Public Safety Research Institute is a private foundation based in Falls Church, Virginia. In 2024, it made 28 grants totaling $90,700 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as environmental advocacy, peace, and public-interest journalism.
Key facts about Public Safety Research Institute
In short: Public Safety Research Institute gave $91K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state New York. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-0888196
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $90,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $3,239
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (2 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,212,985
- Primary geography
- New York (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
-7.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$91K
-5.5% YoY
Grant Count
28
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Public Safety Research Institute reported a distributable amount of $88K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Public Safety Research Institute open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 28 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Beyond Nuclear says it works to educate and activate the public about nuclear power and nuclear weapons; Veterans for Peace says its mission is to stop war as a means of conflict resolution; and Beyond Pesticides says it works to address pesticide hazards and promote safe alternatives. The Indian Law Resource Center describes providing legal assistance and advocacy to Indigenous peoples, while the Institute for Nonprofit News describes its mission as promoting high-quality investigative and public-service journalism.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $90,700. Grants ranged from $300 to $20,000, with a median of $2,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $20,000 to WorkBites for general support; $10,000 to the National Food Museum for general support; $7,000 each to Beyond Nuclear and Nuclear Info Resources Service for general support; and $5,000 to Veterans for Peace for general support. Other grants included $4,000 to Whirlwind Wheelchair and $3,000 each to Appalachia Science in the Pub Int, Beyond Pesticides, and Doctors Without Borders USA.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Public Safety Research Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New York (24%), Maryland (21%), and the District of Columbia (14%). California received 11%, and Connecticut received 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2020) to $96K (2023). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $91K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was WorkBites ($20K). Together the top 10 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 128 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WorkBites New York, NY | General support | $20,000 |
| National Food Museum Washington, DC | General support | $10,000 |
| Beyond Nuclear Takoma Park, MD | General support | $7,000 |
| Nuclear Info Resources Service Takoma Park, MD | General support | $7,000 |
| Veterans for Peace St. Louis, MO | General support | $5,000 |
| Whirlwind Wheelchair Berkeley, CA | General support | $4,000 |
| Appalachia Science in the Pub Int Mount Vernon, KY | General support | $3,000 |
| Beyond Pesticides Washington, DC | General support | $3,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Hagerstown, MD | General support | $3,000 |
| American Museum of Tort Law Winsted, CT | General support | $2,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,212,985 | -$7,089 | $93,249 | $90,700 |
| 2023 | $1,313,491 | -$40,160 | $98,410 | $96,000 |
| 2022 | $1,453,063 | $119,752 | $76,728 | $75,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,212,985 | $1,313,491 | $1,453,063 |
| Revenue | $-7,089 | $-40,160 | $119,752 |
| Expenses | $93,249 | $98,410 | $76,728 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $90,700 | $96,000 | $75,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $34,338 | $39,495 | $118,540 |
| Distributable Amount | $88,074 | $78,181 | $73,522 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ralph Nader as President and Director, and Claire Nader and Laura Nader as Directors.
Public Safety Research Institute is led by Ralph Nader, President Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ralph Nader
President Director
Director → President Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Nader
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Nader
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Diana Shaker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Edmund Shaker (2020–2022) — 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.
Contact
Mailing address: 2841 Woodlawn Ave, Falls Church, VA 22042-2045
Phone: (703) 475-4456
Frequently asked questions about Public Safety Research Institute
How much does Public Safety Research Institute give each year?
Public Safety Research Institute gave $91K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $96K across 30 grants.
What is Public Safety Research Institute's typical grant size?
Public Safety Research Institute's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,239, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Public Safety Research Institute that year got $15K on average.
Where does Public Safety Research Institute give grants?
Public Safety Research Institute's top state is New York, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (21%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winsted, CT (5 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Takoma Park, MD (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Public Safety Research Institute give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Public Safety Research Institute's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Public Safety Research Institute's largest grantees?
Public Safety Research Institute's largest 2024 grantees include WorkBites ($20,000), National Food Museum ($10,000) and Beyond Nuclear ($7,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Public Safety Research Institute?
Public Safety Research Institute reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $91K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $88K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Public Safety Research Institute fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Public Safety Research Institute?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Public Safety Research Institute's EIN?
Public Safety Research Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-0888196. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Public Safety Research Institute accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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