Institute for Local Self Reliance
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a public charity based in Washington, DC. Founded in 1974, it supports work to build local power and fight corporate control, with initiatives spanning community broadband, composting, energy democracy, and independent business.
Institute for Local Self Reliance at a glance
In short: Institute for Local Self Reliance gave $1.3M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $100K), top state California. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,302,424
- -20.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -48.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $100,186
- +52.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $52,000
- Total assets
- $9,701,166
- +15.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Institute for Local Self Reliance
- How to Apply
-
A 2024 composting mini-grant opportunity invited applications from eligible projects in New England coastal states. The stated eligibility included BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving programs, Native Nations, or projects in historically excluded neighborhoods; projects had to support new or existing local community composting initiatives.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1200 18Th St Nw Ste 700, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 898-1610
Website: https://ilsr.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Institute for Local Self Reliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Powerswitch Action ($625K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 64 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ILSR’s 2025 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in California (48%), Maryland (14%), Minnesota (14%), New York (11%), and the District of Columbia (7%). Its 2025 composting mini-grant program covered New England coastal states and New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Institute for Local Self Reliance open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $136K. How we count
Medians: $52K first-time, $52K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $809K (2022) to $1.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Powerswitch Action Oakland, CA | Our Exempt Purpose | $625,000 |
| Recast City LLC Takoma Park, MD | Our Exempt Purpose | $183,918 |
| Community Power Coon Rapids, MN | Our Exempt Purpose | $125,000 |
| United for Respect Education Fund Brooklyn, NY | Our Exempt Purpose | $67,506 |
| Philadelphia Jobs with Justice Philadelphia, PA | Our Exempt Purpose | $55,000 |
| The Awood Center Minneapolis, MN | Our Exempt Purpose | $52,000 |
| Make the Road States Inc Brooklyn, NY | Our Exempt Purpose | $52,000 |
| Demand Progress Education Fund Washington, DC | Our Exempt Purpose | $52,000 |
| Good Jobs First Washington, DC | Our Exempt Purpose | $25,000 |
| BK Rot Inc Brooklyn, NY | Our Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Institute for Local Self Reliance?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,701,166 | $8,406,403 | $6,354,323 | $1,302,424 | 13 | $325,331 |
| 2024 | $8,383,081 | $8,192,195 | $6,645,407 | $1,639,115 | 25 | $224,079 |
| 2023 | $6,178,577 | $4,057,441 | $5,311,961 | $1,168,500 | 14 | $139,441 |
| 2022 | $7,355,502 | $5,615,395 | $4,285,177 | $809,400 | 12 | $38,652 |
| 2021 | $5,924,611 | $5,562,125 | $2,905,521 | — | — | $1,130 |
| 2020 | $3,208,709 | $3,548,568 | $1,996,919 | — | — | $3,489 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ILSR’s stated mission is to provide the framework, strategies, and information needed to help create ecologically sound and equitable communities. It works with citizens, activists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to develop systems, policies, and industries that meet local or regional needs and ensure local resources benefit local residents.
Its initiatives include Community Broadband Networks, Composting for Community, Energy Democracy, and Independent Business. ILSR describes these as supporting locally rooted, democratically accountable broadband; local composting; community-based renewable energy; and locally owned businesses.
The grantees it supports include organizations working on community energy, worker power, corporate accountability, and other local initiatives. For example, Community Power says it educates and activates Minnesota residents to create clean, local, equitable, affordable, and reliable energy systems. Good Jobs First describes itself as a research and policy resource center for groups and public officials seeking more accountable economic development incentives and corporate accountability.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, ILSR reported 13 grants totaling $1,302,424. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $625,000, with a median of $52,000. The largest listed awards were $625,000 to PowerSwitch Action, $183,918 to Recast City LLC, $125,000 to Community Power, and $67,506 to United for Respect Education Fund. Other listed recipients included Philadelphia Jobs with Justice ($55,000), The Awood Center ($52,000), Make the Road States Inc ($52,000), and Demand Progress Education Fund ($52,000). The reported grant purposes were “our exempt purpose.”
ILSR also runs grant programs through its Composting for Community initiative. In 2025, it reported that 37 projects received $10,000 mini-grants, with support from 11th Hour Racing. The program focused on community composters in New England coastal states and, for the first time, New York City, with particular attention to historically underserved communities. Awardees also received training, a travel stipend, and access to ILSR’s Community Composter Coalition.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gina Schaefer as chair; Andy Reicher as secretary/treasurer; and Nora Goldstein, Chris Lewis, Roy Priest, Amy Hartzler, Jean Su, and David Morris as board members. David Morris is listed as outgoing. Stacy Mitchell and John Farrell are listed as co-directors.
Institute for Local Self Reliance is led by Gina Schaefer, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gina Schaefer
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Farrell
Co-Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$74K (2020) → $128K (2025)
Stacy Mitchell
Co-Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $140K (2025)
Reginald Rucker
Comms Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $113K (2025)
Katy Milani
Policy Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Brenda Platt
Composting D
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024) → $124K (2025)
Christopher Mitchell
Broadband Di
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024) → $119K (2025)
India Gorden
Operations D
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$111K (2024) → $115K (2025)
David Morris - Board Member
Outgoing
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$29K (2025)
Andy Reicher
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Lewis
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nora Goldstein
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roy Priest
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Su
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Hartzler
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: David Morris (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kirk Marckwald (2020–2024) — Chair - Outg
- Former: John Bailey (2024) — Development
- Former: Neil Seldman (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jolie Jones (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Roberta Macdonald (2020) — Board Member
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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $140K, to Stacy Mitchell (Co-Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Institute for Local Self Reliance
How much does Institute for Local Self Reliance give each year?
Institute for Local Self Reliance gave $1.3M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 25 grants.
What is Institute for Local Self Reliance's typical grant size?
Institute for Local Self Reliance's median grant in 2025 was $52,000, and its average grant was $100,186, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Institute for Local Self Reliance that year got $43K on average.
Where does Institute for Local Self Reliance give grants?
Institute for Local Self Reliance's top state is California, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (14%) and Minnesota (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Who are Institute for Local Self Reliance's largest grantees?
Institute for Local Self Reliance's largest 2025 grantees include Powerswitch Action ($625,000), Recast City LLC ($183,918) and Community Power ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Institute for Local Self Reliance?
Institute for Local Self Reliance reported $9.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.4M.
What does Institute for Local Self Reliance fund?
ILSR’s stated mission is to provide the framework, strategies, and information needed to help create ecologically sound and equitable communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Institute for Local Self Reliance?
A 2024 composting mini-grant opportunity invited applications from eligible projects in New England coastal states. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Institute for Local Self Reliance's EIN?
Institute for Local Self Reliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7394104. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Institute for Local Self Reliance's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
United States Energy Foundation
San Francisco, CA
United States Energy Foundation funds education, outreach, and analysis advancing clean and equitable energy and climate solutions, including renewable energy, efficiency, clean transportation, buildings, and industry, in the United States. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $21 million, with a median of $135,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or proposals; grant-seekers must be invited.
Assets
$215.7M
Grants
597
Total Given
$166.3M
Freedom Together Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation funds work to strengthen multiracial democracy and build community and worker power, racial and gender justice, movement infrastructure, reproductive health, medical research, and community institutions. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,000 to $14 million, with a median of $500,000; its largest shares went to organizations in Washington, DC, New York, California, Massachusetts, and Illinois. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
595
Total Given
$470.0M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
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
The Schmidt Family Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
The Schmidt Family Foundation funds nonprofits working in education, human welfare, community health, and community development, with recent grants also supporting ocean stewardship, climate and energy, human rights, Indigenous land stewardship, civic engagement, youth, and food systems. Its 2024 grants had a median of $130,000, with amounts ranging from $400 to $8 million; grant dollars went mainly to organizations in California, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia. It describes an online application process and says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations; deadlines and application details are online.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
695
Total Given
$185.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in District of Columbia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Institute for Local Self Reliance funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/institute-for-local-self-reliance-morg_5b2bcb0e31d54ab4ae02c0794a9915ce
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237394104_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Institute for Local Self Reliance funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/institute-for-local-self-reliance-morg_5b2bcb0e31d54ab4ae02c0794a9915ce},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Institute for Local Self Reliance'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.
Institute for Local Self Reliance down — hundreds of funders to go?