Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF)
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is a left-of-center advocacy organization that provides job training programs and promotes economic mobility for low-income communities within the state of Maryland. 1 The group has advocated in favor of price-fixing and taxpayer-funded programs to address economic issues. 2
Contents
JOTF has further advocated for eliminating cash bail policies and civil fines for convicted and incarcerated individuals as well as providing government-funded job training and placement programs for released convicts. 3
Background
Founded in 1996, the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) is a left-of-center advocacy group that provides job-preparation services within the state of Maryland while promoting the creation of taxpayer-funded programs to address career advancement issues. 1
JOTF has received funding from several left-of-center organizations including the Abell Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Fund for Change, the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, the Open Society Institute, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and the Working Poor Families Project. The group has also received government grants as a source of funding. 1
Advocacy
Ending Cash Bail
The Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) has advocated against the use of cash bail policies, claiming that they criminalize individuals based on their race and economic status. JOTF also advocates for eliminating cash payments for bonds as a condition of release from pre-trial detention and as a punishment for not appearing in court. 4
Opposition to Market-Based Policies
In 2007, the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) published a report titled, “Overpriced and Underserved, How The Market is Failing Low-Wage Baltimoreans,” which claimed that affordability and other economic issues are due to the failures of the free market. The report further claimed inflation and higher cost of living in Baltimore have resulted in a lower quality of life and decreased access to necessities for lower-income individuals. 2
The report claimed that more policies and executive orders were needed to limit interest rates on tax return refund loans, expand the loan types covered by anti-predatory-mortgage laws, and prohibit mortgage balloon payments and loan flipping. The report also advocated for lengthening the eviction process, funding a government-run auto insurance program, subsidizing tax preparation, and funding a financial literacy initiative. 2
Additionally, JOTF’s 2007 report advocated for a public initiative where financial institutions develop loans specifically for low-income individuals and have public officials and banks seek out low-income individuals to offer loans to pay for living expenses. 2
Criminal Justice
In 2016, the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) released a report, “The Criminalization of Poverty” in response to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report from that year on the Baltimore Police Department and claims of high-profile police brutality cases. In its report, JOTF argued that ethnic minorities are excessively victimized by such policies and claimed that the negative financial impact of criminalization unfairly impacts low-income individuals through policies including civil asset forfeiture, bail bonds, and employment barriers for convicts. 3
The report further advocates government-funded employment programs for convicts, decriminalizing non-violent crimes, and eliminating financial pre-trial costs and penalties for convicts. 3
Activities
In May 2020, the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) began a fundraising program in order to raise bail payments for incarcerated individuals within the Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince George Counties in the state of Maryland who are represented by a public defender. It claimed the program prioritized individuals who “identify as women,” individuals under 25, and pretrial defendants. The program also claimed to provide social services to those who made their bail payment. 4
JOTF also has a “BetterU Construction Training” program, which offers 16-week job training programs for Baltimore residents towards preparing them for apprenticeship in plumbing, carpentry, or electrical. Those in the program also receive a stipend and personal development courses and job placement services. 5
Leadership
Debra Carr is the chief executive officer of the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF). An attorney, she previously held positions with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. 6
Financials
In 2022, the Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF) reported $1.8 million in total revenue. 7 It also reported $1.7 million in total expenses, including $741,525 in salary and compensation of employees and $528,476 in grants paid. 8
In 2022, JOTF made a $428,476 grant to Be the Revolution, a single-member limited liability company. 9
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $580,105 | $1,158,792 | $1,525,883 | View |
| 2024 | $1,106,778 | $1,291,369 | $1,623,753 | View |
| 2023 | $1,408,840 | $1,863,519 | $1,739,186 | View |
| 2022 | $938,656 | $996,819 | $1,152,679 | View |
| 2021 | $1,091,183 | $1,864,276 | $1,432,440 | View |
| 2020 | $786,491 | $1,450,169 | $1,315,435 |
Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 10
Highest Earning Employees
| Employee | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Debra Carr | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | $153,909 |
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $20,034,185
- Number of Grants: 361
- Number of Funders: 66
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $2,626,978
- Number of Grants: 39
- Number of Recipients: 24
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
| Amount | Year | Funder | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 2023 | Be Org Inc | SUBGRANTS THROUGH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FUND FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY |
| $50,000 | 2023 | I AM MENtality Youth Male Empowerment Project | SUBGRANTS THROUGH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FUND FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY |
| $29,167 | 2022 | Be Org Inc | SUBGRANTS THROUGH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FUND FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY |
| $29,167 | 2022 | I AM MENtality Youth Male Empowerment Project | SUBGRANTS THROUGH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FUND FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY |
| $29,166 | 2022 | B-360 | SUBGRANTS THROUGH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY INNOVATION FUND FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY |