Public Wise Inc
Public Wise Inc is a New York, New York-based public charity that supports voting rights and democracy access work through unrestricted operational grants and partnerships. Its 2024 filing reports 27 grants totaling $1,276,293.
Public Wise Inc at a glance
In short: Public Wise Inc gave $1.3M across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), top state District of Columbia. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,276,293
- +10.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +28.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,270
- -14.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $3,256,951
- -23.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (10 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Public Wise Inc
- How to Apply
-
Public Wise invites organizations to learn about partnership opportunities. The website does not specify an application process, required materials, or restrictions beyond its stated focus and eligible organization types.
- Contact
Mailing address: 270 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 792-3912
Website: https://publicwise.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Public Wise Inc
Who Public Wise Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Redistricting Action Fund ($150K). Together the top 10 received $741K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 57 grants of 106 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Public Wise’s website lists Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Georgia as priority states for 2024. Its 2024 filing shows grant dollars going to recipients in multiple states, with the largest shares going to Washington, DC (28%), North Carolina (25%), Arizona (22%), and New York (14%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Public Wise Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 27 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+13%). Method
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 $1.1M (2021) to $1.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Redistricting Action Fund Washington, DC | Financial Support | $150,000 |
| Progress North Carolina Action Raleigh, NC | Financial Support | $115,000 |
| America Votes Washington, DC | Financial Support | $101,293 |
| Mi Familia Vota Phoenix, AZ | Financial Support | $75,000 |
| League of Conservation Votes Inc Washington, DC | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Our Voice Our Vote Phoenix, AZ | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Sheriffs for Trusting Communities Durham, NC | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Down Home North Carolina Inc Greensboro, NC | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Rural Arizona Action Coolidge, AZ | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Vote Rev Action Fund Washington, DC | Financial Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Public Wise Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,256,951 | $3,539,493 | $4,338,658 | $1,276,293 | 27 | $31 |
| 2023 | $4,244,257 | $7,676,913 | $3,933,742 | $1,155,000 | 21 | $33 |
| 2022 | $255,663 | $4,790,754 | $4,845,841 | $1,895,975 | 27 | $13 |
| 2021 | $310,750 | $4,026,523 | $4,091,507 | $1,130,000 | 16 | $4 |
| 2020 | $375,734 | $2,655,906 | $3,240,366 | $1,358,669 | 15 | $1,490 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Public Wise’s stated mission is “to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people.” Its website says it provides unrestricted, operational grants to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations working on voting rights and democracy. It describes partner organizations as working to build power in BIPOC communities, fight voter suppression and election subversion, advocate for pro-democracy laws, and educate and organize voters year-round.
Examples from 2024 illustrate the range of grantees’ work. The National Redistricting Action Fund says it raises awareness of racial and partisan gerrymandering through advocacy and education. Mi Familia Vota describes its work as expanding the electorate through citizenship, voter registration, census education, and community organizing. NCAAT in Action says it builds political power among Asian American Pacific Islanders and allies in North Carolina through voter education, advocacy, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
Public Wise’s website describes Funds+® as providing unrestricted operational grants for organizations working on voting rights and democracy. It says it partnered with more than 30 organizations in 2022, distributing over $2 million that year. The 2024 filing reports 27 grants totaling $1,276,293. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $150,000, with a median of $50,000.
The largest reported 2024 grants included $150,000 to National Redistricting Action Fund, $115,000 to Progress North Carolina Action, $101,293 to America Votes, and $75,000 to Mi Familia Vota. Other grants of $50,000 went to League of Conservation Voters Inc., Our Voice Our Vote, Sheriffs for Trusting Communities, Down Home North Carolina Inc., Rural Arizona Action, Vote Rev Action Fund, Siembra NC Greensboro, and NCAAT in Action.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christina Baal-Owens as Executive Director; Jessica Church as Political Director; Mark E Cruz as Data Steward; Jessica Hall as Operations Director; Katelyn Israelski as Chief of Staff; Maria Javier as Chief Information Officer; Christina Martin Kenny as Director of Fundraising; Emilomo Mwendapole as Partnership Manager; Gabriela Rivera as Partnerships Director; and Stephanie Miliano as Director.
Public Wise Inc is led by Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 10 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christina Baal-Owens
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$202K (2020) → $237K (2024)
Eric Laufer
Director & President
President → Director & President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Bernstein
Director & Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Miliano
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Jessica Hall
Operations Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$143K (2022) → $158K (2024)
Gabriela Rivera
Partnerships Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $158K (2024)
Christina Martin Kenny
Director of Fundraising
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$171K (2024)
Jessica Church
Political Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$142K (2024)
Kristen Dart
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clara Perlmutter
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reginald Bolding
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katelyn Israelski
Chief of Staff
Chief of Director → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$182K (2022) → $209K (2024)
Mark E. Cruz
Data Steward
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$135K (2022) → $142K (2024)
Emilomo Mwendapole
Partnership Manager
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $129K (2024)
Maria Javier
Chief Information Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$189K (2023) → $181K (2024)
Former officers (7)
- Former: Andrew Bernstein (2020–2023) — Director & Treasurer
- Former: Jacob Faber (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Shijuade Kadree (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Eli William-Szenes (2023) — Political Director
- Former: Sean O'Shea (2020–2022) — Director & Secretary
- Former: Eli B. Szenes-Strauss (2022) — Political Director
- Former: Maria Lee (2022) — Chief Information Officer
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 $237K, to Christina Baal-Owens (Executive Director). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Public Wise Inc
How much does Public Wise Inc give each year?
Public Wise Inc gave $1.3M across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 21 grants.
What is Public Wise Inc's typical grant size?
Public Wise Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $47,270, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Public Wise Inc that year got $40K on average.
Where does Public Wise Inc give grants?
Public Wise Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were North Carolina (25%) and Arizona (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Phoenix, AZ (4 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does Public Wise Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Public Wise Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (27 grants).
Who are Public Wise Inc's largest grantees?
Public Wise Inc's largest 2024 grantees include National Redistricting Action Fund ($150,000), Progress North Carolina Action ($115,000) and America Votes ($101,293), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Public Wise Inc?
Public Wise Inc reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.5M.
What does Public Wise Inc fund?
Public Wise’s stated mission is “to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people.” Its website says it provides unrestricted, operational grants to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations working on voting rights and democracy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Public Wise Inc?
Public Wise invites organizations to learn about partnership opportunities. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Public Wise Inc's EIN?
Public Wise Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2296539. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 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 May 15, 2022)
- 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 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Public Wise Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Sixteen Thirty Fund
Washington, DC
SIXTEEN THIRTY FUND supports social-change projects focused on areas including racial justice, voting access, health care, climate, and democracy, with work across the United States. In 2024, its grants ranged from $5,700 to $27.85 million, with a median of $115,000. It generally requires a written application, but the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$106.5M
Grants
318
Total Given
$236.4M
America Votes
Washington, DC
America Votes’ Education Fund makes grants to expand ballot access, voter education and participation, particularly among young people and communities of color, while its broader work supports democracy and voting rights. In 2025, grants ranged from $10,000 to $13.945 million, with a median of $500,000; its work spans more than 20 states, and grant dollars went mostly to recipients in Washington, DC. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.3M
Grants
119
Total Given
$168.6M
Tides Advocacy
West Hollywood, CA
Tides Advocacy funds social justice, environmental protection, and democracy work, including advocacy and political activity. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,500 to $3.45 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across the United States, with the largest shares in Delaware, D.C., New York, California, and Michigan. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$39.4M
Grants
192
Total Given
$29.5M
Open Society Action Fund Inc
New York, NY
Open Society Action Fund supports domestic and international policy advocacy and organizations working on democracy, civil and human rights, racial and gender justice, reproductive freedom, economic security, and related issues. In 2024, its grants had a median of $400,000, with awards ranging from about $40,000 to $16.4 million; its work spans U.S. issues and regions worldwide, though most reported grant dollars went to recipients in the District of Columbia and New York. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.6M
Grants
203
Total Given
$159.6M
Way to Win Action Fund Inc
Washington, DC
Way to Win Action Fund supports advocacy, grassroots organizing, civic engagement, and political campaigns advancing racial and economic justice, with a focus on data-driven, coalition-based strategies. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $1.165 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across the United States, especially in New York and Arizona. No unsolicited-request policy is stated.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
99
Total Given
$17.6M
Women Donors Network Action
San Francisco, CA
Women Donors Network Action funds advocacy, civic engagement, organizing, and movement infrastructure advancing gender, racial, economic, and climate justice, including leadership and capacity building. Its 2024 grants ranged from $15,000 to $400,000, with a median of $100,000, supporting organizations in key states, including New York, California, North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.3M
Grants
73
Total Given
$10.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Public Wise Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/public-wise-inc-morg_2f75c4eaafb740d5875a7f844fb683ca
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_842296539_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Public Wise Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/public-wise-inc-morg_2f75c4eaafb740d5875a7f844fb683ca},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Public Wise Inc'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.
Public Wise Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?