2023 annual impact Report
WE ARE SEEKING JUSTICE
Across the country, we partnered with local governments and communities to fight back against the companies, people, and institutions that threaten our civil rights.
section One
Defeating Abuses Of Power
Public Rights Project is Committed to Using Government Power For Good.
In 2023, we stood up against bullies and for voters across the country—to make sure they rightfully retain power over their democracy and their own bodies. We defeated partisan efforts to retaliate against elected prosecutors in Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee; ensured fair electoral maps in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Wisconsin; won relief for workers harmed by corporate greed in California; and stood up for abortion rights in Arizona, Missouri, Wisconsin, Texas, and the Supreme Court. You’ll learn more about our wins and our network as you continue reading. And to everyone in this fight with us, thank you. Let’s keep going.
Jill Habig,
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Protecting Millions Of People Across The Nation
ENSURED A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP FOR BLACK VOTERS IN ALABAMA
Kept abortion on the ballot in Missouri
DEFEATED PARTISAN RETALIATION IN GEORGIA
BEAT GERRYMANDERING IN WISCONSIN
RECOVERED $6 MILLION FOR GIG WORKERS FROM HANDY
674
100%
131
24 states
section three
Seeking Justice Across America
Support communities & governments working to protect civil rights.
We believe that every community should have a government fighting for their civil rights, and that every fight brings us closer to a fair and equitable democracy.
PRP is helping to build a world where governments and communities work together to provide justice for those who have been harmed, hold exploitative parties accountable, and actively protect civil rights for all—not just the rich, powerful, or white.
Our work of upholding our inalienable rights—enforcing the laws that safeguard them and fighting the people and corporations stripping them away—is more critical than ever.
Though our work is far from complete, we’ve accomplished a great deal alongside a vast network of like-minded leaders, fellows, attorneys, activists, and organizers.
53 Million
people served by our work
$4.8 Million
recovered in community relief, and $1.2 million in attorneys’ fees from Handy settlement
25 Amicus Briefs
authored with a total of 656 sign-ons with 388 unique partners
67% Win Rate
on 25 amicus briefs
9.5 Million
voters protected
23 New Fellows
trained across 12 states
Sherry Boston
District Attorney
DeKalb County, Georgia
“What we will see is legislators creating these commissions across the country in an effort to control prosecutor independence and discretion. And that should concern and scare everyone. When I heard that PRP was willing to stand with and fight for us, it was a godsend. It was a gift.”
Mayor Quinton Lucas
Kansas City, Missouri
"There's nothing more important you can do as a lawyer than helping to lift up communities. There may be people in powerful positions, but the real power will always be with the people."
Zarah Rahman
Deputy City Attorney,
Oakland City Attorney's Office
“Throughout my career, seeking justice has been a theme. Being in government is such a unique place where we can be proactive and support others who don't necessarily have the resources to fight on their own. People's lives are on the line, and we have a part to play.”
Cristina Uribe
Director of Advocacy and Judicial Strategies, Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity
“There is a record distrust in institutions right now in our country, in part because the people who serve as judges don't look like me. They don't look like the fellows. They don't have our background in being public advocates. We have to build a multiracial feminist democracy that reflects who we are. And that's who the fellows are.”
Mayor Randall Woodfin
Birmingham, Alabama
“It's essential that we remain vigilant against attempts to dilute the power of marginalized communities. Our democracy thrives when every citizen, regardless of their race or background, has a fair opportunity to be heard.”
Honoring Justice Seekers Rob Bonta And David Ureña At Our First-Ever Gala
Seeking Justice 2023, our first in-person gala gathered donors, friends, activists, and leaders to honor our 2023 Justice Seekers California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General David Ureña for their work to protect and defend civil rights.
Thank you to our sponsors, whose generous support enables us to defend, train, and amplify the work of local government officials on the front lines of the fight for civil rights. Oh, what a night!
Click through to see special moments and sponsors.
Fairmont San Francisco
section five
Our Funders Make Justice Possible
We are deeply grateful for the support of our funders.
With their support, we are building a democracy that delivers equity and justice – where every person has a partner in government fighting for their rights.
We want to extend a special thank you to the following individuals and organizations for their generous donations of $1,000 or greater in 2023.
section six
2023
Financial Summary
Public Rights Project is proud of the financial growth we experienced over the past year—every grant and donation makes our litigation, organizing, and storytelling possible.
Public Rights Project is proud of the growth we experienced over the past year. The financial support we receive helps us address growing threats to civil rights nationwide and makes every one of our victories possible.
We’ve grown from a $750,000 budget in 2018 to a 2023 operating budget of $5M.
Check out the charts to see our 2023 revenue and expense breakdown.
section seven
Growing Our
Board Of Directors
We’re grateful to each of the individuals who lend their time and skills to the Public Rights Project Board. Their advice and guidance is invaluable as we work together to protect our democracy and seek justice for every American.
Our board is a diverse group of leaders with expansive expertise across criminal justice reform, medical ethics, philanthropy, organizing, digital technologies, reproductive justice, and solidarity movements—all coupled with a deep and abiding understanding of how to leverage the law and local government for civil rights.
They have enabled us to foster a bigger and brighter partner network, refine our model, and deepen our impact across the country. Their many contributions help champion our vision and the possibility for a more just world. Thank you!
Say Hello To The PRP Team!
We’re at a critical place in our country’s history, marked by widespread mistrust in the government and frequent attacks on local democracy—through everything from racist gerrymandering to abortion criminalization.
And to top it all off, we’re gearing up for an election season that will pour gasoline on each one of these fires.
The ground is shaking beneath our civil rights, but we take heart in knowing that as a team, we are uniquely positioned to push back.
Together we’re leveraging our lawyering, training, organizing, and storytelling skills toward our shared vision of liberty, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to do this important work alongside such inspiring teammates.
