Non-profit

The Appeal

Website:

theappeal.org

Location:

Landers, CA

Tax ID:

87-2194457

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $964,900
Expenses: $883,019
Assets: $262,539

Type:

Media Outlet

Former Project of:

Tides Advocacy (became independent in 2021)

Formation:

2018

Managing Editor:

Tara Francis Chan

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Appeal is a left-of-center media outlet primarily reporting on criminal justice issues created by Tides Advocacy, an organization that incubates and financially supports left-of-center organizations. The group became independent in November 2021 after Tides and the group’s executive director shut down the group in June 2021 following a unionization drive, and it relaunched as a nonprofit. 1

The Appeal has supported the Black Lives Matter movement, advocated for cutting the budgets of police departments, and argued for shifting the cost of maintaining prisons from the state to county level to reduce the overall number of inmates. In addition, The Appeal has featured calls for prison abolition. 2

Before and after the Dobbs v. Jackson U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to regulate abortion in 2022, The Appeal has opposed state-level abortion restrictions. 1

Background

The Appeal was initially created in 2018 by left-of-center incubator organization Tides Advocacy as the media arm of The Justice Collaborative, a legal advocacy group that has filed lawsuits regarding criminal justice-related issues. 3 The Fair Punishment Project previously published The Appeal on Medium as In Justice Today, but would later rebrand it as The Appeal while moving it from Medium to the WordPress platform. 4

In 2021, Tides Advocacy merged The Appeal and The Justice Collaborative into a new entity while increasing collaboration with polling and data firm Data for Progress in order to focus towards reporting public opinion polling on criminal justice-related issues. At the same time, the Appeal began focusing editorials on specific non-criminal justice-related policy topics. 3

Beginning in 2020, several Justice Collaborative staff were reassigned to The Appeal’s audience team and assigned to contact “core audience members” to report on public opinion polling such as lawmakers and identified activists. The new “audience team” filed a complaint against the company, alleging that the quota of contacting ten members a day was impossible to complete and claimed that the team, which consisted of non-white female employees, was being held to different standards than other white female employees. The entire audience team was laid off in May 2021. 3

The same month, Appeals employees announced the formation of new employee union. Immediately after the announcement, The Appeal’s management announced staff layoffs while several in management positions, including then-executive director Rob Smith, would be stepping back into advisory roles. 3

In June 2021, Tides Advocacy shut down The Appeal, but it would later be reformed as a nonprofit organization through aid from left-of-center media outlet Scalawag. 5 The group operates in this form as of November 2024.  1

Funding

When Tides Advocacy administered The Appeal, it did not report its expenses related to funding the Appeal to the IRS;6 however, The Appeal claimed that Tides Advocacy “provides operational support, including payroll, benefits, and human resources assistance to” the Appeal. The Appeal also provided on its website that it has in the past received $1,000,000 and over from Open Society, Meadow Fund, Ballmer Group, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. 7

The Appeal also provided that it received $500,000 and over each from the Shusterman Foundation and Vanguard Charitable, $250,000 and over each from Vital Projects, Galaxy Gives, and FWD.us, and 100,000 and over from the Barton Family Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Mountain Philanthropy, Solidarity Giving, $50,000 and over from Bank of America Charitable Foundation, and $10,000 and over from the Robert and Maurine Rothschild Fund. 7

As of December 2024, The Appeal listed on its website the donors in the order of the amount given who have given more than $2,000. These include: The Just Trust, Meadow Fund, FWD.us, The Public Welfare Foundation, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Reva and David Logan Foundation, Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation, Fund for Nonprofit News at The Miami Foundation, University of Missouri’s Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, The Academy for Justice at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, Institute for Nonprofit News, AAN Publishers, LION Publishers, Google News Equity Fund, NEO Philanthropy, Proteus Fund, One Valley Community Foundation, Bob and Barbara Roswell Gift Fund, Jason Flom, O’Connor Family Fund, Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Greg Dyer, Stuart Shapiro, Joanne Thompson, and Jasper Wang. 8

Advocacy

Abortion

The Appeal has previously advocated against state-level abortion restrictions. In August 2022, The Appeal published an article claiming to offer instructions as to  how women could gain access to abortion pills, which it called “safer than Tylenol” through the mail. 9

In July 2024, The Appeal published an article claiming how states were tightening abortion restrictions  following Dobbs v Jackson. Specific rulings it criticized included alleged state-level regulations on abortion pill access and legislation preventing adults from taking minors to get abortions in states where it is still legal. 10

Immigration

In November 2024, The Appeal published an article discussing potential legislation supported by President-elect Donald Trump it considered to be “anti-immigrant.” The article claimed that think tanks had been responsible for developing present and future “anti-immigrant” policies, opposed state-level action by states against “sanctuary cities,” and contained anecdotes from an illegal immigrant married to an American citizen who called Trump’s policy proposals “racist.” The article further predicted that federal judges appointed under the first Trump administration would be unlikely to stop second Trump administration immigration policies. 11

Incarceration and Death Penalty

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Appeal advocated for the release of prison inmates. The Appeal argued for the release of prison inmates by providing prison statistics on infection rates. 12 The Appeal also pushed against state health agencies and criticized them for not including infection rates in prisons in the state’s total infection rate estimated. 12

The Appeal has suggested that legislation should be passed to shift the cost of incarceration from states to localities. The objective of such a policy is to decrease spending on prisons and increase the cost of housing inmates. The Appeal used a study by Aurelie Ouss, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, to support its position. The study found that changes to California law that increased the portion of money counties contributed to juvenile detention centers led to a significant drop in the total number of juvenile arrests and incarcerations. 13

In 2020, the Appeal criticized former Governor of Virginia and 2021 Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D) for his record on the death penalty. 14  McAuliffe was the only Democratic Party governor in recent history to oversee the use of the death penalty. 14 The Appeal criticized McAuliffe for not following other Democratic Party governors who had placed moratoriums on the death penalty. 14

The Appeal has advocated against the use of solitary confinement in prisons and detention facilities. In March 2024, The Appeal reported on a Pennsylvania lawsuit pushing for the state to ban the use of solitary confinement indefinitely or preventing their use for those previously diagnosed with a mental disorder. 15 In April 2024, The Appeal published an article written by the Vera Institute of Justice and Black & Pink arguing that transgender inmates were more likely to be incarcerated and placed in solitary confinement. 16 In November 2024, The Appeal published an article claiming that the use of solitary confinement increases violence in prisons and makes the public less safe. 17 Also in November 2024, The Appeal published an article criticizing on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for not supporting legislation which would restrict or ban the use of solitary confinement in the state. 18

The Appeal has also advocated in favor of abolishing the prison system outright. In addition, The Appeal has advocated for the abolition of technological alternatives to imprisonment such as ankle monitors, facial recognition, and risk assessment. 2

Policing

On November 3 2020, the night of the 2020 presidential election, The Appeal criticized then-Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s (D) decision to raise several drawbridges connecting the downtown Chicago area to prevent protesters from disrupting the area following the announcement of election results, claiming it to be a “kettling practice.”19

The Appeal has also objected to the usage of tactics in previous arrests at Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests while criticizing prosecutors for using organized gang activity laws, in cases where organizing is involved, to attempt to prosecute violent BLM demonstrators. 20

In May 2023, The Appeal published an article claiming that corporate CEOs should be arrested instead of shoplifters to cut down on the crime of shoplifting. The article also accused companies like Amazon of facilitating the sale of stolen merchandise. 21

In August 2023, The Appeal published an article calling for the end of traffic stops to enable searching the vehicle’s occupants, alleging that the practice was racist. 22

In August 2024, The Appeal published an article opposing the use of ShotSpotter, which detects and reports on the location of gunshots, claiming that the company managing ShotSpotter also offered technologies and other resources used by law enforcement. 23

In October 2024, The Appeal published an article accusing sheriff’s departments and law enforcement of allegedly coming genocide against Native Americans in the past while comparing it to alleged violence against immigrants and allegedly restricting migrant voting rights. 24

In November 2024, The Appeal criticized the Democrat Party for opposing policies towards defunding the police, claiming it decreased voter turnout among voters who identified as “progressives” which allowed for President-elect Donald Trump’s victory that same month. 25

In November 2024, The Appeal published an article criticizing the arrest and prosecution of anti-Israel protesters on college campuses earlier in the year while also criticizing universities for banning said activists from campus. 26

Politics

The Appeal previously supported a letter by 35 members of Congress that asked President Joe Biden to commute the sentences of the 50 individuals then on federal death row. 20 The Appeal advocated that President Biden commute the sentences of all 50 individuals to life in prison, and stressed that he has unilateral authority to do so if he chooses. 27

By December 2024, The Appeal advocated for President Biden to commute the sentences of all 40 individuals on federal death row, releasing an article on a press conference held by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) at which both advocated for the end of the federal death penalty. The Appeal also released an article a letter written by Rep. Pressley, Rep. Bush, and 60 other Democratic members of Congress arguing for President Biden to use clemency power to commute the sentences of multiple federal prisoners. The Appeal also criticized President Biden for not ending the federal death penalty nor advocating for states to abolish it at the state level. The Appeal also criticized President-elect Donald Trump for previously supporting the death penalty. 28

The Appeal criticized the Biden administration for nominating then-Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (D) to serve as his first Secretary of Labor 29 he Appeal argued that as mayor, Walsh did not require police to stand down during the BLM protests of 2020, while referring to his refusal to weaken policing policies within the city as a “fail[ure] to rein in police brutality in Boston.” 29

Leadership

Tara Francis Chen is the managing editor and operations director for The Appeal. She previously worked as a senior editor for Newsweek and was the launch editor of Business Insider’s Asia desk. 30

Molly Greene is The Appeal’s strategy and legal director. She previously worked at the American Constitution Society and the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. 31

As of December 2024, The Appeal has a board of directors, but has no listed president or chair of the board. Josie Duffy Rice was previously listed as the president of The Appeal until May 2021. 1

Financials

According to The Appeal’s 2022 tax return, it reported $964,900 in revenue, $883,019 in expenses, and $262,539 in total assets. 32

References

  1. “Board of Directors Announcement.” The Appeal, October 24, 2022. https://theappeal.org/board-of-directors-announcement/#:~:text=In%20July%202021%2C%20The%20Appeal%20relaunched%20as%20a,shut%20it%20down.%20Staff%20resumed%20publishing%20last%20November.
  2. Kilgore, James. “Abolition Means No Digital Prisons.” The Appeal, November 15, 2023. https://theappeal.org/abolition-means-no-digital-prisons/.
  3.  Tani, Maxwell. “Staff in the Appeal’s Crusading Newsroom Spent Years Fighting Its ‘cruel’ Culture.” The Daily Beast, May 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20240422204950/https://www.thedailybeast.com/staff-in-the-appeals-crusading-newsroom-spent-years-fighting-its-cruel-culture/.
  4. Baldridge, Marlee. “The Appeal Focuses on an Often Undercovered Aspect of Criminal Justice: Local Prosecutors.” Nieman Lab, June 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20240303194421/https://www.niemanlab.org/2018/06/the-appeal-focuses-on-an-often-undercovered-aspect-of-criminal-justice-local-prosecutors/.
  5.  “Important Updates from the Appeal.” The Appeal, June 30, 2021. https://theappeal.org/important-updates-from-the-appeal/.
  6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Tides Advocacy. 2019.
  7. “About the Appeal – Our Supports). The Appeal. https://theappeal.org/about/
  8. “Donors.” The Appeal. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://theappeal.org/donors/.
  9. O’Connor, Meg. “How to Get an Abortion by Mail in Your State.” The Appeal, August 2, 2022. https://theappeal.org/how-to-get-an-abortion-by-mail-in-your-state/.
  10.  O’Connor, Meg. “Abortion ‘trafficking’ Laws, Travel Bans, Medication Crackdowns: How the GOP Is Criminalizing Abortion Post-Dobbs.” The Appeal, July 2, 2024. https://theappeal.org/how-republicans-are-cracking-down-on-abortion-after-roe/.
  11. Ganeva, Tana. “Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda Will Be Even Harder to Stop a Second Time.” The Appeal, November 5, 2024. https://theappeal.org/trump-mass-deportations-ice-sanctuary-courts/.
  12. Davis, Kelly. “CORONAVIRUS IN JAILS AND PRISONS” The Appeal. November 6, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://theappeal.org/coronavirus-in-jails-and-prisons-76/
  13. Vaugh, Joshua. “SHIFTING INCARCERATION COSTS TO COUNTIES COULD MEAN FEWER PEOPLE IN PRISONS AND JAILS, STUDY SUGGESTS” The Appeal. December 9, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://theappeal.org/shifting-incarceration-costs-to-cou        nties-could-mean-fewer-people-in-prisons-and-jails-study-suggests/
  14. Weil-Greenberg, Elizabeth. The Appeal. December 11, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2021. “TERRY MCAULIFFE’S RECORD ON THE DEATH PENALTY IS OUT OF STEP WITH NATIONAL TRENDS” https://theappeal.org/terry-mcauliffe-death-penalty-governor-record/
  15. Weill-Greenberg, Elizabeth. “Groups Sue to Stop Indefinite Solitary Confinement in Pennsylvania.” The Appeal, March 4, 2024. https://theappeal.org/pennsylvania-solitary-confinement-lawsuit/.
  16. Rhodes, Adam M. “Trans Prisoners Overwhelmingly Thrown in Solitary Confinement, Report Says.” The Appeal, April 3, 2024. https://theappeal.org/trans-prisoners-overwhelmingly-thrown-in-solitary/.
  17. Blackwell, Christopher, and Deborah Zalesne. “The Case against Solitary Confinement: Explained.” The Appeal, November 6, 2024. https://theappeal.org/solitary-confinement-case-against/.
  18. Valenzuela, Victoria. “Advocates Blast Gavin Newsom for Fighting Solitary Confinement Reform.” The Appeal, November 27, 2024. https://theappeal.org/gavin-newsom-for-fighting-solitary-confinement-reform/.
  19. Dukmasova, Maya. The Appeal. “CHICAGO’S MAYOR TURNS CITY’S INFRASTRUCTURE INTO WEAPONS AGAINST PROTESTERS” The Appeal. November 13, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://theappeal.org/chicago-mayor-bridges-protest/
  20. O’Connor, Meg. The Appeal. “THEY TOOK UMBRELLAS TO A BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST. THE D.A. HIT THEM WITH GANG CHARGES” https://theappeal.org/maricopa-county-black-lives-matter-protest-gang-charges/
  21. Corey, Ethan. “To Cut down on Shoplifting, Let’s Arrest Some CEOS.” The Appeal, May 31, 2023. https://theappeal.org/to-reduce-shoplifting-arrest-ceos/.
  22. Eichinger, Dan. “It’s Long Past Time to Ban Pretextual Stops-Take It from a Public Defender.” The Appeal, August 30, 2023. https://theappeal.org/ban-pretextual-stops-take-it-from-a-public-defender/.
  23. Mulcahy, Shawn. “Some Cities Are Ditching Shotspotter, but Police Tech Firms Are Just Getting Started.” The Appeal, August 14, 2024. https://theappeal.org/shotspotter-police-technology/.
  24. Weill-Greenberg, Elizabeth. “Despite ‘good Guy’ Image, Sheriffs Endanger Elections and People.” The Appeal, October 9, 2024. https://theappeal.org/sheriffs-democracy-elections-jess-pishko/.
  25. Iannelli, Jerry. “‘fund the Police’ Backfired-and Gave Trump More Power than Ever.” The Appeal, November 13, 2024. https://theappeal.org/fund-the-police-backfired-2024/.
  26. O’Connor, Meg. “Prosecutors Have Levied Serious Charges against Pro-Palestine College Protesters.” The Appeal, November 4, 2024. https://theappeal.org/pro-palestine-college-protesters-face-serious-charges/.
  27. O’Connor, Meg. The Appeal. “MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL ON BIDEN TO COMMUTE EVERYONE ON FEDERAL DEATH ROW” January 22, 2021. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://theappeal.org/members-of-congress-biden-commute-death-row/
  28. Weill-Greenberg, Elizabeth. “Biden Has 40 Days to Save the 40 Federal Death Row Prisoners.” The Appeal, December 10, 2024. https://theappeal.org/biden-federal-death-row/.
  29. Iannelli, Jerry. “BOSTON MAYOR MARTY WALSH’S LEGACY OF EMPTY PROMISES” The Appeal. January 12, 2021. Accessed March 6, 2021. https://theappeal.org/boston-mayor-marty-walshs-legacy-of-empty-promises/
  30.  “Tara Francis Chan.” The Appeal. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://theappeal.org/authors/tara-francis-chan/.
  31. “Molly Greene.” The Appeal. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://theappeal.org/authors/molly-greene/.
  32. “Appeal Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed December 16, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/872194457/202313129349305151/full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 2022

  • 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
    2022 Dec Form 990 $964,900 $883,019 $262,539 $10,867 N $963,449 $785 $0 $342,082 PDF

    The Appeal

    P.O. Box 3711
    Landers, CA 92285-0711