Institute for Justice

What Institute for Justice does

The Institute for Justice (IJ) is a nonprofit public interest law firm founded in 1991 and based in Arlington, Virginia. It represents ordinary people free of charge when, in its view, the government has violated their constitutional rights. Its work covers four areas: private property, economic liberty (the right to earn a living), free speech, and educational choice.

IJ's clients include homeowners facing eminent domain, people whose property was seized by the government, and workers and entrepreneurs held back by licensing rules. It pairs lawsuits with original research and media work and presses for changes in state law. By its own count it has argued 13 cases at the U.S. Supreme Court and won 11, contributed to more than 300 legislative reforms, and rolled back regulations in 44 occupations. It is currently litigating more than 107 cases across 35 states and D.C., with more than 70 full-time attorneys.

IJ says it receives no government funding. In the fiscal year ending June 2024 it reported about $49.9 million in revenue. Charity Navigator gives it a four-star rating with a score of 99%.

Key facts

• Argued at the U.S. Supreme Court 13 times, with 11 victories (IJ)
• Litigating more than 107 cases across 35 states and Washington, D.C., with more than 70 full-time attorneys in offices in six states (IJ)
• Says it has saved 20,000 homes and businesses from eminent domain abuse, returned $21 million in wrongfully seized assets, and rolled back regulations in 44 occupations (IJ)
• Receives no government funding; about $49.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 2024 (IJ; ProPublica)

Before you give

• IJ's donation page states it is a 501(c)(3), that gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and lists tax ID 52-1744337.
• Online gifts can be made by credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, eCheck, or cryptocurrency. IJ also accepts stock, IRA charitable distributions, planned gifts, mailed checks, and employer matching gifts.