Urban Institute
79% goes to programs $5 to raise $100 Strong reserves Declining revenue
Urban Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, District of Columbia, registered in 1968, with $129,592,450 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B+, and it directs about 79% of spending to programs.
500 Lenfant Plaza Sw 2nd Floor, Washington, DC, 20024 EIN 52-0880375 Since 1968
Revenue (FY2024)
$129.6M
▲ 4.0% vs prior year
Social Science median: $380K
Expenses (FY2024)
$148.5M
Net assets
$235.5M
Employees
748
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B+
B+Program efficiency40% of the rating79% to programs · $5 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Urban Institute: 79% to programs · $5 to raise $100 earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
C+Financial health25% of the rating19 mo reserves · -15% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Urban Institute: 19 mo reserves · -15% margin earns a C+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Urban Institute: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Urban Institute: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The urban institute is a nonprofit research organization that applies a range of approaches to examine today's challenges and identify policy solutions that work for people, including research and data analysis, convening, data tools and modeling, strategic advising, program evaluation, and community engagement.
What they do
Social sciences - research and public policy analysis: at the center on labor, human services, and population, we study how family, youth, and individual well-being is shaped by economic, social, and demographic trends, and how policies and programs can improve economic security, work, and child welfare and development. understanding how families are faring in the face of economic pressures, demographic change, and public health and social challenges is essential for policymakers and practitioners who oversee social services and programs. our research explores the implications of these changes for people and policies.
Social sciences - research and public policy analysis: the income and benefits policy center gives decisionmakers crucial information by predicting how policy changes will affect people, programs, and government. we analyze family economic well-being from childhood through retirement and undertake research on a wide variety of issues, including income support, social insurance, taxes, and child support; education and training programs and policies; employers, workplaces, and the labor market; and workforce development systems and policies. as technological and demographic shifts transform the nature of jobs, our experts on postsecondary education and workforce development study what skills workers will need in the future and what challenges lie ahead for retirees. our research explores the implications of these changes for people and policies.
Urban conducted additional programmatic activities including research and data analysis, convenings, data tools and modeling, strategic advising, program evaluation, and community engagement, that focused on economic and social policy issues that affect the well-being of people and communities.
Contact & location
- Address
- 500 Lenfant Plaza Sw 2nd Floor, Washington, DC, 20024
- City
- Washington
- State
- District of Columbia
- Category
- Social Science
- Subcategory
- Interdisciplinary Research
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $77.0M (FY2013) to $129.6M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $76.1MNet assets $235.5M
Operating margin
-14.6%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$311.6M
Total liabilities
$76.1M
Net assets
$235.5M
Salaries & benefits
$100.0M
67% of expenses
Board members
32
31 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $129,592,450▲4.0% | $148,463,835▲7.8% | $235,464,023▼4.2% | $311,581,937▼8.9% | 990 |
| 2023 | $124,658,351▼20.2% | $137,744,133▲7.3% | $245,910,152 | $342,149,166▼1.5% | 990 |
| 2022 | $156,278,518▼8.0% | $128,373,639▲11.2% | $245,992,846▼5.8% | $347,500,996▲16.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $169,926,666▲48.8% | $115,493,821▲10.1% | $261,021,308▲22.6% | $297,470,452▲19.0% | 990 |
| 2020 | $114,189,696▼9.9% | $104,861,534▲5.6% | $212,923,646▲11.7% | $249,893,883▲16.1% | 990 |
| 2019 | $126,697,654▲42.3% | $99,287,627▲8.8% | $190,662,281▲29.9% | $215,267,854▲26.7% | 990 |
| 2018 | $89,044,700▲3.4% | $91,224,579▼2.1% | $146,801,321▼7.1% | $169,843,928▼5.5% | 990 |
| 2017 | $86,101,007▼5.8% | $93,208,019▲7.6% | $158,046,241▲4.6% | $179,677,755▲3.6% | 990 |
| 2016 | $91,433,639▼15.1% | $86,656,466▼1.4% | $151,161,267▲6.6% | $173,485,875▲5.1% | 990 |
| 2015 | $107,701,014▲13.2% | $87,855,636▲1.9% | $141,848,849▲1.0% | $165,064,431▲1.1% | 990 |
| 2014 | $95,144,338▲23.5% | $86,177,167▲11.1% | $140,411,956▲4.9% | $163,329,359▲1.9% | 990 |
| 2013 | $77,049,113 | $77,587,409▲2.8% | $133,809,513▲11.6% | $160,210,568▲11.4% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $75,477,336▲3.0% | $119,870,534▲17.3% | $143,793,426▲11.7% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $73,270,106▲14.3% | $102,234,466▼2.7% | $128,700,848▲0.3% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $64,129,623 | $105,064,415 | $128,377,939 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Sarah Rosen Wartell — $971,063 (0.65% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Rosen Wartell | President and Chief Executive Officer | 40 | $971,063 |
| Mary Cunningham | Senior Vice President For Research and Programs | 40 | $407,826 |
| Todd Greene | Vice President and Executive Director, Workrise | 40 | $397,461 |
| Yasmin Kazzaz | Chief Operations Officer | 40 | $377,915 |
| Myra Jones-taylor | Senior Vice President, Impact and External Affairs | 40 | $376,572 |
| Genevieve Kenney | Institute Fellow, Research | 40 | $349,939 |
| Robert Buchanan | Vice President, Controller & Treasurer | 40 | $292,576 |
| Matt Rogers | Chief of Staff, Sr. Director of Strategy & Corporate Secretary (effective 03/2024) | 40 | $207,528 |
| Adrea Turner | Chief of Staff & Corporate Secretary (through 03/2024) | 40 | $54,685 |
| Alexandra Reeve Givens | Trustee (effective 05/2024) | 2 | — |
| Annette L Nazareth | Chair (effective 11/2024), Vice Chair (through 11/2024) | 2 | — |
| Anthony A Williams | Vice Chair | 2 | — |
| Antonia Hernandez | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Arthur I Segel | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Ashley Swearengin | Trustee | 2 | — |
| David A Thomas | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Diana Farrell | Vice Chair (effective 11/2024), Trustee | 2 | — |
| Eduardo J Padron | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Heather Higginbottom | Trustee | 2 | — |
| J Adam Abram | Trustee | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematica Inc | Subcontract/consulting | $1,853,741 |
| Grant Thornton LLP | Subcontract/consulting | $1,079,049 |
| Dalberg Advisors | Subcontract/consulting | $1,008,032 |
| Aus Inc | Subcontract/consulting | $972,605 |
| Research Triangle Institute | Subcontract/consulting | $874,612 |
Grants received · $73.0M total
283 grants to Urban Institute totaling $73.0M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Community & human services | 2024 | $1,102,500 |
| Robin Hood Foundation | Poverty relief | 2024 | $500,000 |
| Ascendium Education Solutions Inc | Grant, building evidence to increase rural learner success grant, travel grant - higher education in prison grantee convening -al travel grant - association for the study of higher education grant, prevalence of lived experience in leadership positions | 2024 | $264,100 |
| Boston College Trustees | Sponsored sub-awd | 2024 | $220,771 |
| American Institutes For Research In the Behavioral Sciences | See schedule i, supplemental informationsupport new or reinvigorated tools and strategies to foster school integration and educational equity in pre-k public schools | 2024 | $187,712 |
| Columbus Foundation | Social services | 2024 | $100,000 |
| T Rowe Price Program For Charitable Giving Inc | Multiple | 2024 | $90,000 |
| Pew Charitable Trusts | Policy | 2024 | $80,427 |
| Greater Washington Community Foundation | General support | 2024 | $50,000 |
| Strada Education Foundation Inc | Operating grant | 2024 | $50,000 |
| The Clear Fund | Philanthropy case studies | 2024 | $50,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Inc | Building intergenerational family prosperity | 2024 | $50,000 |
| Tides Center | Healthy individuals and communities | 2024 | $39,838 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $30,024 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc | General operational support | 2024 | $25,000 |
Grants made · $10.0M in FY2024
111 grants totaling $10.0M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Urban Institute →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Workhands Inc | Grant sub-award | $491,727 |
| Per Scholas Inc | Grant sub-award | $487,020 |
| County of Minnehaha South Dakota | Grant sub-award | $400,000 |
| Jobs With Justice Education Fund | Grant sub-award | $381,640 |
| Clear Creek Creative | Grant sub-award | $381,625 |
| Mdrc | Grant sub-award | $304,424 |
| County of Charleston | Grant sub-award | $278,316 |
| American Institutes For Research In the Behavioral Sciences | Grant sub-award | $272,775 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | Grant sub-award | $253,401 |
| Seeding Success | Grant sub-award | $249,700 |
| Pursuit Transformation Company Inc | Grant sub-award | $239,561 |
| Rutgers University | Grant sub-award | $218,752 |
| University of Washington | Grant sub-award | $216,022 |
| Regents of the University of California At Berkeley | Grant sub-award | $171,867 |
| Multiplier | Grant sub-award | $158,895 |
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Compare Urban Institute
Frequently asked questions
- Is Urban Institute a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Urban Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 52-0880375, based in Washington, District of Columbia. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Urban Institute's EIN?
- Urban Institute's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 52-0880375.
- How much revenue does Urban Institute report?
- Urban Institute reported $129,592,450 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Urban Institute's spending goes to programs?
- Urban Institute spends about 79% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Urban Institute have?
- CharityIndex grades Urban Institute B+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Urban Institute's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Urban Institute's latest Form 990 is $971,063, paid to Sarah Rosen Wartell (President and Chief Executive Officer).
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Explore more
Data for Urban Institute (EIN 52-0880375) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.