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People's Action Institute
People's Action Institute reported $12.8 million in revenue and $18.4 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $75.74 went to program services, $21.40 to management and general costs and $2.86 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $194,307 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 35 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 70% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $18MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $13MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 75.7% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.04 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.0% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.6% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $194,307 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.06% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 35 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 14.5 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseSee schedule oprogramspeople's Action Institute is a national organization that also supports affiliated organizations across the country that work at the local, citywide, metro-wide, and statewide levels. Together we invest in the leadership of everyday people to educate and organize their communities to achieve a more fair and free society. Our primary focus is public education and training with a limited focus on public campaigns that make our economy and democracy more inclusive.people's Action Institute's training program held a "training for trainers" (t4t) event in florida that brought…
See schedule ocampaignsthe care over cost campaign trains everyday people in organizing and empowers them to advocate for healthcare policies that prioritize people and their care over profits at big health insurance companies and in government policies. The campaign supports people to challenge claim denials and exposes the inhumane ways that insurance companies profit from people at their most vulnerable. Our work resulted in victories for individuals fighting care denials and is building toward systemic change.the people and planet first campaign focused on two key areas: utility justice…
See schedule ocenter for health, environment & justicethis project supports a nationwide network of more than 300 local community groups to achieve critical impacts at the local, regional, statewide and national levels on issues relating to toxic chemicals, polluting facilities, and other environmental dangers
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,266 | $0 | $38,041 | $194,307 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $134,983 | $0 | $30,621 | $165,604 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,636 | $0 | $27,713 | $157,349 |
| DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,162 | $0 | $20,550 | $132,712 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,544 | $0 | $13,131 | $129,675 |
| CAMPAIGNS DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $108,019 | $0 | $21,541 | $129,560 |
| TRAINING DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $101,711 | $0 | $18,555 | $120,266 |
| CHIEF OF ORGANIZING PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,985 | $0 | $12,841 | $117,826 |
35 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from People's Action Institute (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $421K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b13 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 571
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
21 private foundations reported grants to People's Action Institute totaling $18M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from People's Action Institute's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for People's Action Institute, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 People's Action Institute spent in 2024, $75.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of People's Action Institute's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, People's Action Institute reported that 75.7% of its $18.4 million in expenses went to program services, 21.4% to management and general and 2.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does People's Action Institute pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation People's Action Institute reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $194,307, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does People's Action Institute get its money?
Of $12.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 94.0% came from contributions and grants and 2.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is People's Action Institute a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 36-2755109 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503219349305405 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202413179349302251 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323149349303762 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202203219349300425 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202113199349309396 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013089349300636 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 36-2755109: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.