Why did you change your name from “A Territory Resource” (ATR) to “Social Justice Fund NW”?

We found that “A Territory Resource” was tough to explain. (The name ATR was chosen in 1977 to indicate that ATR is a resource for social change organizations across the Northwest Territory states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.) Social Justice Fund NW more quickly and clearly identifies what we do. The name ATR was dear to us, but we think our new name will help us make an even bigger impact in the same region. By the way, Social Justice Fund NW is not the “Northwest” representative of some larger, national social justice fund. We’re the one and only Social Justice Fund – the “Northwest” and “NW” are there to identify our region.

Can I get a tax deduction for my gift to Social Justice Fund?

Yes, you can. Social Justice Fund NW is a public foundation with a 501 (c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service. Social Justice Fund does not give financial, tax, or legal advice, but a staff or board member would be happy to participate in your discussions with your advisors.

What percentage of Social Justice Fund's annual budget goes to administrative expenses?

Recently, Social Justice Fund has averaged spending only about 20% of its expenses on Social Justice Fund administration and other overhead. The rest goes directly to the activist, community-based organizations we support and program-related expenses. For more details see the Financials.

Can I target my gift to a specific organization that Social Justice Fund supports?

Any member of Social Justice Fund who donates at least $1,000 to our General Fund can create a "donor-advised" fund, administered by Social Justice Fund. For such a fund, the donor suggests grants from the fund to any 501(c)(3) organization that does not violate the mission of Social Justice Fund. The Board of Directors makes a final determination as to whether the grant will be made. This is a service provided only to Social Justice Fund members, and we charges a 5% administrative fee to cover the costs of staff time and paperwork. The minimum amount of a grant from a donor-advised fund is $1,000.

What is the best way to give a large gift to Social Justice Fund -- say, over $1,000?

If you can, for tax purposes, give a gift of appreciated stock. Please read the article on this Web site about the tax advantages of donating stock.

How do I sign up to be on a Social Justice Fund committee?

Use our contact form and select "volunteer" from the category list.

For complete information on committees available, see how to get involved.