July 10, 2026

A Letter From The Executive Director

To Our Supporters,

You’re receiving this message because you’ve shown up for MIP already. You donate, raise awareness, volunteer, and advocate for our cause.

Some of you may have heard about the financial challenges facing the Midwest Innocence Project, and I want you to hear directly from me about what it means and where things stand. You will likely receive additional messages from our team as we work to reach all of you, build momentum, keep you informed, and make MIP stronger.

This organization has spent 25 years standing with people who were wrongly convicted, but we have so much more to do. We’re in an active fundraising campaign right now, working to raise the resources we need to carry this mission through the rest of the year and beyond.

Behind the scenes, our team has been building out a deliberate plan for sustainable funding. That includes a $50,000 matching gift boosting every dollar given through August 1st, staff and board outreach to donors, a structured appeal reaching people who’ve supported us in the past (which may be you), and new avenues, too.

This plan is built on active, coordinated work, not a wait-and-see approach.

However, the path forward does come with uncertainty, and I want to be honest with you about that. What I can tell you is that the uncertainty is being met with our full effort. This organization is too important to the individuals and families who depend on it to do anything less.

Right now, our $50,000 match means your gift goes twice as far. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to give, this is it.

To make 2027 a reality for MIP, we are asking you to join us in taking action.

Give before August 1st and double your impact: www.themip.org/donate

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I’m happy to walk you through our plan in more detail if you’re interested.

Thank you for carrying this important work forward,

In Service,

Tahir Atwater
Executive Director, Midwest Innocence Project
tatwater@themip.org
(816) 325-3248