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.
Key facts about Democracy at Work Institute
In short: Democracy at Work Institute gave $760K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $127K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 27-5265123
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $759,678
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- Average grant
- $126,613
- Median grant
- $33,032
- Total assets
- $2,978,034
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$3.0M
-24.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$760K
+204.5% YoY
Grant Count
6
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$127K
+306.0% YoY
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.
About Democracy at Work Institute
Based on IRS filings
Democracy at Work Institute is a nonprofit organization 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
Ready to take the next step with Democracy at Work Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 6 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Guilded Lca ($599K). Together the top 6 received $760K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 31 (65%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Guilded Lca Philadelphia, PA | Grant Assistance/Cash Awards | $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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,978,034 | $3,958,536 | $2,343,112 |
| Revenue | $2,760,859 | $4,589,989 | $3,816,274 |
| Expenses | $4,191,271 | $3,020,166 | $3,128,855 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $49,043 | $24,718 | $2,785 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 filing. 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 filing.
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 filing 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 filing 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 Guilded Lca ($598,709), Pilipino Workers Center ($37,765) and Cooperacion Santa Ana (V) ($34,063), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 88% 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 filing. Its revenue that year was $2.8M.
What is Democracy at Work Institute?
Democracy at Work Institute is a nonprofit organization 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.
Here's the math on researching Democracy at Work Institute by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Democracy at Work Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Wise Family Foundation
Escondido, CA
The Wise Family Foundation funded a broad range of educational activities, including preschool materials, literacy, arts education, and related community services; its 2023 grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $5,000. Grants went to organizations in several states, with the largest shares going to California and Arizona. Its 2022 filing listed no required application form or deadline and said giving was not limited to preselected organizations, but the foundation appears to have wound down, so this information may not be current.
Assets
$69K
Grants
13
Total Given
$63K
West End Health Foundation
Marquette, MI
West End Health Foundation funds health and wellness programs, services, and related equipment or improvements, especially chronic disease education, mental health, nutrition, and fitness, for residents of its West End communities in Marquette County, Michigan. Competitive grants generally range from $1,000 to $10,000, though 2024 grants ranged from $50 to $60,000. It contributes only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$10.5M
Grants
47
Total Given
$373K
Carnelian Trust
Pasadena, CA
Carnelian Trust has supported preselected charitable organizations, with interests including music education, public radio, homelessness services, and humanitarian and food-access programs. Its 2022 grants totaled $94,420 across 27 awards, typically ranging from $1,000 to $20,000, to organizations in California, Illinois, New York, and elsewhere; it reported no grants in 2023 or 2024. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
27
Total Given
$94K
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds work to improve health and health equity in the United States, including health policy, community health, prevention, and social justice. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to recipients across multiple states. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
The Abell Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
The Abell Foundation funds nonprofits, government agencies, and fiscally sponsored projects addressing Baltimore City needs, including education, health, workforce development, community development, criminal justice, the environment, and the arts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $188 to $300,000, with a median of $20,000. It accepts unsolicited requests: applications of $10,000 or less are reviewed on a rolling basis, while larger requests are considered at five annual Board meetings.
Assets
$296.4M
Grants
391
Total Given
$13.4M
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
Philadelphia, PA
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism funds high-impact local journalism, news technology, audience development, and sustainable business models, with a focus on Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as well as selected local-news efforts nationwide. Its 2024 median grant was $30,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$133.9M
Grants
97
Total Given
$15.0M
Patricia Sweeny Memorial Fund
Kansas City, MO
The Patricia Sweeny Memorial Fund supports charitable organizations, including ministries and groups providing community services. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median of $1,500; funding went mainly to Missouri and Louisiana, with some grants elsewhere. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
49
Total Given
$132K
Superior Health Foundation
Marquette, MI
Superior Health Foundation funds health and well-being projects, medical equipment, and access to care for residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, including work in mental health, maternal and infant health, recovery, and healthcare access. Its grants typically are modest—the 2024 median was $13,640—with program awards ranging from $500 to $75,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$46.7M
Grants
35
Total Given
$931K
Policylink
Oakland, CA
PolicyLink supports organizations advancing racial and economic equity through work on thriving communities, democracy, and an equitable economy, including housing, infrastructure, jobs, and community power. Its 2024 grants ranged from $8,000 to $3.53 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to recipients across multiple U.S. states and Puerto Rico. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$115.9M
Grants
127
Total Given
$13.2M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
New York, NY
Local Initiatives Support Corporation funds affordable housing, economic development, education, health, child care, small businesses and other community initiatives, often through grants, loans and equity. Its 2024 grants had a median of $40,000, with awards ranging from $5,189 to $4.7 million, and its work spans communities across all 50 states. It offers specific grant opportunities, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,119
Total Given
$102.8M
Mastercard Impact Fund
Purchase, NY
The Mastercard Impact Fund supports charitable work in small business, financial security, data for social impact, employee giving matches, and other strategic initiatives, with grants reaching organizations in the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, grants ranged from $25,000 to $17.7 million, with a median of $375,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and contributes only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$143.2M
Grants
52
Total Given
$62.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
More Funders in California
Democracy at Work Institute down — hundreds of funders to go?