Public Wise Research and Education Fund
Public Wise Research and Education Fund is a public charity based in New York, New York, formed in 2020. It conducts nonpartisan polling and research to address gaps in voter and voting-rights research, and its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working on civic engagement, democracy, accountability, and related issues.
Public Wise Research and Education Fund at a glance
In short: Public Wise Research and Education Fund gave $315K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), top state North Carolina. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $315,000
- -52.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,500
- -52.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $525,882
- -72.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (5 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (31% 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 Research and Education Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 270 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 792-3912
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Public Wise Research and Education Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fair Count Atlanta ($50K). Together the top 10 received $315K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 18 grants of 37 (49%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, reported grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (31%), New York (17%), Georgia (16%), Illinois (16%), and Washington, DC (8%). The listed grants also included recipients in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Public Wise Research and Education Fund open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 10 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $315K (2024) to $1.1M (2022). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $315K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Count Atlanta Atlanta, GA | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Chicago, IL | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Democracy North Carolina Morrisville, NC | Financial Support | $50,000 |
| Generation Vote Education Fund Woodside, NY | Financial Support | $30,000 |
| American Oversight Inc Washington, DC | Financial Support | $25,000 |
| Drag Out the Vote New York, NY | Financial Support | $25,000 |
| Arizona Native Vote Phoenix, AZ | Financial Support | $25,000 |
| North Carolina Black Alliance Inc Raleigh, NC | Financial Support | $25,000 |
| Repairers of the Breach Goldsboro, NC | Financial Support | $23,000 |
| Black Wall USA Inc Abington, PA | Financial Support | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Public Wise Research and Education Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $525,882 | $721,774 | $2,003,780 | $315,000 | 10 | $-13,219 |
| 2023 | $1,889,382 | $3,355,380 | $1,667,709 | $660,000 | 10 | $35,253 |
| 2022 | $62,755 | $1,506,210 | $2,078,364 | $1,065,000 | 17 | $-57,060 |
| 2021 | $591,880 | $599,902 | $8,022 | — | — | $906 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its mission is to conduct “nonpartisan, nonprofit, polling and research to fill the gaps in voter and voting rights research to complement ongoing studies being conducted by others in the field.”
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. Democracy North Carolina describes its work as strengthening democratic structures and building power among disenfranchised communities. Arizona Native Vote says it seeks to increase civic engagement and election participation in tribal and rural communities in northeast Arizona. The North Carolina Black Alliance describes work on state-level systemic change, including voting rights and other intersecting issues. American Oversight says it advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public’s right to government records. Repairers of the Breach describes its work as educating and training faith leaders and educating the public about shared religious faith.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported making 10 grants totaling $315,000. Grants ranged from $12,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $25,000. All listed grants were designated for “financial support.”
The largest grants were $50,000 each to Fair Count Atlanta, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, and Democracy North Carolina. Other grants included $30,000 to Generation Vote Education Fund; $25,000 each to American Oversight, Drag Out the Vote, Arizona Native Vote, and North Carolina Black Alliance; $23,000 to Repairers of the Breach; and $12,000 to Black Wall USA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christina Baal-Owens as executive director, Jessie Kalbfeld as research director, and Sara Moore as deputy research director. It lists Eric Laufer as director and board president, and Andy Bernstein, Kristen Dart, Stephanie Miliano, Clara Perlmutter, and Dr. Reginald Bolding as directors.
Public Wise Research and Education Fund is led by Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christina Baal-Owens
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Laufer
Director & Board President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessie Kalbfeld
Research Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$175K (2022) → $115K (2024)
Andy Bernstein
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Dart
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Miliano
Director
On filings since 2021
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
Sara Moore
Deputy Research Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$113K (2022) → $127K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jacob Faber PhD (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Shijuade Kadree (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sean O'Shea (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 $127K, to Sara Moore (Deputy Research Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Public Wise Research and Education Fund
How much does Public Wise Research and Education Fund give each year?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund gave $315K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $660K across 10 grants.
What is Public Wise Research and Education Fund's typical grant size?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $31,500, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Public Wise Research and Education Fund that year got $23K on average.
Where does Public Wise Research and Education Fund give grants?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund's top state is North Carolina, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Georgia (16%).
Does Public Wise Research and Education Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Public Wise Research and Education Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (10 grants).
Who are Public Wise Research and Education Fund's largest grantees?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Fair Count Atlanta ($50,000), National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum ($50,000) and Democracy North Carolina ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Public Wise Research and Education Fund?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund reported $526K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $722K.
What does Public Wise Research and Education Fund fund?
The organization states that its mission is to conduct “nonpartisan, nonprofit, polling and research to fill the gaps in voter and voting rights research to complement ongoing studies being conducted by others in the field.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Public Wise Research and Education Fund?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Public Wise Research and Education Fund's EIN?
Public Wise Research and Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2355000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Public Wise Research and Education Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/public-wise-research-and-education-fund-morg_5e08ac7970074cb29408a2992064ac3f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_852355000_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Public Wise Research and Education Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/public-wise-research-and-education-fund-morg_5e08ac7970074cb29408a2992064ac3f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Research and Education Fund'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.
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