Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a Washington, DC–based public charity formed in 2002. It conducts and supports rigorous research and policy work to identify effective solutions to global poverty and help decision-makers use evidence.
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation at a glance
In short: Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation gave $1.8M across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $57K), top state California. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,833,777
- +13.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $57,306
- +3.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $24,898
- Total assets
- $33,431,493
- +4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (20% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
- Contact
Mailing address: 1701 Rhode Island Ave Nw 3-124, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (203) 672-9507
Website: https://poverty-action.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
Citizen Security Research Initiative Grant
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
Amount
US $75,000 - US $400,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Consumer Protection Research Initiative Grant
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
Amount
Up to US $300,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Peace & Recovery Initiative
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northwestern University ($368K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 113 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
IPA describes long-term work through country offices in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple U.S. states; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California and Illinois at 20% each, New York at 18%, Connecticut at 10%, and Pennsylvania at 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) 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 $89K; repeat grants $86K. How we count
Medians: $27K first-time, $90K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2021) to $1.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Chicago, IL | Evidence Syntheses and Meta-Analysis- Capital and Women's Livelihoods | $360,457 |
| The Freedom Fund Brooklyn, NY | The Freedom Fund (Brazil) | $207,542 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Creating a panel database on rohingya refugees - cox's bazar panel survey (CBPS) | $174,485 |
| Univ of Penn Truste Philadelphia, PA | Disrupted Aid Displaced Lives | $127,091 |
| Community Partners International San Francisco, CA | Mental health & psychosocial support services (MHPSS) in myanmar | $115,673 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University Stanford, CA | Stanford University (Bangladesh) | $110,972 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | HTRI-Hart Uganda | $104,138 |
| International Rescue Committee New York, NY | Rebuild | $95,056 |
| The College of William and Mary Williamsburgh, VA | The effects of mobile technology cash grants and couples training | $60,000 |
| Busara Center for Behavioral Economics Inc Princeton, NJ | Strategies for Reducing Non-Institutional Fraud and Building Trust-Nigeria | $51,429 |
Ready to take the next step with Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The grant totals correspond to 32 grants in 2024, 29 in 2023, and 24 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $33,431,493 | $52,795,464 | $57,894,421 | $1,833,777 | 32 | $340,106 |
| 2023 | $32,068,016 | $53,278,625 | $54,430,966 | $1,613,925 | 29 | $327,895 |
| 2022 | $38,831,283 | $54,859,211 | $49,275,784 | $1,308,815 | 24 | $17,368 |
| 2021 | $30,811,263 | $47,809,311 | $43,568,333 | $1,244,516 | 15 | $1,175 |
| 2020 | $25,619,295 | $35,392,801 | $35,548,175 | $1,412,223 | 13 | $6,398 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that it discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty. Its website describes a broader aim of discovering and advancing what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty.
Its stated program areas include education, peace and recovery, citizen security, childhood immunization, and consumer protection in digital financial services. The Peace & Recovery Initiative supports research and evidence-use projects concerning social and political violence, humanitarian emergencies, and recovery from conflict or crises. The Soft Skills Research Fund focuses on workforce development and economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
The 2024 grants also show support for research and projects involving refugees, humanitarian response, mental health services, women’s livelihoods, behavioral economics, and anti-slavery efforts. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported: The Freedom Fund says it invests in frontline efforts to eradicate modern slavery; the International Rescue Committee says it helps people affected by conflict and disaster survive, recover, and rebuild; and Busara says it applies behavioral science in pursuit of poverty alleviation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, IPA reported 32 grants totaling $1,833,777. Grants ranged from $5,432 to $360,457, with a median grant of $24,898. The largest awards included $360,457 to Northwestern University for evidence syntheses and meta-analysis on capital and women’s livelihoods; $207,542 to The Freedom Fund for a Brazil project; $174,485 to Yale University for a panel database on Rohingya refugees; and $127,091 to the University of Pennsylvania for “Disrupted Aid Displaced Lives.”
Other notable awards included $115,673 to Community Partners International for mental health and psychosocial support services in Myanmar, $104,138 to the University of Alabama for HTRI-HART Uganda, and $95,056 to the International Rescue Committee for REBUILD.
IPA’s research-funding information describes a competitive process managed by in-house experts, with selection committees that include academic and policy expertise. Proposals are generally assessed on academic contribution, policy relevance, technical design, project viability, and value of the research. Applicants may be from any institution if they have sufficient expertise, and IPA encourages applications from researchers from multiple disciplines and historically underrepresented groups. It strongly prefers teams that include researchers from the countries where projects take place.
The Peace & Recovery Initiative and Soft Skills Research Fund are listed as currently open. The research-funding webpage says there are no open opportunities at this time. No application deadline is specified here.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following directors: Agnieszka Zieminska Yank, Ankur Vora (outgoing), Benjamin Appen, Colin Teichholtz, David Wells, Heather Woodruff Grizzle, Jane Kabubo-Mariara, Janet Zhou, Jyotsna Puri, and Karen Levy.
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation is led by Annie Duflo, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 24 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Annie Duflo
Executive Director
Chief Executive Officer → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$188K (2020) → $249K (2024)
Russell Siegelman
Chairman
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pace Phillips
Director Business & Program Development
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$141K (2021) → $158K (2024)
Nathanael Goldberg
Senior Director of Sector Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$156K (2024)
Ankur Vora
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Appen
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Wells
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Woodruff Grizzle
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kentaro Toyama
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Hattendorf
Director
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Trey Beck
Director
Chairman → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mushfiq Mobarak
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Levy
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Agnieszka Zieminska Yank
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Colin Teichholtz
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Zhou
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jyotsna Puri
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vineet Bewtra
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Kabubo-Mariara
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Daves-Ohlin
General Counsel
General Counsel & Secretary → General Counsel, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$180K (2020) → $235K (2024)
Steven Glazerman
Chief Rsrch & Methodology
Chief Research & Methodolo → Chief Rsrch & Methodology, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$202K (2020) → $236K (2024)
Eric Fullilove
CFO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$258K (2021) → $274K (2024)
Faran Nadir
Controller
Senior Director → Controller, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2023) → $167K (2024)
Sarah De Tournemire
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Chief Partner. & Philanthropy Officer → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$245K (2023) → $254K (2024)
Former officers (16)
- Former: Rakesh Rajani (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Wendy Abt (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Cina Lawson (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jane Mariara (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Meseret Ansebo (2022–2023) — Chief People Officer
- Former: David Andrew Berry (2023) — Senior Director
- Former: Dean Karlan (2020–2022) — Founder & President
- Former: Elliott M. Collins (2020–2022) — Director Poverty Measurement
- Former: Radha Rajkotia (2020–2022) — Chief Rsrch & Policy Officer
- Former: Susan Athey (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Carin Mirowitz (2021–2022) — Country Director
- Former: Alexia Latortue (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lucy Berkowitz (2020–2021) — Cfao & Treasurer
- Former: Stephen Toben (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Aroon Balani (2020) — Director & Trustee
- Former: John M. Palien (2020) — Global Hr Director
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 $274K, to Eric Fullilove (CFO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation
How much does Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation give each year?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation gave $1.8M across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 29 grants.
What is Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's typical grant size?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's median grant in 2024 was $24,898, and its average grant was $57,306, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation that year got $89K on average.
Where does Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation give grants?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's top state is California, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (20%) and New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Berkley, CA (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 32 grants with a stated purpose on Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's largest grantees?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's largest 2024 grantees include Northwestern University ($368,006 across 2 grants), The Freedom Fund ($207,542) and Yale University ($174,485), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation reported $33.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $52.8M.
What does Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation fund?
The organization states that it discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty. Its website describes a broader aim of discovering and advancing what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check poverty-action.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's EIN?
Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1660068. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/innovations-for-poverty-action-a-nonprofit-corporation-morg_c8ee737a02794f2ba7e1bdd55e58e35b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061660068_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/innovations-for-poverty-action-a-nonprofit-corporation-morg_c8ee737a02794f2ba7e1bdd55e58e35b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Innovations for Poverty Action a Nonprofit Corporation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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