We Build the Infrastructure for Justice Innovation.
EII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes government, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and community to build a more equitable innovation ecosystem.
A Catalyst for Justice-Centered Innovation
The Equitable Innovation Institute exists to reimagine what justice can look like. We empower communities with education, data, and resources to build a more fair and inclusive future.
From culture-shifting education to transparent research and strategic partnerships, we empower the public to understand, support, and invest in solutions that advance decarceration and community well-being.
Our mission is to spark a movement where justice-impacted people and their ideas have the visibility, resources, and respect they deserve.
An Ecosystem Built on Equity
We envision a world where the innovation ecosystem actively includes and serves the communities most affected by the justice system. Where entrepreneurs from all backgrounds have access to capital, mentorship, and networks. Where research informs policy, and policy creates opportunity.
EII is building the connective tissue between government, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and community — creating a new paradigm for how social impact is funded, built, and scaled.
Born from the Intersection of Justice and Innovation
The Equitable Innovation Institute was founded by Lawrence Williams III, a Howard University graduate and co-founder of The De-Carceration Fund — one of the nation's first venture funds dedicated exclusively to investing in justice-tech companies.
Through his work at The De-Carceration Fund, Lawrence saw firsthand the structural gaps that prevented justice-focused innovation from reaching scale: entrepreneurs couldn't find funding, investors couldn't find vetted deal flow, researchers couldn't reach practitioners, and communities were excluded from the conversation entirely.
EII was created to close those gaps — not as another fund, but as the ecosystem infrastructure that makes the entire justice-innovation space work better. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EII operates as the educational, convening, and research arm that complements The De-Carceration Fund's investment activities.
Together, they represent a comprehensive approach: The De-Carceration Fund deploys capital into justice-tech ventures, while EII builds the pipeline of leaders, the body of research, and the community of stakeholders that make those investments succeed.
What We Stand For
Leadership
Maria Foxhall
Strategic Advisor
Seasoned nonprofit executive and strategic advisor guiding EII's organizational development, stakeholder engagement, and institutional partnerships.
LinkedInLawrence Williams III
Founder & Executive Director
Co-founder and Partner at The De-Carceration Fund. Howard University alum (BBA Finance). Former ecosystem developer for Social Venture Circle and regional head of Strategic Partnerships at KiwiTech.
LinkedInChristopher Bentley
Managing Principal, De-Carceration Fund
General Partner at The De-Carceration Fund, leading fund strategy and portfolio management. Extensive experience in impact investing and justice-tech venture support.
LinkedInJachai May
Finance & Analysis
Finance professional with experience at The De-Carceration Fund. Temple University Fox School of Business graduate specializing in impact investment analysis.
LinkedInProfessional headshots will be updated as they become available.
Join Us in Building a More Equitable Future
Whether you're an investor, entrepreneur, researcher, or community leader — there's a seat at the table for you.