The Workers Lab
The Workers Labs purpose is to give new ideas about increasing worker power a genuine changce to succeed and flourish. We envison a society where workers are powerful drivers of economic, social, and political transformation. To bring about that vision, we invest flexible dollars in a national network of leaders accross sectors to test new ideas.
The Workers Lab at a glance
In short: The Workers Lab gave $360K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), top state New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $360,000
- +188.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $60,000
- +236.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $62,500
- Total assets
- $1,205,453
- +29.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Workers Lab
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Workers Lab
Who The Workers Lab funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Starlight Ventures Corporation ($100K). Together the top 6 received $360K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 57 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Workers Lab gives
- Giving fell 81% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2022) to $1.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $360K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Starlight Ventures Corporation Brooklyn, NY | Innovation Fund Award | $100,000 |
| MT Labs LLC Pearland, TX | Innovation Fund Award | $100,000 |
| Mission Launch Baltimore, MD | Innovation Fund Award | $100,000 |
| Repose Birth Services LLC Edison, NJ | Innovation Fund Award | $25,000 |
| Nurse on Demand LLC Glenpool, OK | Innovation Fund Award | $25,000 |
| Trunk of My Car Cooperative Kailua, HI | Innovation Fund Award | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Workers Lab?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,205,453 | $3,229,125 | $3,064,919 | $360,000 | 6 | — |
| 2023 | $929,657 | $3,773,592 | $3,254,693 | $125,000 | 7 | — |
| 2022 | $1,282,663 | $3,488,027 | $3,228,020 | $105,000 | 2 | — |
| 2021 | $1,661,834 | $2,824,840 | $6,558,463 | $1,903,500 | 21 | — |
| 2020 | $4,729,406 | $7,566,044 | $6,792,711 | $1,405,207 | 21 | $1,628 |
About The Workers Lab
Based on IRS filings
The Workers Lab is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Oakland, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $360K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Workers Lab is led by Adrian Haro, CEO on every filing since 2020; 6 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adrian Haro
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$204K (2020) → $238K (2024)
Keesha Gaskins-Nathan
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Madeleine Case
Managing Director Workit Labs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024)
Joseph Allan Baclig
Director of Finance Operations
Manager of Accounting Data Technology → Director of Finance Operations, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $138K (2024)
Jeshua John
Director of Programs
Program Manager → Director of Programs, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$148K (2021) → $157K (2024)
Antonella Vassallo
Chief of Staff
Organizational Development Manager → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$109K (2021) → $141K (2024)
Catherine Huang
Chief Innovation Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$171K (2024)
Erica Smiley
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Fuller
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luz Vega-Marquis
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margot Brandenburg
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Eduardo Morales (2020–2023) — Vice President of Strategy
- Former: Sean Daniel Murphy (2020–2023) — Former Board Member
- Former: Thomas Lawler (2023) — Director of Development
- Former: Anna Fink (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Betsy Edasery (2020–2022) — Managing Director
- Former: Haeyoung Yoon (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Nidhi Mirani (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Adrian Meza (2021–2022) — Director of Finance Operations
- Former: Lyle Canceko (2021–2022) — Director of Programs
- Former: Tiffany M Ferguson (2020) — Program 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $238K, to Adrian Haro (CEO). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Workers Lab
How much does The Workers Lab give each year?
The Workers Lab gave $360K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $125K across 7 grants.
What is The Workers Lab's typical grant size?
The Workers Lab's median grant in 2024 was $62,500, and its average grant was $60,000, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Workers Lab give grants?
The Workers Lab's top state is New York, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (28%) and Maryland (28%).
Does The Workers Lab give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The Workers Lab's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Innovation Fund Award" (6 grants).
Who are The Workers Lab's largest grantees?
The Workers Lab's largest 2024 grantees include Starlight Ventures Corporation ($100,000), MT Labs LLC ($100,000) and Mission Launch ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Workers Lab?
The Workers Lab reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.
What is The Workers Lab?
The Workers Lab is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Oakland, CA. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2024.
What is The Workers Lab's EIN?
The Workers Lab's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4788124. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 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 November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Workers Lab funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Workers Lab's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Workers Lab down — hundreds of funders to go?