The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, DC that conducts economic research and policy analysis. Founded in 1986, EPI employs approximately 50-58 staff members and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization. The organization uses economic tools and research to inform policy debates and advocacy efforts focused on working families and economic inequality.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.6M
-10.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+25.7% YoY
Grant Count
50
+35.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$77K
-7.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
EPI's vision is an economy that is just and strong, sustainable, and equitable—where every job is good, every worker can join a union, and every family and community can thrive.
The organization works to counter rising inequality, low wages, weak benefits for working people, slower economic growth, unacceptable employment conditions, and widening racial wage gaps. EPI intentionally centers low- and middle-income working families in economic policy discussions at federal, state, and local levels.
Primary Program Areas:
- Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN): A nationwide network advancing an inclusive, worker-centered economy through state and local policy change and rigorous research
- Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE): Explores how race, ethnicity, and class intersect to affect economic outcomes through research, policy papers, workshops, and convenings
- Research: Covers labor standards, macroeconomics, immigration policy, retirement security, fiscal policy, and trade policy
- Policy & Advocacy: Uses policy analysis and advocacy to build power for working people through partnerships with national and state organizations
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2023):
- Total Revenue: $16.2 million
- Total Expenses: $12.1 million
- Total Assets: $21.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.97 million
- Number of Employees: 58
Additional Data:
- Annual Revenue (alternative source): $70.0 million
- Revenue (2024): $11.9 million
- Expenses (2024): $13.6 million
Rating: EPI holds a Four-Star rating with a 100% score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,581,014 | $21,912,270 | $18,630,204 |
| Revenue | $11,927,401 | $16,155,263 | $8,123,876 |
| Expenses | $13,581,055 | $12,114,104 | $12,164,164 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $335,512 | $63,834 | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Heidi Shierholz: President (since 2021); former chief economist of the Department of Labor
- Naomi Walker: Executive Vice President
- Larry Mishel: President (listed in workforce data)
- Lisa Lynch: Director
- Jennifer Sherer: Director, State Worker Power Initiative
- Nancy Coleman: Communications Director
- Nicole Lewis: Deputy Communications Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEIDI SHIERHOLZ | PRESIDENT | 39.7 | $239,242 |
| ELIZABETH H SHULER | CHAIR | 0.1 | — |
| JULIANNE MALVEAUX | VICE CHAIR | 0.1 | — |
| TERESA GHILARDUCCI | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| GARY BASS | TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| NINA BANKS | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| BRIAN BRYANT | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| HECTOR CORDERO-GUZMAN | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| ERNESTO CORTES JR | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| CLAUDE CUMMINGS | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JENNIFER EPPS | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| SHAWN FAIN | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JEFF FAUX | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JOCELYN FRYE | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JOSE P GARZA | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| ELISE GOULD | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| PRONITA GUPTA | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| HANNAH HALBERT | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| ROBERT KUTTNER | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| LISA LYNCH | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| DAVE MCCALL | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| MANUEL PASTOR | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| LORI PELLETIER | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| BECKY PRINGLE | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| LEE SAUNDERS | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| APRIL VERRETT | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| RANDI WEINGARTEN | MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| NAOMI WALKER | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $220,755 |
| LYLE J BIVENS | CHIEF ECONOMIST/DIR. RESEA | 40 | $214,230 |
| CELINE MCNICHOLAS | DIR. POLICY, GENERAL COUNS | 40 | $204,443 |
| BARBARA WESTERN | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $203,355 |
| EVE E TAHMINCIOGLU | DIR COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $199,587 |
| VALERIE R WILSON | DIRECTOR OF PREE | 40 | $189,218 |
Contact Information
Address: 1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 775-8810 Fax: (202) 775-0819 Website: www.epi.org
Department Contacts:
- General inquiries: epi@epi.org
- Development/Donations: development@epi.org
- Media/Press: news@epi.org
- Permissions: permissions@epi.org
- Publications: publications@epi.org or (202) 331-5510
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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