Getting Out By Going In (GOGI)
 | |
| Abbreviation | GOGI |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Mara Taylor |
| Type | 501(c)(3) nonprofit |
| 20-3264893 | |
| Focus | Rehabilitation, self-leadership, decision-making education |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
| Website | https://gettingoutbygoingin.org/ |
Getting Out by Going In (commonly abbreviated GOGI) is based in the United States which promotes open-source use of the GOGI Life Tools, and offers specialized rehabilitative programming specific to settings of rehabilitation, detention, and incarceration. Courses of study and leadership certifications focus on self-efficacy, peer-mentorship, and community leadership skills. The organization teaches decision-making methodologies and distributes workbooks and tools intended to support rehabilitation and positive life change.
History
Getting Out by Going In was founded in Los Angeles, California, by GOGI Coach Mara Taylor in the early 2000s. The organization began and remains volunteer-driven with a focus on offering open-source ways for organizations and individuals to integrate use of the GOGI Life Tools into their daily decisions. Public nonprofit data indicate that GOGI was registered as a 501(c)(3) organization under the EIN 20-3264893, with incorporation around 2006.[1]
Programs
GOGI's curricula vary, with modifications created to address specific populations and restrictive settings such as individuals who are not able to study with others in a classroom-like setting. Created for solo, peer-facilitated, small group, or large audiences, the GOGI curricula can be adjusted to fit the learning environment and population.
All curricula center on the GOGI Life Tools which are simplified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based modalities for inspiring change. GOGI Life Tools are developed as best practices in the treatment of a wide variety of populations including the incarcerated and mental health populations.
The organization delivers its material via:
- **Correspondence courses** — self-paced workbook modules mailed to participants in correctional settings.[2]
- **Community coaching and peer facilitation** — participants may become certified “GOGI Coaches” and lead small groups.
- **Institutional workshops and classroom sessions** — in collaboration with correctional institutions and rehabilitation centers.
- **Open-source online resources** — free downloadable materials, allowing institutions and individuals to adopt the Life Tools independently.[3]
GOGI's formal programming options have been adopted by more than 26,000 prisoners who have completed more than 56,000 correspondence courses since data collection began in 2016. GOGI is recognized as a formal program within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), where prisons offer weekly meetings for GOGI students and rehabilitative credits for attendance. GOGI curricula have also been studied by more than 100,000 prisoners across the United States through institutions offering tablet-based learning programs.[4]
Volunteer Structure
GOGI operates as a fully volunteer-run nonprofit. The organization reports no paid employees, relying on correspondence volunteers, coaches, and formerly incarcerated facilitators to support thousands of program participants.[5] Volunteers manage incoming student mail, distribute learning materials, and coordinate classroom-based programs with correctional administrators.
Financials
According to public filings, GOGI reported approximately US$338,000 in revenue and US$280,000 in expenses in 2024.[6] The organization’s activities are primarily funded by public donations and the sale of workbooks and journals through its website.
Impact and Reach
GOGI began collecting data in 2016, documenting completion of its softbound workbook courses. Funded primarily through an innovative grant program of the CDCR, GOGI provided formal programming materials to incarcerated individuals held in each of the 36 CDCR prisons throughout California. More than 25,000 prisoners completed over 50,000 formal GOGI courses from 2016 to 2024. More than 280 of those prisoners earned formal “Certified GOGI Community Coach” status and, of the 80 released coaches, only one has been rearrested for a non-violent crime of drug use.
GOGI has declined the option of external scientific studies of its program, focusing instead on cultivating a culture- and community-based initiative driven by participants and volunteers committed to helping individuals rise above circumstance and situation.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ "Getting Out by Going In". GuideStar. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Programs". Getting Out by Going In. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Free GOGI Resources". Getting Out by Going In. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Education-Based Incarceration: Creating a Life Worth Living" (PDF). Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. March 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Getting Out by Going In". CauseIQ. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "Getting Out by Going In (Form 990)". CauseIQ. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ↑ "What is GOGI?". Getting Out by Going In. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
External links
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