OIP Forward will be directed by a board which includes supporters of the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP). The purpose of OIP Forward is to receive donations as a 501(c)(3) organization to fund projects which advance aspects of the mission of OIP that are projects not eligible to be funded by other donations to OIP.
OIP Forward needs to establish a 501(c)(3) organization to receive tax-deductible donations and use those funds for other charitable purposes.
For example, the Mayerson Foundation has offered to donate $20,000 in each of two years to make a grant to an OIP employee who is a social worker. The Mayerson Foundation funds will be used to make a grant to the social worker to carry out projects designing systems and resources to improve support of OIP’s clients. However, the donation will not be used to pay for individual client needs provided by the Post-release Support Project. OIP has no objection to the social worker receiving this grant in addition to the compensation UC pays the social worker to perform the work described for that position.
OIP Forward supporters anticipate that other charitable donations to advance OIP’s mission with similar purposes will occur.