2020-02-05T15:57:47-06:00 2019-06-30 582161308 BROOKS MCGINNIS & COMPANY LLC 5607 GLENRIDGE DR STE 650 ATLANTA GA 303424959 990 2018-07-01 753018448 GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT INC GEOR 4043734433 50 HURT PLAZA SUITE 350 ATLANTA GA 30303 CLARE GILBERT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4043734433 2020-02-05 PAMELA D HARDISTER P00240127 4045314940 2020-02-05 96.91.158.145 2020-02-05 15:57:47 CS P C13E13F90EDA2A802D3BA4EC0EC3D6A8FCBFB705 D74306ABF94A41814F5510FA13F687F4CBEB03D1 2018 2020-09-23 17:36:50Z X WALTER JOSPIN 225 PEACHTREE ST NE 1700 SOUTH TOWER ATLANTA GA 30303 764950 false X WWW.GEORGIAINNOCENCEPROJECT.ORG X 2002 GA GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO: FREE THE IMPRISONED INNOCENT USING DNA-RELATED POST-CONVICTION LITIGATION. EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. ADVANCE PRACTICES TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING THE SAME FATE. CONNECT THE EXONERATED WITH RESOURCES TO HELP REBUILD THEIR LIVES. 19 19 12 20 0 315477 764723 0 1 227 0 315478 764950 0 0 206306 375593 0 63837 76413 110824 282719 486417 32759 278533 232613 519950 13262 22066 219351 497884 X GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO: FREE THE IMPRISONED INNOCENT USING DNA-RELATED POST-CONVICTION LITIGATION. EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. ADVANCE PRACTICES TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING THE SAME FATE. CONNECT THE EXONERATED WITH RESOURCES TO HELP REBUILD THEIR LIVES. false true 324497 THE GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT (GIP) INVESTIGATES CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS WHERE MODERN DNA TESTING WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF TRIAL. IF THERE IS A COMPELLING CLAIM OF INNOCENCE AND DNA EVIDENCE STILL EXISTS, GIP LITIGATES TO TEST THAT DNA AND PROVE ACTUAL INNOCENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, GIP HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 7,400 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. GIP AND CO-COUNSEL AT THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WON AN EXTRAORDINARY MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL (EMNT) FOR OUR CLIENT JOHNNY LEE GATES, WHO HAS SPENT 42 YEARS IN PRISON (26 ON DEATH ROW) FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT. FOLLOWING EMNT PROCEEDINGS WITH OUR CO-COUNSEL AT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, ANOTHER CLIENT'S CONVICTION WAS VACATED BASED UPON EXCULPATORY DNA TEST RESULTS -- HE SPENT ALMOST 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A RAPE HE DID NOT COMMIT. WE SECURED POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING IN FOUR CASES. WE EDUCATED 800 STUDENTS IN EIGHT SCHOOLS AROUND ATLANTA ABOUT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ON WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY. THE INNOCENCE NETWORK CONFERENCE (900 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 200+ EXONEREES) WAS HOSTED IN ATLANTA AND GIP MADE A STRONG SHOWING THERE -- GIP AND EXONEREES PRESENTED AT SESSIONS AND GIP'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND A GIP BOARD MEMBER EACH GAVE TALKS AT THE OPENING PLENARY. 324497 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 0 0 12 true false false false false false false false false X 19 19 true false true false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false GA X X MATT HOLBROOK 4043734433 1458 CHURCH STREET SUITE F DECATUR GA 30030 DAVID BALSER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARK HACKNER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID SARNAT BOARD TREASU 4.00 X X 0 0 0 JULIE SEAMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT SHEFT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 GARRETT VAN DE GRIFT BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WALTER JOSPIN BOARD CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 JAKE ARBES BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 KENNY BAER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JEFF BRICKMAN BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 KARL DOUGLASS BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 SARAH GERWIG-MOORE BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 ANNA HALSEY BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 CALVIN JOHNSON BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD MITCHELL BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 MOLLY PARMER BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 PAGE PATE BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 WENDY SHOOB BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 AMY WEIL BOARD MEMBER 1.00 X 0 0 0 CLARE GILBERT EXECUTIVE DI 50.00 X 69336 0 0 69336 false false false 764723 764723 227 227 764950 227 75000 53138 12240 9622 260900 184847 42580 33473 14653 10382 2391 1880 25040 17741 4086 3213 9400 9400 6724 6724 879 879 1337 1337 17214 12196 2809 2209 12170 8641 2434 1095 9514 9514 1886 1339 377 170 806 571 132 103 CONTRACT LABOR 16465 16465 UTILITIES 7603 5398 1521 684 CASE RELATED EXPENSES 6391 6391 FUNDRAISING 6111 6111 14324 7388 1659 5277 486417 324497 98083 63837 158647 130242 1322 361867 64180 5000 6374 6899 48560 32618 2090 15942 232613 519950 13262 22066 13262 22066 X 169351 492884 50000 5000 219351 497884 232613 519950 278533 X false true X false X 203946 196904 376913 315477 764723 1857963 203946 196904 376913 315477 764723 1857963 484736 1373227 1 1 227 229 10541 8104 1438 20083 1878275 1 0.73110 0.89340 X PART II, LINE 10 20,083 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 8923 7428 1495 26725 12278 14447 12912 12912 15942 X 1545950 781000 781000 764950 764950 1267417 781000 781000 486417 486417 SCHEDULE D, PAGE 3, PART X THE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAX UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. INCOME FROM CERTAIN ACTIVITIES NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE IS SUBJECT TO TAXATION AS UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME. FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019 AND 2018, THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT HAVE ANY UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME, AND ACCORDINGLY, THERE IS NO UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX. MANAGEMENT BELIEVES IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITION TAKEN, AND AS SUCH, DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE ORGANIZATION'S INCOME TAX RETURNS ARE SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AND REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT'S MISSION IS TO: FREE THE IMPRISONED INNOCENT USING DNA-RELATED POST-CONVICTION LITIGATION. EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS. ADVANCE PRACTICES TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING THE SAME FATE. CONNECT THE EXONERATED WITH RESOURCES TO HELP REBUILD THEIR LIVES. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 3 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECENTLY APPROVED AN EXPANSION BEYOND LITIGATING CASES STRICTLY UNDER GEORGIA'S POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING STATUTE (O.C.G.A. 5-5-41(C)) AND SHIFTING INTO BROADER MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE/ ACTUAL INNOCENCE LITIGATION, WHICH GENERALLY IS BROUGHT VIA STATE AND FEDERAL HABEAS PROCEEDINGS. AS DNA TESTING BECOMES MORE COMMON BEFORE TRIAL AND EVIDENCE IS INCREASINGLY LOST OR DEGRADED IN OLDER CASES, POST- CONVICTION DNA TESTING BECOMES LESS RELEVANT. ADDITIONALLY, AND ODDLY ENOUGH, AS MODERN POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING BECOMES MORE SENSITIVE DUE TO ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, IT ACTUALLY ALSO BECOMES LESS RELEVANT. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE DNA TESTING CAN NOW TELL US WHO TOUCHED OR WORE AN ITEM OF EVIDENCE, IT ALSO OFTEN CONTAINS THE DNA OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO THE CRIME WHO MAY ALSO HAVE HANDLED THE EVIDENCE AT ANY POINT IN TIME. WE HAVE SEVERAL CURRENT CASES WHERE POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING IS EXCULPATORY BUT INSUFFICIENT TO ENTITLE OUR CLIENTS TO A NEW TRIAL. THUS THE NEED HAS ARISEN TO SHIFT INTO BROADER ACTUAL INNOCENCE LITIGATION. GIP ALSO ELIMINATED A MISSION-RELATED ACTIVITY DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WHICH ACTUALLY IS CAUSING US TO TEMPORARILY ADD A MISSION-RELATED ACTIVITY DURING THE TWO-YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD. IN 2007, GIP BEGAN ACCEPTING CASES FROM ALABAMA BECAUSE THERE WAS (AND STILL IS) NO INNOCENCE ORGANIZATION BASED IN ALABAMA. OVER THE YEARS, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT GIP DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY OR RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY INVESTIGATE AND REPRESENT CLIENTS IN ALABAMA, AND THE ALABAMA EFFORTS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HINDERING OUR ABILITY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN GEORGIA. IN APRIL 2019, AFTER CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH AND SOUL SEARCHING, WE DECIDED TO NO LONGER ACCEPT CASES FROM ALABAMA. WE HAVE SINCE REJECTED 84 INTAKE-STAGE ALABAMA CASES AND CLOSED TWO LATE-STAGE CASES. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT ABANDON OUR EXISTING ALABAMA CLIENTS. SO WE HAVE HIRED AN ATTORNEY WHO WILL WORK WITH US STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2019 FOR TWO YEARS AS AN ALABAMA FELLOW, DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT THESE INNOCENCE CASES EACH FIND A NEW HOME WITH A SKILLED ATTORNEY, WHILE THE FELLOW ALSO HELPS BUILD A FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE INNOCENCE WORK WITHIN ALABAMA. FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A THE GEORGIA INNOCENCE PROJECT (GIP) INVESTIGATES CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS WHERE MODERN DNA TESTING WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF TRIAL. IF THERE IS A COMPELLING CLAIM OF INNOCENCE AND DNA EVIDENCE STILL EXISTS, GIP LITIGATES TO TEST THAT DNA AND PROVE ACTUAL INNOCENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, GIP HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 7,400 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. GIP AND CO-COUNSEL AT THE SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WON AN EXTRAORDINARY MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL (EMNT) FOR OUR CLIENT JOHNNY LEE GATES, WHO HAS SPENT 42 YEARS IN PRISON (26 ON DEATH ROW) FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT. FOLLOWING EMNT PROCEEDINGS WITH OUR CO-COUNSEL AT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, ANOTHER CLIENT'S CONVICTION WAS VACATED BASED UPON EXCULPATORY DNA TEST RESULTS -- HE SPENT ALMOST 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A RAPE HE DID NOT COMMIT. WE SECURED POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING IN FOUR CASES. WE EDUCATED 800 STUDENTS IN EIGHT SCHOOLS AROUND ATLANTA ABOUT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ON WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY. THE INNOCENCE NETWORK CONFERENCE (900 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 200+ EXONEREES) WAS HOSTED IN ATLANTA AND GIP MADE A STRONG SHOWING THERE -- GIP AND EXONEREES PRESENTED AT SESSIONS AND GIP'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND A GIP BOARD MEMBER EACH GAVE TALKS AT THE OPENING PLENARY. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 2 WALTER JOSPIN WENDY SHOOB BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER SPOUSE FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 4 AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS. MAJOR CHANGES: - INSTITUTED A STAGGERED BOARD WITH THREE INITIAL CLASSES: A (3 YEAR TERM), B (2 YEAR TERM), AND C (1 YEAR TERM). SUBSEQUENT TERMS ARE THREE YEARS, AND BOARD MEMBERS CAN BE RE-ELECTED FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEAR TERM. - THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY ARE DESIGNATED AS OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND THE BOARD IS GIVEN THE DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. - A MINIMUM OF EIGHT PERSONS IS ESTABLISHED FOR THE BOARD, WITH NO MAXIMUM. - AN IDEMNIFICATION CLAUSE IS ADDED WHICH IDEMNIFIES THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. - ACTION IS ALLOWED WITHOUT A BOARD MEETING WITH WRITTEN CONSENT BY A MAJORITY OF DIRECTORS. - A PRE-SET QUARTERLY MEETING SCHEDULE IS ESTABLISHED. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B A DRAFT OF THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED VIA EMAIL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BEFORE BEING FILED AND DIRECTORS ARE INVITED TO REVIEW AND SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS. IN ADDITION, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIEW THE FORM WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENSURE THAT IT IS FREE FROM ERRORS AND DISCREPANCIES. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C ALL MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND REPORT ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS REQUIRED TO REPORT ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT. THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWS POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AS REPORTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A CONFLICT EXISTS, AND IF A CONFLICT DOES EXIST, WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THAT CONFLICT. IF A CONFLICT IS IDENTIFIED IT IS DOCUMENTED, ALONG WITH ANY STEPS TAKEN TO MITIGATE THE CONFLICT. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AFTER REVIEWING DATA FROM THE GUIDESTAR NONPROFIT COMPENSATION REPORT, AS WELL AS INFORMATION FROM THE FORMS 990 OF SIMILARLY SITUATED NONPROFITS IN THE ATLANTA AREA. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B COMPENSATION FOR KEY EMPLOYEES IS DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR USING THE SAME RESOURCES. COMPENSATION DECISIONS, AND CHANGES TO COMPENSATION ARE DOCUMENTED CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITHIN EACH EMPLOYEE'S FILE. FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 FORMS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORMS 990 CAN BE FOUND THROUGH GUIDESTAR AND OTHER SIMILAR SERVICES.