Policy Issues Institute
PII has worked over the last two decades to educate and inform the public regarding public policy issues that impact the constitutional order upon which our country was founded. PII is primarily focused on promoting robust First Amendment protections for citizens and exposing judicial overreach that contravenes fundamental American principles such as free speech, freedom of the press, and other natural rights bestowed upon the public by our Constitution. PII similarly has a substantial interest in preventing judicial overreach, especially when that overreach has substantial First Amendment implications.
Policy Issues Institute at a glance
In short: Policy Issues Institute gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,000
- -90.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- -72.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $218,686
- -55.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Policy Issues Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fair PAC ($10K).
Grant Size Distribution
8 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 8 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $250 (2022) to $110K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fair PAC Hilmar, CA | Contribution - General Support | $10,000 |
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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 | $218,686 | $5,174,269 | $5,495,572 | $10,000 | 1 | $23,944 |
| 2024 | $487,941 | $5,939,355 | $6,403,828 | $110,450 | 3 | $28,512 |
| 2023 | $987,571 | $8,473,195 | $8,834,170 | $58,400 | 4 | $35,988 |
| 2022 | $1,514,174 | $9,794,674 | $8,646,712 | $250 | Total only | $-20,045 |
| 2021 | $313,706 | $6,136,020 | $6,856,806 | $5,600 | Total only | $4,108 |
| 2020 | $879,797 | $7,705,067 | $6,512,190 | $2,700 | Total only | $-1,027 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Policy Issues Institute
Based on IRS filings
Policy Issues Institute is a public charity, based in Laguna Niguel, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $219K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $10K. Net investment income was $24K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Policy Issues Institute is led by James Lacy, CEO on every filing since 2020; 7 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Lacy
CEO
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$323K (2020) → $383K (2025)
Floyd Brown
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$294K (2020) → $377K (2025)
Martin Matthews
Director
On filings since 2020
$500 (2022) → $500 (2025)
Robert Cambron
Director
On filings since 2020
$500 (2022) → $0 (2025)
Lori Klein
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$500 (2023) → $42K (2025)
Randy Goodwin
Director
On filings since 2023
$500 (2023) → $500 (2025)
Alexander Tomescu
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$20K (2020) → $24K (2025)
Barrett Garcia
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $27K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bill Saracino (2020–2021) — 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 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $383K, to James Lacy (CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Policy Issues Institute
How much does Policy Issues Institute give each year?
Policy Issues Institute gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $110K across 3 grants.
How large is Policy Issues Institute?
Policy Issues Institute reported $219K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
Where does Policy Issues Institute operate?
Policy Issues Institute has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Colorado, New York.
What is Policy Issues Institute's EIN?
Policy Issues Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0973052. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 14, 2026)
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