The Pershing Square Foundation, an organization that is committed to making substantial changes in economic development, human rights, healthcare, education, urban development and the arts, recently announced that it's granting the Innocence Project $1 million.

The Innocence Project, which was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld, has been exonerating wrongfully convicted prisoners with DNA testing since it was established. It's efforts recently allowed Randolph Arledge to walk free from a courtroom for a crime that was committed more than 30 years ago. DNA evidence that was tested matched another man convicted of committing crimes.  

"Wrongful convictions are shameful to our country and to my own sense of justice," said Bill Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management. "Using DNA testing to overturn wrongful convictions, the Innocence Project has helped to identify fundamental flaws in the criminal justice system."

This grant will support the project's current work, but also bolster its efforts to enact changes in social justice that will have long-lasting impacts on both the state and federal levels. 

Individuals, programs and organizations that rely on fundraising to fuel sustainable operations might find nonprofit fundraising software advantageous. The solutions can facilitate the process of identifying grant opportunities, generate reports that demonstrate current financial need and showcase previous achievements.