Institute for Responsive Government Inc
Institute for Responsive Government is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2023, the organization develops practical policy solutions focused on improving government efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness. The Institute designs solutions for voting, election administration, and other government agencies that deliver services to the public.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
+218.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.2M
+101699.4% YoY
Grant Count
244
+24300.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
+317.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Institute's mission is to help policymakers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings.
The organization addresses the gap between citizens' day-to-day experiences with government and effective service delivery. The Institute recognizes that interactions with government agencies—whether registering to vote, filing taxes, or starting a business—often involve confusing bureaucratic processes and poor user experience design that lead to demonstrably worse outcomes.
Primary program areas include:
- Research and development of effective, data-driven approaches to improving government operations across the United States
- Education and training programs for public officials
- Support programs for government entities
- Solutions for voting and election administration
- Policy research and implementation across multiple disciplines
Grantmaking
The organization does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
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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
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total assets: $2,000,000
- Total revenues: $2,000,000
- Total expenses: $148,517
- Number of employees: 0 (as reported on tax filing)
2024 Financial Summary (Related Entity): The related 501(c)(4) organization, Institute for Responsive Government Action, reported:
- Total assets: $3,463,647
- Total revenues: $12,140,000
- Total expenses: $9,449,186
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,370,976 | $2,000,000 |
| Revenue | $17,990,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Expenses | $14,302,915 | $148,517 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — |
| 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
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cities Forward Inc ($1,300,000), Partnership for Large Election Jurisdict ($856,000), Informing Democracy Education Fund ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| POLICY IMPACT BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR CIVIC DESIGN CAMBRIDGE, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $238,000 |
| PUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| US DIGITAL RESPONSE OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| INFORMING DEMOCRACY EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| DOCUMENTARY EDUCATIONS RESOURCES INC WATERTOWN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR LARGE ELECTION JURISDICT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $856,000 |
| COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND LANSING, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $103,750 |
| WESTERN ORGANIZATION OF RESOURCE COUNCILS EDUCATION PROJECT BILLINGS, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| CITIES FORWARD INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Sam Oliker-Friedland – Executive Director
- Max Nacheman – General Counsel (joined January 2026)
- Allison Javery – Communications Director
The organization employs 19 people as of the most recent reporting period, representing 56.2% year-over-year growth.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL GIL OLIKER FRIEDLAND | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 26 | $181,575 |
| NEAL UBRIANI | CHIEF OF POLICY | 26 | $171,407 |
| ALEXANDER TISCHENKO | CHIEF COUNSEL SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR | 26 | $160,284 |
| ASHISH SINHA | DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 26 | $158,489 |
| ALLISON JAVERY | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 26 | $131,153 |
| GABRIEL GONZALEZ | SENIOR ADVISOR FOR PARTNERSHIPS | 26 | $128,270 |
| TIANA EPPS-JOHNSON | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| IRINA VAYNERMAN | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHARANYA KRISHNASWAMI | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Institute for Responsive Government Inc fund?
The Institute's mission is to help policymakers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings. The organization addresses the gap between citizens' day-to-day experiences with government and effective service delivery. The Institute recognizes that interactions with government agencies—whether registering to vote, filing taxes, or starting a business—often involve confusing bureaucratic processes and poor user experience design …
How do I apply for a grant from Institute for Responsive Government Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • The organization made one grant in 2023: $10,000 to University of Maryland College Park Foundation for education purposes • Annual giving: $10,000 (2023) • Giving rate: 0.5% of assets **Application Policy:** The organization does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
What size grants does Institute for Responsive Government Inc award?
In 2024, Institute for Responsive Government Inc awarded 244 grants totaling $10.2M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Institute for Responsive Government Inc's EIN?
Institute for Responsive Government Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-2827813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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