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Non-profit

Equal Justice America

Website:

equaljusticeamerica.org
Location:

Midlothian, VA
Tax ID:

13-3708596
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $1,171,588
Expenses: $1,020,967
Assets: $506,286
Type:

Legal fellowship program
Formation:

1993
President:

David Santacroce
Executive Director:

Dan Ruben

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Equal Justice America is a funds fellowships for law students 1 and law school graduates to work in legal assistance services organizations. 2 It claims to advocate for the disadvantaged by providing financial support for lawyers to take on cases that ordinarily would not result in significant compensation. 3

Background and Leadership

Equal Justice America was founded in 1993 by Dan Ruben, who remains the executive director. Ruben is a low-dollar donor to Democratic candidates for federal office. 4 Ruben claims that 80 percent of the poor’s legal needs are unmet 5 and has said that those facing eviction or the loss of government benefits like food stamps deserve a lawyer, similar to those facing criminal charges. 6 Ruben’s 2021 salary of approximately $98,000 represented more than 8 percent of the organization’s annual expenses. 7

University of Michigan law professor David Santacroce is Equal Justice America’s president. 8

Activities

Among the issues that Equal Justice America seeks to address through its fellowship funding include those pertaining to asylum seekers along the U.S.-Mexico border. 9 Those benefitting from grants from Equal Justice America have also represented low-income clients who claim domestic abuse 10 or housing difficulties. 11

In its history, Equal Justice America has supported roughly 5,500 law students. 12 In 2021, the single largest recipient of financial support from the organization was Greater Boston Legal Services. 2 The organization receives and publishes letters from legal professionals whom it has supported, praising its work. 13 14 15

In October 2011, Equal Justice America hosted an online auction to fundraise, auctioning off, among other things, items autographed by professional athletes and former President Barack Obama. 5

References

  1. “Attorney – Equal Justice America Fellow.” Legal Aid Justice Center. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://www.justice4all.org/attorney-fellow-crrj-program/.
  2.  Equal Justice America, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020. Accessed November 20, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133708596/202220119349301247/full
  3. “Levinson and Stefani Donates to Equal Justice America’s Fellowship Program.” Levinson & Stefani, October 8, 2020. https://levinsonstefani.com/levinson-and-stefani-donates-to-equal-justice-americas-fellowship-program/.
  4. “Individual Contributions.” Federal Election Commission, September 30, 2022. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=dan+ruben&contributor_employer=equal+justice+america&two_year_transaction_period=2022&min_date=01%2F01%2F2021&max_date=12%2F31%2F2022
  5. EJA Online Auction October 10-24th. YouTube, 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBfh7lPEYUM.
  6. Sound Advice: Equal Justic America. YouTube, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC5t14VoBSw.
  7.  “Equal Justice America.” Charity Navigator. Accessed November 23, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=8982&oldpage.
  8. “David A. Santacroce: Clinical Professor of Law; Director, Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic.” Michigan Law. The University of Michigan Law School. Accessed November 22, 2022. https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/david-santacroce.
  9. Submitted Content. “South Brunswick Native Works Tirelessly to Protect Immigrants’ Rights.” Centraljersey.com. March 5, 2019. https://centraljersey.com/2019/03/05/south-brunswick-native-works-tirelessly-to-protect-immigrants-rights/.
  10. Richmond, Sinead. Letter to Dan Ruben. Equal Justice America. August 20, 2018. https://equaljusticeamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/U-OF-MICHIGAN-Sinead-Redmond.pdf.
  11.  Allen, Edward. Letter to Dan Ruben. Equal Justice America. August 20, 2018. https://equaljusticeamerica.org/documents/KimberlyLauerUDCOrgLtr.pdf
  12.  Bauer, Isabelle. “Five Earn EJA Fellowships.” BC Law. May 3, 2022. https://lawmagazine.bc.edu/2022/05/george-ward-wins-fellowship/.
  13. Eisenhard, Sarah Kim. Letter to Dan Ruben. Equal Justice America. October 13, 2019.  https://equaljusticeamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TEMPLE-Sarah-Kim-1.pdf
  14. Fontan, Gabriella. Letter to Dan Ruben. Equal Justice America. May 2019. https://equaljusticeamerica.org/lawschools/documents/LOYOLACHICAGOGabriellaFontan.pdf
  15. Reynoso-Palley, Amanda. Letter to Dan Ruben. Equal Justice America. https://equaljusticeamerica.org/documents/AmandaReynosoPalleyCornell.pdf
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 1993

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $1,171,588 $1,020,967 $506,286 $659,416 N $1,171,548 $0 $40 $102,804 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $1,047,099 $1,396,552 $204,133 $507,884 N $1,047,010 $0 $89 $105,498 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,119,845 $1,115,859 $279,545 $233,843 N $1,119,721 $0 $124 $103,998 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,109,993 $1,109,390 $195,486 $153,770 N $1,109,580 $0 $413 $103,998 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,065,674 $1,050,406 $235,871 $194,762 N $1,065,068 $0 $606 $103,998 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $1,151,396 $1,151,062 $224,450 $198,609 N $1,150,948 $0 $448 $103,998 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $1,068,152 $1,067,565 $216,138 $190,629 N $1,061,172 $0 $528 $103,998 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,253,675 $1,246,415 $305,472 $280,550 N $1,244,138 $0 $766 $103,998 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,218,518 $1,213,335 $273,652 $255,990 N $1,217,981 $0 $537 $98,499 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,119,012 $1,117,068 $249,239 $236,760 N $1,118,310 $0 $702 $98,499 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Equal Justice America

    13540 East Boundary Road Building II Suite 201
    Midlothian, VA 23112-3943