Drug Policy Action
Drug Policy Action seeks to reform federal, state, and local drug policies. We educate the public about drug laws and involve them in our efforts to ensure that government policies on these issues advance the public interest.
Drug Policy Action at a glance
In short: Drug Policy Action gave $6.6M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $6.6M), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,600,000
- +385.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -90.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,600,000
- +4752.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,600,000
- Total assets
- $27,049,799
- +37.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Drug Policy Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Drug Policy Alliance ($6.6M).
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 41 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Drug Policy Action gives
- Giving grew 145% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2024) to $12.0M (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $6.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Drug Policy Alliance New York, NY | To Support Alliance's Operations and Activities | $6,600,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,049,799 | $8,567,359 | $6,943,741 | $6,600,000 | 1 | $567,034 |
| 2024 | $19,735,187 | $5,255,022 | $2,373,132 | $1,360,000 | 10 | $255,022 |
| 2023 | $20,413,875 | $3,217,940 | $5,989,024 | $5,722,500 | 13 | $167,180 |
| 2022 | $20,426,592 | $11,444,950 | $3,394,764 | $2,696,322 | 7 | $108,888 |
| 2021 | $10,522,161 | $3,054,408 | $6,163,822 | $5,787,649 | 10 | $98,771 |
| 2020 | $14,019,338 | $2,712,321 | $12,598,684 | $12,034,562 | 2 | $141,692 |
About Drug Policy Action
Based on IRS filings
Drug Policy Action is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $27.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $6.6M. Net investment income was $567K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Drug Policy Action is led by Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kassandra Frederique
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$8K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Derek Oscar Hodel
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juan Cartagena
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela G. Lichty
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth T. Monteiro
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sondra Youdelman
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Garcia
Chief Operating Officer
New on the 2025 filing
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Kimberly Thomas Chief (2021–2024) — Operating Officer
- Former: Kimberly Thomas (2022–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Christine Downton (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: David C. Lewis MD (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Burns Interim (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Susan Kane (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ira Glasser President (2020) — Oct Trustee · Filing note: Until
- Former: Maria McFarland (2020) — Executive 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $11K, to Kimberly Thomas (Chief Operating Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Drug Policy Action
How much does Drug Policy Action give each year?
Drug Policy Action gave $6.6M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 10 grants.
How large is Drug Policy Action?
Drug Policy Action reported $27.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.6M.
What is Drug Policy Action?
Drug Policy Action is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in New York, NY. It holds $27.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Drug Policy Action operate?
Drug Policy Action has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington.
What is Drug Policy Action's EIN?
Drug Policy Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1951197. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Drug Policy Action funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Drug Policy Action's focus areas in our free grants database
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