Midwest Innocence Project
The Midwest Innocence Project is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that investigates, litigates, and advocates for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, supported by donations, pro bono legal partners, and public awareness events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Midwest Innocence Project does
The Midwest Innocence Project is a Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit organization founded in 2001 that investigates, litigates, and advocates for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals across five Midwestern states: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Its service offering spans legal representation, case investigation, policy advocacy, public education, and post-release support for exonerees rebuilding their lives after wrongful incarceration. The organization explicitly works to expose systemic patterns in the criminal justice system that produce wrongful convictions.
The organization operates with a small nonprofit law office structure of 1-10 staff, supplemented by pro bono legal services from partner law firms. Its core partnership with Lathrop GPM — an Am Law 200 firm with more than 360 attorneys across 13 offices — provides substantive casework capacity, with firm partner Matthew A. Jacober serving as President of the Board of Directors as of February 2025. The organization is a regional affiliate within the broader Innocence Project network, and is supported by celebrity-aligned awareness initiatives (for example, Kim Kardashian's involvement as a producer on related wrongful conviction projects).
MIP's revenue model is donation-driven rather than product-priced. Cash inflows come from individual and organizational contributions, special events such as the annual Faces of Innocence gala at the Midland Theatre, and ancillary merchandise sales through a third-party retailer. Legal services are effectively delivered at no cash cost to clients, with pro bono labor subsidizing casework. Donor engagement, media outreach (email [email protected]), email newsletter subscriptions, and an active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn constitute its primary go-to-market motion. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors and has no parent company or holding structure.
Midwest Innocence Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Midwest Innocence Project
- Legal name
- Midwest Innocence Project
- Website
- https://themip.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Midwest Innocence Project is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 that investigates, litigates, and advocates for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, supported by donations, pro bono legal partners, and public awareness events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Midwest Innocence Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Aid Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry) (BPAIAFAE)
Keywords
Where Midwest Innocence Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Midwest Innocence Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations: Relies on charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and events to fund operations and wrongful conviction case work.
- Pro Bono Legal Services: Partner law firms provide free legal representation through pro bono initiatives, reducing operational costs.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Midwest Innocence Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Midwest Innocence Project is a nonprofit legal organization that investigates, litigates, and advocates for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Its work combines case investigation, post-conviction legal representation, policy advocacy, public education, and post-release reentry support for freed exonerees. Services are provided free of charge to clients and funded through donations, grants, fundraising events, and pro bono legal partnerships.
Product overview
Midwest Innocence Project is a nonprofit legal organization (not a technology company) that provides wrongful conviction investigation and exoneration services. The organization offers case investigation, legal representation, policy advocacy, public education, and post-release support for wrongfully convicted individuals across Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The organization does not operate a software product or technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wrongful Conviction Case Investigation
Companies that use Midwest Innocence Project
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Midwest Innocence Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Midwest Innocence Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lathrop GPMcoreLathrop GPM, an Am Law 200 firm with over 360 attorneys across 13 offices, partners with MIP for pro bono wrongful conviction cases. Partner Matthew A. Jacober serves as Board President. The firm previously helped secure the exoneration of Lamar Johnson after nearly 30 years of wrongful imprisonment.
- Innocence ProjectcoreAffiliated with the national Innocence Project network. Kim Kardashian is noted as a producer for related wrongful conviction awareness projects and is described as leveraging her ongoing work with the Innocence Project to raise awareness around wrongful convictions.
- Kim KardashianminorCelebrity activist who has joined as a producer on projects related to wrongful conviction awareness, leveraging her platform to raise visibility for justice reform efforts.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Midwest Innocence Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Midwest Innocence Project social profiles
Digital presenceMidwest Innocence Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Midwest Innocence Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Midwest Innocence Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Midwest Innocence Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Midwest Innocence Project
What does Midwest Innocence Project do?
The Midwest Innocence Project is a nonprofit legal organization that investigates, litigates, and advocates for the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Its work combines case investigation, post-conviction legal representation, policy advocacy, public education, and post-release reentry support for freed exonerees. Services are provided free of charge to clients and funded through donations, grants, fundraising events, and pro bono legal partnerships.
Is Midwest Innocence Project a public or private company?
Midwest Innocence Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Midwest Innocence Project founded?
Midwest Innocence Project was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Midwest Innocence Project based?
Midwest Innocence Project is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Midwest Innocence Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are pro Bono Legal Services.
Does Midwest Innocence Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Midwest Innocence Project.
What industry is Midwest Innocence Project in?
Midwest Innocence Project's product category is Legal Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAFAE, Community Corrections (Probation, Parole & Reentry). Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8111.