Grassroots Law Project

“The organization does not have any committees with authority to act on behalf of the governing body.”

“The form 990 was provided to all directors for review prior to filing.”

“Board members were asked to identify financial interests that could pose a potential conflict with the organization. The organization reviewed proposed transactions (such as grants and agreements with vendors) for potential conflicts in advance.”

“The organization retained an independent consultant to conduct a comparability study to determine the compensation of chief executives at similarly situated organizations in the same geographic area. The consultant reviewed data from other organizations' Form 990s and other sources. The President's compensation was then approved by a panel of disinterested directors.”

“The governing documents are maintained at the organization's address and are not avaialble to the public, except as required by law.”

“Yodit Tewolde served as a compensated employee until 02/21, and as an uncompensated director and officer starting 06/21. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS: WREN COLLECTIVE - DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: POLICY, RESEARCH, COMMUNICATIONS, AND LEGAL ADVISING. SOCIAL PRACTICE LLC - DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, STAFFING, AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.”

“A. Expenses of $554,907 including grants of $425,962 In 2021, Grassroots Law Project launched a campaign to free Marvin Guy - a Black man who has been in jail for seven years without a trial - charged with capital murder in a case where the police executed a senseless no-knock police raid that endangered everyone involved in the early morning hours and gun fire ensued. GLP paid (and continues to pay) for a new legal team and experts to fight for his freedom, and mobilized local activists to build momentum on the ground. GLP paid $425,761 in legal fees in 2021 and also spent $101,552 on a documentary about the case which has been widely watched and shared, as well as $17,593 in other support, including on-the-ground events, phone calls, texting, digital ads, and printing costs. B. Expenses of $293,253 including grants of $193,669 Victims of police violence, and their families, receive little to no support from the legal system. This funding helped families bridge the financial gap left by a lost loved one, pay for funeral expenses, pay for forensic pathology reports to help hold police accountable, fund travel for families to attend rallies and advocate to lawmakers, and pay for other needs caused by the trauma. It also helped launch and staff public pressure campaigns on officials who could hold those that caused harm accountable and fund nonprofit organizations run by or working for families of victims of violence. C. Expenses of $609,306 including grants of $150,000 Developed a suite of model legislation for criminal justice and police reform, including second look legislation, probation reform, bail reform, juvenile sentencing, and mental health legislation. Produced extensive research and explainers. Crafted that legislation for states and local jurisdictions, providing evidentiary research and data analysis for why it was needed. Worked with local elected officials and advocates to introduce and pass that legislation. These efforts helped allocate $250 million into the most effective violence prevention programs instead of police in cities across the country, launch campaigns to establish crisis response teams in many major cities, ban no-knock warrants in Killeen, TX and Louisville, KY, pass a ban on forced ketamine injections in Colorado, co-author Second Chance legislation to reduce long prison sentences in Texas and New Mexico, and advocate for the most progressive police decertification bill in the country until Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law. D. EXPENSES OF $3,582,489 including grants of $136,527 TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND LEGAL EXPERTISE TO REFORM THE AMERICAN JSUTICE SYSTEM.”

“Duane thompson and stacy lee merritt are brothers.”