Video Transcript
Every night in America, nearly half a million people are sitting in jail without having been convicted of a crime. The only reason that they’re there is that they can’t afford the price of their freedom – and that price is bail. I know firsthand what it feels like to be unable to pay bail. In just a few short days behind bars, your life can unravel – you risk losing your job, your health, and even your family – all before you even had your day in court. As the CEO of The Bail Project, I’m proud to be part of a movement for equal justice. Every day, our teams across the country are providing free bail assistance and support services while pushing for a more just pretrial system. To date we’ve helped over 35,000 people, but there is still so much more work to be done. Please join us in this urgent fight by making a gift today. Because with your support, we can ensure that justice is accessible to everyone – not just those who can afford it. Because freedom should be free.
Every Night, Half a Million People Wait Behind Bars
Every night in America, nearly half a million people sit in jail, not because they’ve been convicted of a crime, but because they can’t afford bail. This unfair system creates a two-tiered justice system – one for those with money and one for everyone else.
At The Bail Project, we’re fighting to change this. We believe no one should lose their job, their home, or precious time with their loved ones while waiting for their day in court. And this Giving Tuesday, you can be part of the solution – thanks in part to a generous gift match.
From now until the end of Tuesday, December 3rd at midnight, the first $30,000 in donations to The Bail Project will be matched dollar-for-dollar by our founding board members, Lili Lynton and Liz Luckett.
Watch Our CEO Share What’s at Stake
Our CEO David Gaspar shares in this video why your support matters. “Freedom should be free,” he says. And with your help, we can make it so. Since 2018, The Bail Project has freed more than 35,000 people by paying their bail, helping them return home to their families, jobs, and communities. But we can’t stop there.
Your Gift Unlocks Lives and Drives Impact
When you donate to The Bail Project, your support creates immediate impact and lasting change. Here’s how:
- Immediate Relief Through Bail Assistance: Your contributions go directly to our revolving bail fund, which pays bail for those who can’t afford it. Once their case is resolved, the bail money comes back to the fund, allowing us to help someone else.
- Comprehensive Support Services: We do more than pay bail. We connect clients to transportation, housing, court reminders, and voluntary services, helping them navigate the system and stabilize their lives.
- Policy Advocacy and Long-Term Change: Your donations help fund the fight to end cash bail entirely. This year, we celebrated the elimination of cash bail in Illinois, a landmark victory for justice, and we continue to push for similar reforms nationwide.
Meet the People Behind the Mission
Our team at The Bail Project isn’t just dedicated – it’s personal. Many of our staff have firsthand experience with the harms of incarceration. They are the heart of our mission, working tirelessly to bring freedom to thousands of people every year.
People like William in St. Louis, who now advocates for others in the same courthouse where he was once sentenced. Or Mercy in Tulsa, who ensured a deaf client could fully participate in their court proceedings by typing out every word. Their work is supported by people like you.
Become a Freedom Funder
This Giving Tuesday, join a growing community of Freedom Funders, our monthly donors who provide steady support for this vital work. Your recurring gift ensures we can free more people, support more families, and continue to push for the systemic reforms our communities need.
Becoming a Freedom Funder is simple, and it’s one of the most effective ways to support our mission.
Why Giving Tuesday?
Giving Tuesday is more than a day – it’s a movement. It’s a moment when people come together to make a difference. This year, you can stand with us in the fight for freedom and dignity for all.
As the year ends, your gift right now is critical. By supporting The Bail Project on Giving Tuesday, you ensure this urgent and life-saving work to end cash bail continues.
Take Antoine, an artist who faced $5,000 bail he couldn’t afford. We stepped in to secure his freedom, allowing him to care for his family and find a path to recovery. Or Leah, a nursing assistant who was arrested during a mental health crisis. After we bailed her out, she was able to put her case behind her and is now helping others navigate mental health challenges. These are just a few of the lives transformed because of people like you.
This year, our founding board members, Lili Lynton and Liz Luckett, will match the first $30,000 in donations to The Bail Project dollar-for-dollar!
Join the Fight Today
Your tax-deductible donation to The Bail Project is an investment in freedom, equality, and justice. Here’s how you can give:
- Donate online here.
- Join the Freedom Funders community and give monthly to make a sustained impact.
- Share this mission with your friends and family. Your voice can inspire others to join the fight for justice.
Together, we can ensure that freedom and justice are not privileges for the few, but rights for everyone.
This Giving Tuesday, let’s make freedom free.
Thank you for engaging with our content. People like you make a better world possible – a world where justice is not determined by someone’s wealth. The Bail Project is not only an immediate lifeline for people held on unaffordable cash bail, but a growing megaphone for public education and social change. If you have the means and found value in our content, please consider becoming a donor today.
