The Case for The Redemption Project
Invest in Redemption: A Smart, High-ROI Strategy for Lasting Change
In an era where strategic philanthropy demands both heart and hard returns, The Redemption Project (TRP) offers a compelling opportunity to transform lives while delivering measurable economic value. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pioneering the fight against recidivism, TRP doesn’t just provide second chances, it unlocks human potential with a proven model that yields a remarkable payback period of just 7.3 months on investments. Imagine deploying your major gift to not only heal fractured families and strengthen communities but also generate substantial societal savings through reduced incarceration costs. Your visionary support through transformative major gifts, endowed partnerships, or multi-year commitments, will empower justice-impacted individuals to rebuild, thrive, and contribute. Together, let’s make redemption the rule, not the rarity, while achieving a net positive ROI that benefits everyone.
The Crisis Demanding Action: Billions Lost to a Broken Cycle
Today, over 2.2 million Americans languish in prisons, with more than 600,000 released annually into a world stacked against them. Without sustainable employment, meaningful partnerships, and robust community networks, these individuals confront relentless obstacles: pervasive stigma, scarce opportunities, and inadequate reentry resources. The outcome is a tragic recidivism epidemic, where re-offense rates trap people in perpetual despair, exacting a staggering toll on society, billions in economic losses, shattered families, eroded communities, and squandered talent.
Consider the scale: In Minnesota alone, the Department of Corrections reports a 38% recidivism rate, mirroring national trends that fuel an endless loop of incarceration. Root causes: underdeveloped character, profound isolation, and employment discrimination, perpetuate this crisis, costing taxpayers an average of $64,000 per inmate annually. But here’s the pivot point: Evidence proves that targeted interventions like meaningful employment with livable wages can slash recidivism dramatically, fostering stability, growth, and prosperity. It’s not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic one, ripe for those with capacity like you to disrupt with high-impact funding.
The FACTS - What We Do
Since January 2018, The Redemption Project has been transforming lives through education, partnership, and workforce readiness programs that break the cycle of incarceration and open doors to opportunity.
By the Numbers
264 graduates since 2018.
Less than 10% recidivism (compared to nearly 38% state).
70% employment within 90 days of release.
Key Outcomes
• Less than half the recidivism rate of the State DOC.
• Less than 1/4th the recidivism rate of the Federal BOP.
• 70% of graduates employed within 90 days — creating stability and reducing re-offense.
• Each graduate represents a family restored, a community strengthened, and a taxpayer cost reduced.
The Impact
From incarceration to contribution — every life redeemed reduces recidivism.
Since 2018, The Redemption Project has built pathways from prison to purpose, proving that rehabilitation and responsibility go hand in hand.
This is Why The Redemption Project Is Needed
“As a bullied kid in a small town, I found myself seeking validation and acceptance, which led to bad choices, addiction, and my eventual incarceration … the first of many.
The effects on my children of not having a father for 19 years … addiction, incarceration, and social withdrawal.
I lived with the stigma, shame, and guilt of the life I had lived and the people I had hurt. I had no hope for my future. The Redemption Project saw me for who I was, not for what I had done. For once in my life, I started to believe in myself and had a vision for my future.
Now I am employed, a neighbor, volunteer, active member in my congregation, and an active father. Life has allowed me to pay it forward to help break the cycle for other deserving individuals who just want to be seen.”
“As a young man growing up poor and being made fun of because we did not have some of our basic necessities met led me to a life of selling drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd. This created a destructive path of being placed in and out of facilities for most of my teen years, eventually landing me in prison for 188 months.
The choices I made led to me being away from loved ones and the most important thing in my life, my kids, having to see them grow up from prison visits and pictures as a result of a life of drug addiction for over 25 years.
I had this big weight on my chest when I got sentenced to 188 months in prison. Is this the example that I want to set for my kids and lead them down the same path? That is when TRP showed me that I could change and do something different than selling drugs and be in and out of prison. Through their help, education, and mentor program, I learned that I could change and be a new man in life!!
Now that I have learned these new skills, I have a wonderful job at a plumbing shop, and I can give back to my community through volunteering at church and in my community. I am now making an honest living and no longer have to look over my shoulder as a result. But the best part is seeing my kids grow up and being in their lives.”
– Dave S. – Eulises L.
Quantifiable Impact: A 7.3-Month Payback with Exponential Returns
Our numbers speak volumes. As Jeff Korzenik highlights in his book Untapped Talent, second-chance hiring is strategic genius, yielding loyal workers for businesses and massive savings for society. TRP exemplifies this: Our recidivism rate of less than 10% crushes Minnesota’s 38% benchmark, reducing re-incarcerations and unlocking potential.
Step-by-Step Payback Period (ROI in Months)
Our goal is to quantify how quickly savings from reduced recidivism offset the $11,299 cost per TRP Associate released, based on avoided incarceration expenses. Here’s the ROI breakdown, demonstrating why major donors foundations, corporations and individuals with capacity are rallying behind us:
The Costs Per Associate –Transform a life for $11,299 Administrative $1,200
Your investment is recovered in just 7.3 months through direct savings in incarceration costs. From that point forward, it delivers lifelong net savings, a powerful dividend stream fueled by sustainably lower incarceration rates.
This means your substantial gift doesn’t just fund change, it multiplies value, creating a legacy of efficiency, empathy and transformation.
Your Investment Matters
Every Dollar Invested Transforms a Life — and Saves Taxpayer Money.
Your philanthropy with TRP isn’t charity … it’s a high-yield investment. By tackling root issues like character deficits, isolation, and job barriers, we pave roads to self-reliance. Associates secure felon-friendly employment, minimize recidivism risks, and emerge as vital community contributors. We drive broader changes too by expanding our reach across Minnesota to other prisons, while fortifying our Community Partner network.
Our Bold Vision: Scaling with Your Leadership
With your major support, TRP will accelerate: Expanding to more facilities, enhancing data tracking, and championing fair-chance policies. Envision a redeemed America, families whole, economies vibrant, potential fully realized. As a lean powerhouse, every dollar maximizes impact on education, partnerships, stipends, and services. But increasing our impact requires bold partners like you.
Your investment in The Redemption Project will begin paying forward a powerful dividend equal to your contribution every 7.3 months, fueled by sustainably lower incarceration rates.
From the list below, please consider selecting the amount of impact you want to make and begin transforming lives today! Thank you!
Partner as a Donor: Forge a Legacy of Redemption
We invite you to lead this movement with a gift that catalyzes exponential change. Your tax-deductible contribution directly powers breakthroughs:
• $50: Provides the Lesson Book for one participant in our Virtues for Success class.
• $100: Provides the Lesson Book, Workbook and Employment Readiness Guide for one participant in a Virtues for Success class.
• $250: Provides the financial resources upon release for 1 Associate for personal hygiene items, shoes, and one set of clothing for interviews.
• $500: Provides the financial resources upon release for 2 Associates for personal hygiene items and one set of clothing for a job interview.
• $1,000: Provides 1 transformative Monthly Symposium Dinner, a time of inspiration, connection, and fellowship that changes lives.
• $5,000: Provides 1 Associate with a Senior Partner to walk with them as they transition from incarceration to employment.
To invest:
• Online: Securely give by scanning the QR code or at www.redemptionproject.org/donate via card, PayPal, or donor-advised funds.
• By Check/Wire: Make payable to “The Redemption Project,” mail to:
The Redemption Project Town Square Tower 445 Minnesota Street, Ste. 1500 Saint Paul, MN 55101 952-913-9960 (Contact us for wire details.)
• Custom Partnerships: Email info@redemptionproject.org to explore endowed gifts, corporate matches, or board involvement. Your engagement transforms the trajectories of lives.
Thank you for envisioning a world of second chances. With your major support, we don’t just ignite potential, we build an unstoppable, high-ROI future. Let’s connect to discuss your vision.