Strategymethodology: art_for_social_changeBy integrating art, culture, and storytelling with policy advocacy, the organization shifts public consciousness and influences national culture around justice because creative expression fosters empathy, imagination, and emotional engagement in ways that data and policy alone cannot.
- Community-Centered Systems Changemethodology: community_centered_healingBy centering impacted communities in decision-making, policy advocacy, and implementation, the organization achieves systemic reform because those most affected possess critical lived expertise that ensures solutions are equitable, effective, and truly transformative.
- Intergenerational Movement Buildingmethodology: intergenerational_movement_buildingBy combining youth leadership with elder wisdom in a multi-method approach that includes direct action, education, and policy, the organization builds sustained movement power for racial justice because intergenerational collaboration ensures continuity, innovation, and deep community roots.
- Kingian Nonviolence Organizing Modelmethodology: kingian_nonviolenceBy grounding community organizing in Kingian nonviolence principles, the organization builds collective power and drives systemic change because nonviolence as an active, courageous practice harnesses moral and emotional energy to confront injustice and transform systems, not individuals.
- Structural Divest-Invest Reinvestment Modelmethodology: reinvestment_modelBy advocating to divest from policing and incarceration and reinvest in community-based services like mental health, education, and housing, the organization redefines public safety because systemic injustice is perpetuated by resource allocation, and true safety emerges from community well-being.