Center for the Study of Democratic Institution
The Center for the Study of Democratic Institution is a public charity based in Los Angeles, California. It supports dialogue, scholarship, and charitable initiatives in public health, education, democracy, human rights, and the arts, including youth education in art and music in Los Angeles County.
Key facts about Center for the Study of Democratic Institution
In short: Center for the Study of Democratic Institution gave $3.0M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $141K), top state District of Columbia. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 95-4829141
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,960,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $140,952
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $20,660,111
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$20.7M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+65.4% YoY
Grant Count
21
-8.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$141K
+81.2% YoY
Is Center for the Study of Democratic Institution open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $700K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $700K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Center says it fosters dialogue and public deliberation, supports scholarship, and encourages practical exploration of solutions to challenges facing democratic societies. Its stated interests include public health, education, democracy, and human rights; it also supports youth education in art and music in Los Angeles County. The organization’s 2023 filing describes activities including conferences, events, trainings, and contributions to like-minded charitable organizations.
Its grants include think tanks, academic institutions, humanitarian organizations, and cultural and educational organizations. Among 2025 recipients, New America Foundation describes its mission as renewing America’s ideals and addressing challenges and opportunities created by social and technological change. The Truman Center for National Policy says it develops solutions to national security challenges and envisions policy that advances democracy, human rights, prosperity, and security. The Los Angeles World Affairs Council describes itself as a nonpartisan speakers’ forum for public dialogue on local, national, and global affairs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Center reported 21 grants totaling $2,960,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest grants included $1,000,000 to Davidson College, $400,000 to the Atlantic Council, $300,000 to the Brookings Institution, and $200,000 each to the Music Center and New America Foundation. The filing listed each of these grants for general purpose.
Other reported grants included $160,000 to Johns Hopkins University, $110,000 to the Truman Center for National Policy, $100,000 to the International Refugee Assistance Program, $100,000 to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and $100,000 to RAND Corporation. The Center’s website also identifies institutions it supports, including the Inter-American Dialogue, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Center is based in Los Angeles, California. Its website describes support for youth education in art and music in Los Angeles County and highlights California cultural, educational, and community health institutions. Its 2025 grants also went to organizations in other states and Washington, DC: 37% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC, 34% to North Carolina, 20% to California, 5% to Maryland, and 3% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2021) to $3.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Davidson College ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 101 (39%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson College Davidson, NC | General purpose | $1,000,000 |
| Atlantic Council Washington, DC | General purpose | $400,000 |
| Brookings Institution Washington, DC | General purpose | $300,000 |
| Music Center Los Angeles, CA | General purpose | $200,000 |
| New America Foundation Washington, DC | General purpose | $200,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | General purpose | $160,000 |
| Truman Center for National Policy Washington, DC | General purpose | $110,000 |
| International Refugee Assistance Program New York, NY | General purpose | $100,000 |
| Los Angeles Philharmonic Los Angeles, CA | General purpose | $100,000 |
| RAND Corporation Santa Monica, CA | General purpose | $100,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,660,111 | $1,961,517 | $3,081,882 | $2,960,000 |
| 2024 | $18,695,221 | $4,236,074 | $2,934,986 | $1,789,569 |
| 2023 | $13,125,131 | $4,206,655 | $2,722,076 | $2,542,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,660,111 | $18,695,221 | $13,125,131 |
| Revenue | $1,961,517 | $4,236,074 | $4,206,655 |
| Expenses | $3,081,882 | $2,934,986 | $2,722,076 |
| Net Investment Income | $173,369 | $136,074 | $74,269 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert J. Abernethy as Chairman of the Board. Directors listed are Andrei Cherny, Steve Huffman, Henry Lorenzen, Jean Posten, Romano Prodi, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Giuseppe Virgottini, and Zev Yaroslavsky.
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution is led by Robert J Abernethy, Chairman of the Board on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert J Abernethy
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne-Marie Slaughter
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Giuseppe Virgottini
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Lorenzen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Posten
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Romano Prodi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Huffman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Zev Yaroslavsky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrei Cherny
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Tom Carper (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 90855, Los Angeles, CA 90009-0855
Phone: (310) 698-4000
Website: https://csdi.foundation
Frequently asked questions about Center for the Study of Democratic Institution
How much does Center for the Study of Democratic Institution give each year?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution gave $3.0M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 23 grants.
What is Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's typical grant size?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $140,952, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Center for the Study of Democratic Institution that year got $700K on average.
Where does Center for the Study of Democratic Institution give grants?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's top state is District of Columbia, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were North Carolina (34%) and California (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (7 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (5 grants).
Does Center for the Study of Democratic Institution give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's largest grantees?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's largest 2025 grantees include Davidson College ($1,000,000), Atlantic Council ($400,000) and Brookings Institution ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Center for the Study of Democratic Institution?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution reported $20.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Center for the Study of Democratic Institution fund?
The Center says it fosters dialogue and public deliberation, supports scholarship, and encourages practical exploration of solutions to challenges facing democratic societies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for the Study of Democratic Institution?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check csdi.foundation for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's EIN?
Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4829141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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