Gender Justice

Gender Justice is a left-of-center public interest law firm and advocacy organization based in Minnesota that employs both legal action and lawsuits as well as lobbying and organizing to promote left-of-center gender-related issues. The group was founded around 2013 and has filed lawsuits in many states alleging discrimination against women and transgender individuals. The organization is led by Megan Peterson, who previously was deputy director for the National Network of Abortion Funds and worked for several other pro-abortion organizations including Planned Parenthood of Minnesota. Among the main focuses of the organization’s legal and advocacy efforts include securing and expanding abortion access and filing lawsuits against school districts on behalf of transgender students alleging discrimination. 1 2

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: LGBT Policy
Website: www.genderjustice.us
Formation:

2010

Executive Director:

Megan Peterson

Location: St. Paul, MN View on map
Tax ID: 80-0603630
Most Recent Filing: 2025
Budget (2025): Assets: $3,321,569 Revenue: $2,661,264 Expenses: $3,539,298

Contents

    Background

    Gender Justice was founded in 2010 by attorneys Jill Gaulding and Lisa Stratton. The organization’s first public-facing activity was organizing a protest against a Saudi prince who fired two female chauffeurs allegedly due to their gender. In 2012 the organization settled its first case against SMS Holdings, wherein the company agreed to change its sexual harassment training and enforcement policies. That same year, the organization assembled its first board of directors with fiscal support from the Minnesota Women’s Foundation. 1

    Activity

    In 2012, the organization assembled its first board of directors with fiscal support from the Minnesota Women’s Foundation. In 2014, it expanded its work into lobbying on public policy and supported the passage of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Act in the Minnesota State Legislature. The organization stated that its staff “drafted laws, rallied supporters, testified in committee hearings, and spent countless hours at the capitol countering the many false claims made by lobbyists defending of the status quo” as part of its advocacy for the legislation. 3

    The organization has also long engaged on transgender issues and sued in federal court in Minnesota under “a new civil rights law” in the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) on behalf of a transgender client. A federal court in Minnesota ruled that “Section 1557’s ban on sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of transgender status.” 4

    In 2019, the organization also filed a complaint in 2019 with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against USA Powerlifting, defending the ability of a transgender woman born male to participate in women’s powerlifting competitions. 1

    The organization has also taken several actions concerning transgender students, suing a Minnesota school district alleging discrimination against a transgender student who was required to “use segregated changing facilities.” The organization stated that “Hundreds of school districts around the country allow transgender students to use facilities based on who they are. These policies enhance safety.” 5

    Coalitions

    Gender Justice was among over 200 LGBT-related left-of-center organizations that criticized Target and other companies such as Anheuser-Busch after Target “reluctantly decided last week to pull some Pride Month merchandise from its shelves.” The coalition of groups, led by the Human Rights Campaign, urged Target to “provide necessary security for employees, restore Pride merchandise to its shelves, and stand by its commitment to the values it has long professed.” 6

    The organization has also joined the Keep Birth Control Co-Pay Free Campaign as a state partner and the pro-abortion UnRestrict Minnesota coalition. 1

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2025 $3,321,569 $2,661,264 $3,539,298 View
    2023 $3,147,037 $2,978,092 $3,493,339 View
    2022 $3,660,405 $4,372,752 $2,526,441 View
    2021 $1,864,775 $2,374,483 $1,638,282 View
    2020 $1,072,782 $1,315,505 $1,169,593 View
    2019 $769,640 $1,041,583 $972,543 View

    Prior year filings: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 28

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Tana HargestDEPUTY DIRECTOR$171,469
    Megan PetersonEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$166,290
    Christina SamborNORTH DAKOTA STATE DIRECTOR$128,120
    Jess BravermanLEGAL DIRECTOR$125,212

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $12,694,521
    • Number of Grants: 161
    • Number of Funders: 64

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $2,000,0002024 MacKenzie ScottGender Justice works to advance gender equity through the law. We envision a world where everyone can thrive regardless of their gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation.
    $936,0002022 The Bush FoundationCommunities in North Dakota and South Dakota will implement a gender equity model with an emphasis on trans inclusion in partnership with individuals and systems. This model will be an adaptation of Gender Justice?s powerful model in Minnesota that combines impact litigation, public education, and narrative change in ways that are locally-owned and driven.
    $875,0002021 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL
    $763,7502023 Minneapolis FoundationDONOR-RECOMMENDED, HUMAN RIGHTS
    $533,9002022 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $512,5002020 New Venture FundCIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
    $500,8312023 The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $499,9102024 The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationPROGRAM SUPPORT
    $350,3002022 The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationPROJECT SUPPORT
    $275,0002024 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION & ADVOCACY, HEALTH CARE
    $265,0002022 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL
    $251,1312021 The Susan Thompson Buffett FoundationPROJECT SUPPORT
    $250,0002023 The Ford FoundationGeneral support to ensure gender equality and reproductive freedom in Minnesota through strategic litigation, policy advocacy and public education
    $250,0002021 The Ford FoundationGeneral support to ensure gender equality and reproductive freedom in Minnesota through strategic litigation, policy advocacy and public education and core support for the Alliance, a collaborative of women's regional law centers
    $200,0002024 Wellspring Philanthropic FundGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $200,0002023 Wellspring Philanthropic FundGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    $165,0002023 Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.GENERAL
    $160,1502023 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $135,0002022 New Venture FundCIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY
    $122,5002020 Legal VoiceProgram Assistance
    $117,7502023 PROTEUS FUND INCDEMOCRACY
    $100,0002024 Tides FoundationEQUITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
    $100,0002022 All Hands on Deck Network IncUNRESTRICTED
    $89,0002022 Tides FoundationEQUITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
    $87,7502024 PROTEUS FUND INCRIGHTS & JUSTICE

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $712,999
    • Number of Grants: 9
    • Number of Recipients: 7

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $250,0002023 Gender Justice ActionSUBGRANT THROUGH GENDER JUSTICE FOR EDUCATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $171,7502022 Women's Law ProjectSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $121,7502022 Southwest Women's Law CenterSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $39,8332023 Gender JusticeSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $39,8332023 Southwest Women's Law CenterSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $39,8332023 Women's Law ProjectSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $25,0002022 Our JusticeSUBGRANT THROUGH UNRESTRICT MINNESOTA FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WORK; MEDICATION ABORTION EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
    $15,0002023 Progress North DakotaSUBGRANT THROUGH GENDER JUSTICE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE
    $10,0002022 Legal VoiceSUBGRANT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE FOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN GENDER EQUITY AND REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S STATE

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “Timeline.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/timeline/
    2. “Staff & Board.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/staff-board/
    3. “Women’s Economic Security Act.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/womens-economic-security-act-wesa/
    4. “Securing Rights Through the ACA.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/securing-coverage-in-the-aca/
    5. “N.H. v. Anoka-Hennepin School District.” Gender Justice. Accessed July 7, 2023. https://www.genderjustice.us/work/supporting-trans-students-in-school/
    6. Killian, Joe. “More than 100 organizations call on Target, other businesses to stand up to anti-LGBTQ threats.” NC Newsline. June 1, 2023. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://ncnewsline.com/2023/06/01/more-than-100-organizations-call-on-target-other-businesses-to-stand-up-to-anti-lgbtq-threats/