Police brutality not only destroys lives but also erodes trust in law enforcement. An estimated 250,000 Americans are injured by law enforcement annually, and over 600 people are killed. Despite several high-profile cases of police brutality, change has been slow to fix the system that enables excessive force and shields officers suspected of abuse. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities that combat police brutality?

The best charities that combat police brutality are the Center for Policing Equity, the ACLU, and LEAP. Other charities like The Marshall Project provide vital reporting on law enforcement misconduct, while the NAACP seeks to end race-based police violence.

Whether you want to support litigation against police misconduct, legislative advocacy to increase police oversight, or the protection of individuals in police custody, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that combat police brutality are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Combat Police Brutality Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their sustained efforts to combat police brutality, their open transparency, and their commitment to healing the relationship between police and their communities.

Many of their operations and goals grow more ambitious every year as the issue of police brutality continues to injure and kill innocent Americans.

These charities may combat police brutality in different ways—from conducting research and spurring discussion to seeking justice for people who have been victimized by the criminal justice system.

Yet, they all work toward a common goal: to fix the major inequities present in policing and to hold those accountable who have caused harm from behind their badge.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Combat Police Brutality in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that combat police brutality (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Combat Police Brutality

Center for Policing Equity

ACLU

Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP)

The Marshall Project

NAACP

Mothers Against Police Brutality

National Police Accountability Project

National Urban League

Dignity and Power Now

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Center for Policing Equity: Data Science for Justice

The Center for Policing Equity was founded in 2008 by Dr. Phillip Solomon and former Denver Police Division Chief Tracie Keesee to bring together researchers and police officials to improve inclusion and equity both within police departments and the communities they serve. Today, they conduct research, craft policies, and work directly with police departments across the country to improve equity.

The Center for Policing Equity holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% transparency rating. They also hold a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“We do science to promote justice.”

Center for Policing Equity

The Center for Policing Equity publishes peer-reviewed research on racial equity, works with communities to implement new public safety policies, and manages the National Justice Database to track national statistics on police behavior and encourage police departments to adopt data-driven reforms. They also utilize data to identify and reduce racial disparities in policing through their COMPSTAT for Justice program. This program connects government, law enforcement, and community officials to understand the systemic causes of racism in police interactions, and how data can be used to identify solutions. 

Since their founding, the Center for Policing Equity has partnered with 60 law enforcement agencies across 30 states, serving over 85 million people. Furthermore, police departments that have partnered with them have all adopted at least 1 recommended policy (such as bans on no-knock warrants, neck and carotid restraints, and tear gas). 

You can donate directly to The Center for Policing Equity via their website. You can also sign up as a Justice Nerd to stay up-to-date with their latest research and events. 

ACLU: Defend the Rights of All People Nationwide

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) was founded in 1920 by Roger Baldwin to fight for the protection of Americans’ fundamental civil rights that are outlined in the Constitution. They have grown over the years to encompass over 1.7 million members with offices all across the nation fighting to prevent government abuses such as voting restrictions and police brutality. 

The ACLU holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and an A Grade from Charity Watch. 

“We work to stop the erosion of civil liberties before it’s too late.”

ACLU

The ACLU fights to prevent police brutality by advocating in courts and legislatures for policies that remove officers who use excessive force and prevent future violence by improving police training and oversight. For example, they have filed lawsuits on behalf of individuals and their families who have been hurt by police violence in Louisiana and also published a report analyzing the rise in police shootings during the COVID-19 pandemic with recommendations on how to reverse the rising trend. Other policies they advocate for include the demilitarization of police departments, and hiring mental-health professionals as first responders for mental health crises. 

Since their inception, the ACLU has produced research and reports exploring racial bias in policing, prosecutorial practices that shield violent cops, militarization of the police, and police department corruption that leads to unfair policing practices. When possible, they have also filed lawsuits directly against corrupt police departments and even correctional facilities to help protect the rights of prisoners as well.

You can donate directly to the ACLU via their website. You can also sign up to place calls on behalf of the ACLU.

Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP): Advancing Justice and Public Safety Solutions

The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, or LEAP, was founded in 2002 by 5 police officers to advocate for more practical and equitable drug policies. Today, LEAP has over 300 criminal justice professionals who speak and advise on police-community relations, harm reduction, and drug policies from the perspective of those who have worked on the front lines of criminal justice.

LEAP holds a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. They also hold a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator with an 88% transparency rating.

“We advance local, state, and federal solutions that focus law enforcement resources on the most serious threats to public safety, reduce our reliance on incarceration, and heal police-community relations.”

Law Enforcement Action Partnership

LEAP advocates for police reform by sending experts in criminal justice to advise state and local law enforcement agencies, testifying at Congressional hearings, being interviewed for reports and documentaries, and speaking at events for groups that share the mission of creating more equitable policing. One of their largest programs is the Community Responder Model which seeks to educate and advise police departments on how to reduce their community footprint to increase trust, and also how to establish 9-1-1 call procedures that ensure the right kind of first responder is sent to every emergency call.

Since their founding, LEAP speakers have been featured in many media outlets such as NBC News, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and The New York Times. They have also testified in public hearings against outdated policing policies and in favor of reforms to increase diversity in police departments.

You can donate directly to LEAP via their website. 

The Marshall Project: Nonprofit Journalism About Criminal Justice

The Marshall Project was founded in 2015 by Neil Barsky to provide non-profit, non-partisan reporting on America’s criminal justice system. They operate exclusively on donations and do not limit article access in any way. Today, they have a staff of 54 and publish articles exposing corruption and injustices in detention facilities, courts, and police departments. 

The Marshall Project holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system.”

The Marshall Project

The Marshall Project is solely focused on providing non-partisan, non-profit journalism centered on the criminal justice system to spur change. For example, their reporting has covered unconstitutional police tactics in Memphis, TN, abuse of victim’s privacy laws to shield officers suspected of excessive force, the pace of police reforms in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and prison issues such as solitary confinement and the death penalty. 

The Marshall Project was recognized for its journalistic excellence in 2023 by the Online News Association with the General Excellence award in part for their coverage of New York prison guards and their “Inside Story” video series. They also partnered with Frontline in 2023 to produce the two short documentaries (“Two Strikes” and “Tutweiler”) that showed what life is like behind bars for America’s prisoners. 

You can donate directly to The Marshall Project via their website to support their independent journalism. 

NAACP: Leading the Fight to End Racial Inequality

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) was founded in 1909 by Moorfield Storey to fight to ensure political and educational equality for African Americans. They have been a major advocate for racial equality in all areas of life, especially in interactions with police. Today, they are one of the oldest and largest civil rights groups in the country with over 2.2 million activists nationwide.

The NAACP holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% transparency rating. They also earn a B+ rating from Charity Watch.

“We advocate, agitate, and litigate for the civil rights due to Black America.”

NAACP

The NAACP primarily supports their numerous local chapters in their fight to monitor, report, and address racial injustice through protest and by pressuring existing systems to enact policies that promote racial equality. They often draft resolutions that can be signed by the public to voice demands to elected officials, such as banning qualified immunity for police officers and mandating the collection of data from police encounters. Chapter-level activities include protest marches, direct action campaigns, and rallies to advocate for racial equality at the state and national levels. 

Since their inception, the NAACP has published 12 resolutions against police brutality which outline the evident problems in policing interactions, as well as recommendations on how to fix them. Their resolutions have also included statements condemning police departments that have been shown to have undermined the rights of minorities. Their events still garner national attention as well. For example, in 2023, they marched on the Capitol on the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s own famous march.

You can donate directly to the NAACP via their website. You can also sign up to join a local NAACP chapter to advocate against police brutality directly. 

Mothers Against Police Brutality: Justice for Victims of Police Brutality 

Mothers Against Police Brutality was founded in Dallas, TX, in 2013 by Collette Flanagan after the police killing of her son, seeking to fight for transparency from the department that caused her son’s death. It quickly grew to become a national organization advocating on behalf of all families who have lost loved ones to police violence. 

Mothers Against Police Brutality holds a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator. 

“We must summon the courage to challenge existing laws and practices that leave our families vulnerable to police brutality and official murder.”

Mothers Against Police Brutality 

Mothers Against Police Brutality members speak at events and work with human rights organizations to raise awareness and advocate for police accountability for violence against African Americans. They also use their platform to amplify the voices of families who have lost family members to police violence. For example, they work with the UN Office for Human Rights to pursue research and investigations into incidents of police violence in America. They also work with victims of police violence to both spread their stories and collect data on police violence that can be used to help decrease it. 

Since their inception, Mothers Against Police Brutality has succeeded in building awareness for police killings through campaigns such as the 2023 “Say Their Names” billboard campaign that placed billboards across 10 cities. They have also responded to highly publicized police killings by offering analyses of the interactions and hosting community events to encourage and educate citizens to speak up via protest. 

You can donate directly to Mothers Against Police Brutality via their website. You can also volunteer to help with event planning or social media posts.

National Police Accountability Project: Holding Law Enforcement Accountable

The National Police Accountability Project was founded in 1999 as a non-profit extension of the National Lawyers Guild focused on protecting the civil rights of individuals victimized by police or detention facility personnel. Today, they are legislative advocates for policies that seek to hold officers accountable and heal the wounds of police brutality. 

The National Police Accountability Project holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, including a 92% transparency rating.

“With hundreds of members and growing, we continue to effect change in the flawed legal system and fight to put an end to police brutality of all forms.”

National Police Accountability Project

The National Policing Accountability Project writes amicus briefs and advocates for legislation that helps to hold police accountable and fight all forms of police brutality. For example, their published white papers are an educational resource used by the public and policymakers to gain context around key issue areas as well as teach people how to implement solutions in local communities. The issues covered include ending qualified immunity for officers, explicit bias in policing, use of force, and department transparency. 

Since their inception, the National Policing Accountability Project has written amicus briefs in 35 different cases including challenges to qualified immunity and lawsuits against police departments and officers who have caused harm. They have also expanded to create the Co-Counsel program that supports NPAP members who are actively challenging law enforcement misconduct.

You can donate directly to the National Policing Accountability Project via their website.

National Urban League: Empowering Communities and Saving Lives

The National Urban League was founded in 1910 in New York City to fight for economic empowerment and equality for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. Today, they have expanded to serve over 300 communities with programs that mobilize communities to stand up against police brutality and demand changes in police policies.

The National Urban League holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% transparency rating. They also hold a Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“To help African-Americans and others in underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights”

National Urban League

The National Urban League combats police brutality by advocating for bold changes to redefine policing methods and supporting community leaders who implement their recommendations. For example, they tour with their “21 Pillars” Tour that encourages changes to policing such as ending broken window policing, empowering police accountability through courts, improving police transparency, and improving police hiring practices. They also support anti-police brutality measures introduced by political leaders such as the Biden Administration’s 2022 executive order on policing that reflects the same themes as the 21 Pillars program. 

To date, the National Urban League has grown to encompass 90 affiliates across 37 states offering direct assistance and building social programs to help those in underserved communities. Along with their publication of the “21 Pillars” for redefining policing in America, they have also expanded their social programs, resulting in 8.3 million people receiving health services, and 246 thousand people placed in new jobs.

You can donate directly to the National Urban League via their website. 

Dignity and Power Now: Ending State Violence

Dignity and Power Now was founded in 2012 to fight for humane treatment for America’s incarcerated population and to help former prisoners and their families heal from the damage of mass incarceration and violence at the hands of detention staff. Today, they run programs to ensure civilian oversight of detention facilities and sheriff’s departments, and to seek justice for people who have been harmed by sheriff violence while in custody. 

Dignity and Power Now holds a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. They also hold a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator. 

“Building power and dignity for all incarcerated people, their loved ones, and communities.”

Dignity and Power Now

Dignity and Power Now offers financial and legal assistance for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families, while also advocating for policies that ensure oversight of penal facilities to prevent sheriff violence and inhumane treatment. For example, the Mutual Aid Fund provides direct financial aid to prison-impacted community members to uplift them, and the DPN Legal Support Program supports communities in seeking class-action lawsuits against prisons or prison staff that have caused personal injury. 

Since their inception, Dignity and Power Now has helped over 1,800 formerly incarcerated individuals with direct aid via their Mutual Aid Fund. They have also established community oversight commissions, such as the LA County COC, which allows for an unlimited number of complaints to be filed against the sheriff’s department as well as for sheriffs to be subpoenaed by the commission to investigate their conduct. 

You can donate directly to Dignity and Power Now via their website.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that combat police brutality. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help—each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to combating police brutality—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities—and what we can do about it:

Sources

• UIC School of Public Health: Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project
• The Marshall Project: “How Policing Has – and Hasn’t – Change Since George Floyd”
• Center for Policing Equity
• Charity Navigator: Policing Equity
• GuideStar: Policing Equity
• Center for Policing Equity: COMPSTAT for Justice
• Center for Policing Equity: Annual Report 2021
• Center for Policing Equity: Our Impact
• Center for Policing Equity: Donate
• Center for Policing Equity: Join Us
• ACLU.org
• Britannica: American Civil Liberties Union
• GuideStar: ACLU
• Charity Navigator: American Civil Liberties Union
• Charity Watch: American Civil Liberties Union
• ACLU: Challenging Police Brutality in Louisiana
• ACLU: The Other Epidemic
• ACLU: Police Militarization
• ACLU: 911: Reimaging a System that Defaults to Dispatching Police
• ACLU: Why Prosecutors Keep Letting Police Get Away With Murder
• ACLU: Police Corruption
• ACLU: “ACLU of Louisiana’s Justice Lab Sues City of Eunice, Police Chief After Whistleblower Exposes Corruption Within Police Department”
• ACLU: Rosas v Luna
• ACLU: Donate
• ACLU: Volunteer Teams
• Law Enforcement Action Partnership
• LEAP: Who We Are
• GuideStar: Law Enforcement Action Partnership
• Charity Navigator: LEAP
• LEAP: Speakers
• LEAP: Press Kit 2023
• LEAP: The Community Responder Model
• LEAP: As seen in
• LEAP: Donate
• The Marshall Project
• The Marshall Project: “The Marshall Project Founder Neil Barsky to Step Down as Board Chair”
• Charity Navigator: The Marshall Project
• GuideStar: The Marshall Project
• The Marshall Project: “What Federal Judges’ Rulings Reveal About the Memphis Police Tactics”
• The Marshall Project: “When Police Kill and Use Victims’ Rights Laws to Stay Anonymous”
• The Marshall Project: “Ending the Golden State Era of Solitary Confinement”
• The Marshall Project: “Highlights From Our Death Penalty Discussion”
• The Marshall Project: “The Marshall Project Wins Two Online Journalism Awards”
• The Marshall Project: “THE MARSHALL PROJECT AND FRONTLINE PRESENT ‘TWO STRIKES’ AND ‘TUTWILER’”
• The Marshall Project: Donate
• NAACP
• NAACP: Our Work
• Charity Navigator: NAACP
• Charity Watch: NAACP
• NAACP: Demand Uniformed Police Reform
• NAACP: Become a Member
• NAACP: Police Brutality Against African Americans and Other Minorities
• NAACP: “NAACP President and CEO Reacts to DOJ Findings of Civil Rights Violations by Minneapolis Police Department”
• NAACP: March on Washington 60th Anniversary
• NAACP: Donate
• Mothers Against Police Brutality
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: About Our Founder
• Charity Navigator: Mothers Against Police Brutality
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: Victims of Police Brutality
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: We Remember Press Release
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: MAPB Analysis of the assault on Tyre Nichols
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: Mass Resistance Training: Defund DP
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: Press Releases
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: Volunteer
• National Police Accountability Project
• NPAP: About NPAP Justice
• Charity Navigator: National Police Accountability Project
• NPAP: White Papers
• NPAP: White Papers – Qualified Immunity
• NPAP: White Papers – Explicit Bias in Policing
• NPAP: White Papers – Use of Force
• NPAP: White Papers – Transparency
• NPAP: Amicus Briefs
• NPAP: Co-counsel Program
• NPAP: Donate
• National Urban League
• NUL: Mission and History
• Charity Navigator: National Urban League
• GuideStar: National Urban League
• NUL: Police Reform
• NUL: Quick Facts
• NUL: Donate
• Dignity and Power Now
• Dignity and Power Now: About Us
• GuideStar: Dignity and Power Now
• Charity Navigator: Dignity and Power Now
• Dignity and Power Now: Mutual Aid Fund
• Dignity and Power Now: Legal Support Program
• Dignity and Power Now: 2022 Mutual Aid Impact Report
• Dignity and Power Now: Coalition
• Dignity and Power Now: Donate