Investigative Project on Race and Equity

What Investigative Project on Race and Equity does

The Investigative Project on Race and Equity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investigative newsroom founded in 2022 and headquartered at 140 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 720, Chicago, Illinois, with a stated mission of uncovering systemic racial and economic disparities through data-driven journalism. The organization produces fact-based investigative reporting centered on issues including tax foreclosure, traffic stops, immigration enforcement, and federal agents' use of chemical weapons, primarily across Illinois and the Chicago metropolitan area. Core products are organized as a portfolio: Data-Driven Investigations, Collaborative Reporting with regional newsrooms, a Journalism Training workshop series, an Apprenticeship Program, the FOIA Fest Boot Camp (co-organized with the Chicago Headline Club), and a Newsletter distributed via Mailchimp. The technology backbone is a Squarespace-hosted website; no proprietary platforms, APIs, or AI tooling are evident.

The organization's business model is that of a charitable nonprofit newsroom, with revenue sourced from individual donations and a diverse roster of foundation grants. Named funders include MacArthur Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Driehaus Foundation, Field Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Glen Nelson Center, Howard S. Dubin Family Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, Press Forward, Angell Foundation, FIJ, Local Media Association, Square One Foundation, and Chicago Headline Club Foundation. It leverages a heavily collaborative distribution model, co-publishing investigations with Chicago-area outlets (WBEZ, Block Club Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, Injustice Watch, South Side Weekly, Invisible Institute, The TRiiBE, Cicero Independiente, Borderless Magazine, Capital B News, MindSite News) and serving four primary customer segments: regional newsrooms, journalists and journalism students, the general public in affected communities, and foundations/philanthropic donors. The organization is INN Network Member-certified, holds a Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency, and has been credentialed with journalists whose training alumni include reporters placed at ProPublica Illinois, The Marshall Project, and WBEZ.

Name

Investigative Project on Race and Equity

Legal name

Investigative Project on Race and Equity NFP

Website

https://raceandequityproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Investigative Project on Race and Equity is a Chicago-based nonprofit investigative newsroom producing data-driven accountability journalism on systemic racial and economic disparities in Illinois, while training aspiring journalists from marginalized communities through apprenticeships and FOIA training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investigative Journalism

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (513110), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC), Equity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Reporting (Disparities, Access, Outcomes) (EDADAIAH)

Keywords

• Investigative journalism
• Nonprofit newsroom
• Race equity reporting
• Journalism training
• FOIA transparency

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts public donations through its website, positioning itself as a nonprofit newsroom that relies on reader support to fund its investigative journalism and training programs.
2. Foundation Grants: The organization receives grant funding from philanthropic foundations including MacArthur Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Driehaus Foundation, Field Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Glen Nelson Center, Howard S Dubin Family Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, and others that support investigative journalism and journalism training initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Investigative Project on Race and Equity is a Chicago-based nonprofit investigative newsroom that produces data-driven, fact-based reporting on systemic racial and economic disparities in Illinois and the Chicago region, co-published with regional partner newsrooms. Beyond publishing, the organization operates a journalism training pipeline including workshops, an apprenticeship program, and the FOIA Fest Boot Camp, designed to equip aspiring and practicing journalists with investigative, FOIA, visual literacy, and archival research skills. Core activities are funded through foundation grants and individual donations, with all investigative and training content made publicly available.

Product overview

Investigative Project on Race and Equity operates as a nonprofit investigative newsroom offering a portfolio of interconnected journalism products and training services. The core offerings include Data-Driven Investigations and Collaborative Reporting for producing accountability journalism on racial and economic disparities, supported by a suite of training programs including Journalism Training, an Apprenticeship Program, and the FOIA Fest Boot Camp. The Training Hub serves as a centralized resource for investigative skills while the Newsletter provides ongoing updates. Together, these products form a pipeline approach: training aspiring journalists who contribute to investigations, which in turn generate impactful reporting through collaborative partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data-Driven Investigations Fact-based, data-driven investigative reporting that uncovers systemic racial and economic disparities in Illinois and the Chicago region, distributed through the organization's website and co-published with regional newsroom partners.
• Collaborative Reporting Partnership journalism working with Chicago-area media outlets to support major investigations on race and equity issues in the region and across Illinois, including collaborations with WBEZ, Block Club Chicago, Injustice Watch, South Side Weekly, and others.
• Journalism Training Investigative workshop series that helps journalists develop investigative skills, including FOIA training, visual literacy, image verification, and archival research methods, delivered virtually and in-person with mentors from ProPublica, South Side Weekly, and other outlets.
• Apprenticeship Program Program providing aspiring investigative reporters with hands-on reporting experience coupled with a training series and mentorship from experienced journalists, including placements with Northwestern University Medill School journalism externs.
• FOIA Fest Boot Camp Training program for Chicago-based reporters from marginalized communities to navigate accountability journalism from story-idea to publishing, with specialized FOIA training sessions and mentoring, co-organized with the Chicago Headline Club (SPJ).
• Training Hub Centralized resource for journalism training materials covering verification, FOIA requests, visual literacy, historical research, and other investigative skills, maintained as a public training resource for journalists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Federal judges ruled in immigrants' favor 94% of the time (94 out of 178 immigration habeas cases reviewed)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Injustice WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary investigative partner on major investigations including tax foreclosure reporting and immigration detention coverage. The two organizations co-produce investigative series and share reporting resources on systemic racial and economic disparities in Illinois.
• Chicago Headline Club (SPJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists; co-organizes FOIA Fest annual conference and the Boot Camp program for journalists from marginalized communities. Senior investigative reporters from Injustice Watch and Invisible Institute launched the program together with the organization.
• Block Club ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner newsroom in the multi-outlet investigation on federal agents using chemical weapons in Chicago. Block Club Chicago sued ICE in federal court over immigration arrest records related to the same coverage.
• WBEZ ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary radio and media partner on the 'Profiled: The State of Traffic Stops in Illinois' investigative series, published in partnership with WBEZ. WBEZ reporter Sarah Karp also mentors FOIA Fest Boot Camp participants.
• Chicago Sun-TimescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Chicago police traffic stops investigations including coverage of the Dexter Reed shooting and analysis of force data during traffic stops. Report for America corps member Mariah Rush covers South and West sides for the Sun-Times.
• South Side WeeklycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in investigation on federal agents using chemical weapons; led FOIA training sessions for the Investigative Project. Investigations editor Jim Daley provided training on immigration enforcement FOIA strategies.
• Invisible InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal agents investigation; senior investigative reporter María Inés Zamudio co-launched the FOIA Fest Boot Camp program. Focus on accountability journalism and civil rights reporting.
• The TRiiBEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in multi-outlet investigation on federal agents using chemical weapons in Chicago.
• Cicero IndependienteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in federal immigration enforcement reporting and investigation on federal agents using chemical weapons in Cicero and Chicago.
• Borderless MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner; participated in the collaborative tip line for reporting on federal agents' use of force.
• Capital B NewsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit news outlet focused on Black communities; listed as a partner organization.
• MindSite NewsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on mental health and trauma reporting; co-published story on traffic stops and police killings causing community trauma with WBEZ.
• Northwestern University Medill School of JournalismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner; Press Forward Chicago's Peer Learning Community is an initiative in partnership with Northwestern's Medill School; journalism externs and graduate students participate in the organization's reporting.
• Institute for Nonprofit News (INN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork membership organization for nonprofit newsrooms; Investigative Project is an INN Network Member.
• Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional journalism organization listed as a partner supporting the investigative journalism ecosystem.
• Solutions Journalism NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partner focused on solutions-oriented journalism; listed among organizational partners.
• Report for AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program placing journalists in local newsrooms; Report for America corps member Mariah Rush covers South and West sides for partner Chicago Sun-Times.
• Loevy & LoevyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChicago law firm representing newsrooms in public records litigation; referenced in FOIA training as the firm to contact for appeals against city agencies that stall on FOIA requests.
• Eviction LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrinceton University research organization focused on eviction data; listed as a partner supporting the organization's housing and equity reporting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Invisible Institute: Chicago nonprofit producing long-form investigative and accountability journalism on policing, incarceration, and civil rights; co-launch partner of the FOIA Fest Boot Camp and a peer outlet on the same beat and funding model.
• Block Club Chicago: Chicago nonprofit newsroom focused on neighborhood-level reporting; listed as a core collaborative partner on the federal agents chemical weapons investigation and on immigration enforcement reporting.
• Type Investigations: Nonprofit investigative newsroom producing long-form, accountability-driven journalism; comparable on nonprofit model, investigative beat, and reliance on foundation grants.
• Injustice Watch: Chicago-based nonprofit investigative newsroom covering criminal justice and civil rights; the Investigative Project's primary investigative partner on tax foreclosure and immigration detention reporting, operating on the same nonprofit, grant-funded model.
• The Marshall Project: National nonprofit investigative newsroom focused on criminal justice; comparable on nonprofit investigative journalism model and a source of mentors for the FOIA Fest Boot Camp.

Broad incumbents

• ProPublica: National nonprofit investigative newsroom and the largest in the category; provides mentor journalists to the Investigative Project and serves as a broader-incumbent reference point for the same nonprofit investigative model.

Emerging players

• The TRiiBE: Chicago-based digital media outlet focused on Black culture and accountability; partner in the federal agents chemical weapons investigation and a peer on the same local, equity-focused beat.
• MindSite News: Nonprofit news outlet covering mental health and trauma; co-publisher with the Investigative Project on traffic stops and police killings, with a comparable nonprofit, foundation-funded operating model.
• Borderless Magazine: Chicago-based nonprofit newsroom reporting on immigrant communities; co-participant in the federal agents investigation, comparable on nonprofit, grant-funded, equity-focused reporting model.
• Capital B News: National nonprofit news outlet serving Black communities; partner organization of the Investigative Project and a direct adjacent model covering race and equity through nonprofit investigative reporting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investigative-project-on-race-and-equity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Investigative Project on Race and Equity