Public Policy Institute of California
Public Policy Institute of California reported $36.4 million in revenue and $24.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.90 went to program services, $21.65 to management and general costs and $3.45 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was investment income: 93.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $626,583 (PRESIDENT AND CEO). 42 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 6% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $24MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $36M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$9.92 $3.8M
- Government grants$2.02 $784K
- Investment income$88.06 $34M
Other revenue was negative: −$2.4M. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.9% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 21.6% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.4% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.18 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 12.7% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.2% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $626,583 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.59% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 42 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 182.8 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 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
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHighest reported compensation
FY2025 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT AND CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $544,470 | $0 | $82,113 | $626,583 |
| CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $440,898 | $0 | $27,245 | $468,143 |
| VP OF COMMS/CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $313,234 | $0 | $77,789 | $391,023 |
| VP & DIR OF EPC & SENIOR FELLOW Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $325,724 | $0 | $51,404 | $377,128 |
| SENIOR FELLOW II Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $305,331 | $0 | $58,655 | $363,986 |
| SENIOR FELLOW II (THRU 1/17/25) Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $328,677 | $0 | $28,466 | $357,143 |
| DIR OF WATER POLICY CENTER & SENIOR FELLOW Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $270,845 | $0 | $63,654 | $334,499 |
| VP OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $263,128 | $0 | $63,324 | $326,452 |
42 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Public Policy Institute of California (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $3.5M (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
FY2025 · 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–1b17 · 16 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 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5107
- Volunteers Part I, line 681
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| IPSOS PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC Survey | $682,930 |
| SHERATON GRAND HOTEL Events | $282,273 |
| THE REGENTS OF UC - BERKELEY Research | $206,866 |
| THE REGENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Research | $161,746 |
| AON INVESTMENTS USA INC Investment consulting | $149,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Public Policy Institute of California totaling $5.0M 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 Public Policy Institute of California's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Public Policy Institute of California, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Public Policy Institute of California spent in FY2025, $74.90 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Northwest Health ServicesMound City, MO · revenue $36M · programs 72.2% · FY2025
- National Children's AllianceWashington, DC · revenue $36M · programs 93.9% · FY2025
- New Hope of IndianaIndianapolis, IN · revenue $36M · programs 85.7% · FY2025
- Lyngblomsten CARE CenterSt Paul, MN · revenue $36M · programs 90.2% · 2024
- Self EnhancementPortland, OR · revenue $36M · programs 84.8% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Public Policy Institute of California's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Public Policy Institute of California reported that 74.9% of its $24.2 million in expenses went to program services, 21.6% to management and general and 3.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Public Policy Institute of California pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Public Policy Institute of California reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $626,583, for the role of PRESIDENT AND CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Public Policy Institute of California get its money?
Of $36.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 12.7% came from contributions and grants (including 2.2% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Public Policy Institute of California a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-3207299 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202610579349301701 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202423549349300147 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430169349300038 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202243549349300414 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202123489349300217 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202023479349300302 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-3207299: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.