About Just Trust for Education
Our mission is to ensure that the next chapter of justice reform in America is nimble, adaptable, well-funded, and able to make progress through the shifting tides of politics and culture. By connecting diverse groups of donors with smart investments at the local, state and national level, we can help steward a generations-long effort for justice and safety into the lasting solutions communities want and deserve.
Focus Areas
criminal justice reformstate-level advocacy capacity buildingpublic safety ecosystem strengtheningdiversion and alternatives to incarcerationmedia and narrative workpublic opinion research and messagingrapid response funding for advocacy momentscampaign support (including ballot measures)
Who They Fund
formerly incarcerated individuals and their familiesstate and local communities in: Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama
About Just Trust for Education
The Just Trust for Education backs justice-reform work at a scale that includes seven-figure commitments, with its largest recent grant going to Recidiviz for project support. The funder’s recent awards show a pattern of supporting organizations that work on criminal justice reform, public safety alternatives, and advocacy capacity, alongside media and narrative efforts tied to justice issues. It gives to both national organizations and state-focused groups, and its portfolio includes repeat support for several recipients across 2024 and 2025. Among the larger recipients, The Marshall Project received $875,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general operating support, while JustLeadershipUSA received $1,000,000 in 2024 and $850,000 in 2025 for general operating support. The foundation also funded Alliance for Safety and Justice, For the People, Vera Institute of Justice, and Equal Justice USA, indicating support for policy, advocacy, and justice-system reform organizations. Its recent grants also include project support for documentary work through The Better Angels Society and for justice-reform messaging and campaigns through other grantees.
What Just Trust for Education Funds
A clear thread in The Just Trust for Education’s giving is criminal justice reform infrastructure. It gave $1,500,000 to Texas Public Policy Foundation for Right on Crime and $700,000 to American Conservative Union Foundation for the Nolan Center for Justice, both project grants tied to reform work. It also supports organizations focused on people directly affected by incarceration. Examples include $850,000 to The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls for general operating support and $450,000 to Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Families Movement for project support. The foundation further funds narrative and media work connected to justice issues. The Better Angels Society received $500,000 for documentary project support in 2024 and another $500,000 in 2025, while Represent Justice received $500,000 in 2024 and $400,000 in 2025 for general operating support.
How Just Trust for Education Gives
Typical grant size centers on six figures: the 25th percentile is $75,000, the median is $102,000, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. The recent list also includes multiple awards at $500,000 and above, showing that the foundation makes both mid-sized operating grants and larger strategic commitments. Several recipients appear across more than one year, including The Marshall Project, JustLeadershipUSA, Alliance for Safety and Justice, For the People, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Vera Institute of Justice, Equal Justice USA, The Better Angels Society, and Represent Justice. The funder is classified as a regular funder and the listed support types include project support and general operating support, with no individual giving or program-related investments.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$25.7M
Total Assets
$66.9M
Total Revenue
$41.4M
Total Expenses
$32.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $75K and $250K, with a median of $102K.
25th Percentile
$75K
Median
$102K
75th Percentile
$250K
Geographic Reach
National26 states funded
About 6% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ANA ZAMORA
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