Northwest Workers' Justice Project

What Northwest Workers' Justice Project does

Northwest Workers' Justice Project (NWJP) is a Portland, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal services organization founded in 2002/2003 that provides free direct legal representation, litigation, worker education, organizing support, and policy advocacy on behalf of low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers in Oregon and Washington. Over 23 years the organization has served more than 1,850 workers directly, advised another 5,700, reached 24,500 through Know Your Rights outreach, recovered over $9 million in back wages and damages, and built precedent-setting case law, including an Oregon ruling entitling approximately 6,500 forestry workers to pay for travel time to remote worksites. Its core products and programs are organized as four interconnected vehicles: the Low Wage Worker Legal Network (a 375-member, 135-organization, 30-firm advocate network across 34 states, DC, and Mexico), the Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership (a 2023-launched seven-organization coalition for workers harmed by Oregon's illegal marijuana industry), Safe Jobs Oregon (a statewide worker health and safety coalition affiliated with the National COSH Network), and the Coalition to Stop Wage Theft, all wrapped around direct representation, Know Your Rights education, and policy advocacy work.

NWJP operates a community-led go-to-market model that delivers services through its Portland headquarters (310 SW 4th Ave., Ste. 320), walk-in legal hours at partner offices such as PCUN and Centro de Servicios para Campesinos in Woodburn, and a national training/referral infrastructure via the LWWLN. The organization is led by co-founder Michael Dale (Founder, Executive Director, and Senior Attorney) alongside Director Corinna Spencer-Scheurich and a small bench of staff attorneys, paralegals, and program staff, with a board of directors providing governance. Revenue is generated entirely from individual donations, foundation grants (including Oregon Law Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, and Collins Foundation), and fundraising events such as the annual Celebration of Worker Justice, which draws 130+ attendees and 40+ sponsors at tiers ranging from $250 (Friend of Fairness) to $5,000 (Workplace Warrior). NWJP deliberately refuses federal and state government funding to preserve advocacy independence, instead relying on attorney participation in development activities and selective case-driven attorney-fee recovery where available.

The organization's underlying technology stack is a WordPress-based public website plus an information-oriented Worker Advocate Resources microsite, with no proprietary platform, no public or partner API, and no software product; its competitive position rests on a 23-year track record, community partnerships, specialized legal talent, and a national advocate network rather than on technology assets. Strategic emphasis is on converting litigation and coalition wins into durable regulatory change, as evidenced by the December 2025 Oregon wage theft law and ongoing campaigns on farmworker overtime, heat and smoke protections, immigration-related retaliation, and H-2A/H-2B visa program accountability.

Name

Northwest Workers' Justice Project

Legal name

Northwest Workers' Justice Project

Website

https://nwjp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NWJP is a Portland-based 501(c)(3) legal services nonprofit that provides free direct representation, worker education, and policy advocacy for low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers in Oregon and Washington, anchored by the Low Wage Worker Legal Network, Safe Jobs Oregon, the Coalition to Stop Wage Theft, and the Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workers' Rights Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labor, Worker Rights & Employment Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAH), Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), HR Compliance, Employment Law & Employee Relations Training (EDABAIAE)

Keywords

• Workers rights advocacy
• Legal aid services
• Wage theft recovery
• Immigrant worker rights
• Workplace safety advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: NWJP operates primarily on donations, foundation grants, and charitable contributions. The organization explicitly states it neither seeks nor accepts funds from federal or state government to maintain independence, requiring attorneys to engage in development and fundraising activities.
2. Event Sponsorships: Annual Celebration of Worker Justice events with sponsorship levels ranging from $250 (Friend of Fairness) to $5,000 (Workplace Warrior), providing public acknowledgment and recognition to sponsors.
3. Legal Fee Recovery: While services are provided free to clients, NWJP may recover attorney fees in successful cases. Workers' wage claims and judgments may be collected from employers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Northwest Workers' Justice Project provides free direct legal representation and litigation services for low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers facing wage theft, employment discrimination, workplace safety violations, and retaliation. Beyond individual casework, NWJP runs worker education and outreach (Know Your Rights training) and local, state, and national policy advocacy to strengthen workplace protections, operating four specialty coalitions/programs: Low Wage Worker Legal Network, Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership, Safe Jobs Oregon, and Coalition to Stop Wage Theft. All services are delivered free of charge and funded by donations, foundation grants, and event sponsorships rather than client fees.

Product overview

NWJP is a nonprofit legal services organization that provides a comprehensive suite of services to support low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers. The organization operates through four interconnected programs: the Low Wage Worker Legal Network (free membership for worker advocates), Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership (holistic support for cannabis industry workers), Safe Jobs Oregon (worker safety coalition), and Coalition to Stop Wage Theft. Core services include direct legal representation and litigation, worker education and outreach, and policy advocacy—all working together to build worker power and achieve systemic change. NWJP does not offer a software product; rather, it delivers services through legal casework, coalition-building, legislative advocacy, and community education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership (CWRP): A holistic partnership of seven community-based organizations providing financial assistance, education and outreach, mental health counseling, and legal advice and representation to workers impacted by the illegal marijuana industry in Oregon.
• Safe Jobs Oregon
• Coalition to Stop Wage Theft
• Low Wage Worker Legal Network (LWWLN)

Products and services

• Direct Legal Representation & Litigation Services Direct legal representation and litigation services for individual workers and worker organizations in cases involving wage theft, employment discrimination, workplace health and safety violations, and employer retaliation. Services are provided free of charge to qualifying low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers in Oregon and Washington.
• Worker Education & Outreach Educational programs including Know Your Rights outreach, leadership development training, and worker organizing support designed to empower low-wage, immigrant, and contingent workers with information about their workplace rights.
• Policy Advocacy Local, state, and national policy collaboration to strengthen workplace protections through legislative and administrative changes, including work on farmworker overtime, heat protections, and immigration-related retaliation protections.
• Low Wage Worker Legal Network (LWWLN) Free membership network for low-wage worker advocates that provides training, resources, referral coordination, and joint policy advocacy infrastructure among attorneys and advocates representing low-wage, contingent, and immigrant workers nationwide.
• Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership (CWRP) Holistic partnership providing financial assistance, education and outreach, mental health counseling, and legal advice and representation to workers impacted by the illegal marijuana industry in Oregon.
• Safe Jobs Oregon Statewide coalition made up of unions, worker groups, researchers and others focused on promoting workplace health and safety, advocating for heat and smoke protections, and supporting the right to refuse dangerous work.
• Coalition to Stop Wage Theft Coalition dedicated to ending wage theft in Oregon through legislative advocacy, public education, and enforcement support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $9 million recovered in back wages and damages for workers over 23 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon's farmworker union; NWJP conducts walk-in hours at PCUN offices in Woodburn, collaborates on worker leadership programs including Defensores de Derechos Laborales, and jointly advocates for policy changes such as SB 907 (Right to Refuse Dangerous Work)
• Centro de Servicios para Campesinos (Centro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization serving farmworkers; NWJP conducts walk-in legal hours at Centro offices in Woodburn, providing workers with legal advice and support
• Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership (CWRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative holistic partnership of seven community-based organizations, mental health providers, and legal services organizations addressing the humanitarian crisis created by illegal marijuana industry in Oregon. NWJP helped found and leads this partnership providing financial assistance, education, mental health counseling, and legal services to affected workers
• Oregon Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal aid organization collaborating with NWJP on cannabis worker support, H-2A accountability cases, and farmworker legal services
• Legal Aid Services of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal aid organization partnering with NWJP on farmworker cases, H-2A litigation, and cannabis worker legal services
• UNETE Center for Farm Worker AdvocacymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmworker advocacy organization providing community services as part of the Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership
• Raíces de BienestarmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health provider offering psychological support services as part of the Cannabis Worker Resilience Partnership
• SEIU Local 49majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor union that helped NWJP and janitorial clients understand the abusive nature of franchise contracts in National Maintenance Contractors case
• Radford Scott LLPmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm co-counseling with NWJP on the National Maintenance Contractors janitorial franchise lawsuit
• Pickett Dummigan WeingartmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm co-counseling with NWJP on the National Maintenance Contractors janitorial franchise lawsuit
• Public JusticemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublic interest law firm that assisted NWJP clients on appeal regarding enforceability of arbitration agreement in franchise case
• Low Wage Worker Legal Network (LWWLN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWJP-organized network with 375 members from 135 organizations and 30 private law firms across 34 states, DC, and Mexico. Facilitates joint training, coordinated policy advocacy, and resource sharing for low-wage worker advocates nationwide
• National COSH NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliate network for occupational safety and health. Safe Jobs Oregon is an affiliate member. NWJP participates in COSHCON conferences and has received Worker Safety Champion Award recognition
• Rutgers Workplace Justice LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution collaborating with NWJP and BOLI on strategic enforcement and co-enforcement models for labor agencies
• Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industry (BOLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState labor agency working with NWJP on strategic enforcement teams focused on janitorial, construction, farm, and care industry workers. NWJP helps BOLI improve services to immigrant and low-wage worker communities through co-enforcement models
• Alianza PodermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating with NWJP on centering worker voices and building collective power for economic justice

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Legal Aid Services of Oregon: Oregon's primary publicly-funded legal aid organization; collaborates with NWJP on farmworker and H-2A cases. Comparable nonprofit legal services model serving low-income workers in the same geography.
• Public Justice: National public interest law firm that litigates precedent-setting cases for workers' rights; assisted NWJP on appeal in the National Maintenance Contractors franchise case. Directly comparable mission and litigation strategy.
• Oregon Law Center: Statewide legal aid law firm in Oregon that co-counsels with NWJP on cannabis worker support, H-2A accountability, and farmworker cases. Directly comparable nonprofit public interest law firm.
• Centro de los Derechos del Migrante: National nonprofit that advocates for the rights of migrant workers, particularly H-2A/H-2B visa holders. Directly comparable mission serving overlapping populations of immigrant temporary workers.
• Farmworker Justice: National nonprofit that litigates and advocates on behalf of farmworkers on wages, immigration, and workplace conditions. Directly comparable mission focused on the same farmworker population NWJP serves in Oregon.
• Migrant Legal Action Program: National nonprofit legal services and policy organization dedicated to advancing migrant and seasonal farmworker rights. Directly comparable mission and farmworker legal services focus.

Others

• PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste): Oregon farmworker union and NWJP core strategic partner. Not a direct competitor but the strongest community-led referral and organizing partner for NWJP's farmworker clients.

Broad incumbents

• National Workers Law Center: National legal advocacy organization focused on workplace justice, civil rights, and economic security for low-wage workers. Comparable in advocacy scope and use of impact litigation, with broader national policy footprint.
• National Employment Law Project (NELP): National advocacy organization for low-wage and unemployed workers; engages in policy advocacy and litigation on employment standards. Comparable in mission and advocacy posture, with broader national scope.

Regional players

• Workers' Rights Law Center of New York: New York-based nonprofit that provides free legal services to low-wage immigrant workers. Comparable mission and nonprofit legal services model, serving a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Worker_Justice
• Facebookfacebook.com/WorkersJustice
• Instagraminstagram.com/WORKER_JUSTICE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwest-workers-justice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northwest Workers' Justice Project