Democracy at Work Institute
The mission of the Democracy at Work Institute is to expand the worker cooperative model to reach communities most directly affected by social and economic inequality, specifically people of color, recent immigrants, and low-wage workforces. We are a movement-based think-and-do tank supporting worker cooperatives to grow to a scale that creates meaningful change in the economy.
Democracy at Work Institute at a glance
In short: Democracy at Work Institute gave $760K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $127K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $759,678
- +204.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $126,613
- +306.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $33,032
- Total assets
- $2,978,034
- -24.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Democracy at Work Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Pilipino Workers Center ($38K). Together the top 5 received $161K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($598,709), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 31 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Democracy at Work Institute gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−5%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $249K (2023) to $801K (2021). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $760K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $598,709 |
| Pilipino Workers Center Los Angeles, CA | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $37,765 |
| Cooperacion Santa Ana (V) Santa Ana, CA | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $34,063 |
| Apis & Heritage Managing Member LLC Washington, DC | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $32,000 |
| United Taxi Workers of San Diego San Diego, CA | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $31,091 |
| Cooperation LA Los Angeles, CA | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $26,050 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,978,034 | $2,760,859 | $4,191,271 | $759,678 | 6 | $49,043 |
| 2023 | $3,958,536 | $4,589,989 | $3,020,166 | $249,468 | 8 | $24,718 |
| 2022 | $2,343,112 | $3,816,274 | $3,128,855 | $496,353 | 8 | $2,785 |
| 2021 | $1,780,176 | $3,753,107 | $3,134,685 | $801,270 | 9 | $541 |
| 2020 | $994,348 | $1,794,641 | $1,875,426 | — | — | $389 |
About Democracy at Work Institute
Based on IRS filings
Democracy at Work Institute is a public charity focused on Employment, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $760K. Net investment income was $49K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Democracy at Work Institute is led by Maru Bautista, President on every filing since 2020; 9 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Maru Bautista
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2024)
Vanessa Bransburg
Co-Executive Director
Executive Director → Co-Exec Director, 2023
Co-Exec Director → Co-Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$86K (2020) → $122K (2024)
Julian McKinley
Co-Executive Director
Co-Exec Director → Co-Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$107K (2023) → $124K (2024)
Melissa Hoover
Program Director
Executive Director → Program Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$94K (2020) → $106K (2024)
Shevanthi Daniel
Program Director
Director & Staff → Snr Program Director, 2022
Snr Program Director → Program Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$82K (2020) → $109K (2024)
Zen Trenholm
Program Director & Secretary
Director → Program Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$68K (2021) → $97K (2024)
Anh-Thu Nguyen
Program Director & Director
Director → Program Director & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$88K (2022) → $98K (2024)
Olga Prushinskaya
Program Director & Secretary
Secretary → Program Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$71K (2022) → $84K (2024)
Maddie Taterka
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$63K (2023) → $0 (2024)
Nina Stender
Program Director & Director
New on the 2024 filing
32 hrs/week
$82K (2024)
Jess Zimbabwe
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Lurie
Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresita Sattar
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Chung
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eulalio Guevara
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Esteban Kelly (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Zenryo Trenholm (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Christine Curella (2022) — Board Elected
- Former: Dianne Enriquez (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Kelly Esteban (2021) — Director
- Former: Aaron Dawson (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Adria Powell (2020) — Director
- Former: Ana Martina Rivas (2020) — Director
- Former: Roodline Volcy (2020) — Secretary & Staff
- Former: Todd Leverette (2020) — Program Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $124K, to Julian McKinley (Co-Executive Director). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Democracy at Work Institute
How much does Democracy at Work Institute give each year?
Democracy at Work Institute gave $760K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $249K across 8 grants.
What is Democracy at Work Institute's typical grant size?
Democracy at Work Institute's median grant in 2024 was $33,032, and its average grant was $126,613, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Democracy at Work Institute give grants?
Democracy at Work Institute gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Democracy at Work Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Democracy at Work Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant Assistance/Cash Awards" (6 grants).
Who are Democracy at Work Institute's largest grantees?
Democracy at Work Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Pilipino Workers Center ($37,765), Cooperacion Santa Ana (V) ($34,063) and Apis & Heritage Managing Member LLC ($32,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($598,709), which are not listed by name. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Democracy at Work Institute?
Democracy at Work Institute reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.8M.
What is Democracy at Work Institute?
Democracy at Work Institute is a public charity focused on Employment, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $3.0M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Democracy at Work Institute's EIN?
Democracy at Work Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-5265123. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Democracy at Work Institute funds
Employment Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Democracy at Work Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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