Inside Philanthropy Features The Bail Project in Funder Brief on Criminal Justice Reform

Inside Philanthropy’s recent donor brief highlights The Bail Project as a high-impact organization that effectively bridges the gap between immediate bail assistance and long-term systemic reform.

We are proud to announce that The Bail Project has been featured by Inside Philanthropy in their recent donor brief, “Criminal Justice Reform: What Donors Need to Know.” This brief serves as a roadmap for donors entering the criminal justice reform space. By including us in this guide, Inside Philanthropy signals to the philanthropic community that The Bail Project is a high-impact choice for those wanting to address mass incarceration and injustice through financial support.

Inside Philanthropy identifies The Bail Project as an organization that bridges the gap between immediate relief and long-term reform. The guide writes: “While efforts to reform the systems of policing and mass incarceration are underway, there is still a need for services for people impacted by those systems now… Some groups provide services while also engaging in grassroots organizing and movement-building.” That two-pronged approach is The Bail Project’s bread and butter. 

Why The Bail Project is a Top Choice for Donors

The Bail Project combines direct service with systemic reform. Using donations, we provide free bail assistance and support services like court reminders, transportation, and social service navigation. But we don’t stop there – we’re fighting to fundamentally transform the pretrial justice system. Through legislative advocacy, we’re building the political will needed to end wealth-based detention and create a pretrial system rooted in safety and equity.

Since our founding, we have supported over 40,000 people navigating the pretrial system, which includes more than 35,000 individuals whose release we secured by posting bail and providing supportive services. With this support, those clients returned to court 92% of the time. This is powerful evidence that bail is not what makes people come back to court – evidence we use to advocate for policies that improve the broken pretrial justice system.

The Importance of Sustained Funding

Inside Philanthropy’s donor brief offers advice for those looking to support criminal justice nonprofits: “Don’t let the backlash stop real progress”. It encourages donors to provide “multiyear, general operating support”, which allows organizations like ours the flexibility to respond to emerging challenges and sustainably build a future without cash bail.

How You Can Support Our Mission

It is an honor to be recognized alongside other leading voices working to create a safer and more fair criminal justice system. 

We hope Inside Philanthropy‘s guidance encourages you to join our movement to eliminate reliance on cash bail and prove that a more humane, equitable, and effective pretrial system is possible. Join us today!