Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc
The Washington Center for Equitable Growth is a Washington, D.C.-based public charity and nonpartisan economic policy organization. It supports policy-relevant research on how economic inequality affects economic growth and stability, and works to connect research with policymakers.
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc at a glance
In short: Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc gave $751K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), top state California. 67% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $750,680
- +0.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,918
- -12.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $12,750,745
- +69.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 67% first-time grantees (10 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (20% 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 Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Programs page says Equitable Growth does not accept unsolicited requests (described there as unsolicited proposals) and refers to a 2015 request for proposals that is closed. The funding-opportunities page says it periodically releases requests for proposals; prospective applicants can look for announced opportunities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 740 15Th Street Nw 8Th Floor, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 545-6002
Website: https://equitablegrowth.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harvard University ($97K). Together the top 10 received $661K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 57 grants of 108 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were California (20%), Massachusetts (13%), Maryland (12%), Wisconsin (11%), and Illinois (11%). The organization is based in Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc open to new grantees?
67%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 15 grantees (67%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $48K first-time, $30K repeat.
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 $750K (2023) to $1.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $751K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Research Grant | $97,200 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | Research Grant | $80,000 |
| University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Research Grant | $80,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Research Grant | $79,200 |
| Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | Research Grant | $77,520 |
| University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD | Research Grant | $75,260 |
| University of California Berkeley Los Angeles, CA | Research Grant | $66,500 |
| American University Washington, DC | Research Grant | $30,000 |
| Arizona State University Tempe, AZ | Research Grant | $30,000 |
| University of South Carolina Columbia, SC | Research Grant | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,750,745 | $11,966,024 | $6,723,019 | $750,680 | 16 | $49,237 |
| 2023 | $7,546,618 | $6,349,635 | $7,699,154 | $750,300 | 14 | $937 |
| 2022 | $9,084,135 | $6,193,469 | $8,996,793 | $980,356 | 18 | $1,187 |
| 2021 | $11,979,868 | $8,578,592 | $8,493,609 | $1,302,795 | 25 | $1,387 |
| 2020 | $11,993,019 | $10,852,740 | $9,067,396 | $1,558,560 | 35 | $17,255 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to advance evidence-backed ideas and policies that promote strong, stable, and broad-based economic growth. Its research interests include how inequality in wages, income, wealth, job quality, and benefits may affect growth and stability. Its website identifies four drivers of growth for its funded research: macroeconomics and inequality, market structure, the labor market, and human capital. It supports varied methods and disciplines and expresses particular interest in new data and research relevant to policy.
The 2024 grants listed in the filing were designated as research grants and went to universities and other university-related recipients. For example, the University of Chicago describes its mission as creating and communicating knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students. The University of Rochester describes its mission as providing higher education, research, and charitable patient-care services. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the funder’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Equitable Growth reported 16 grants totaling $750,680. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $97,200, with a median of $30,000. The largest listed awards were $97,200 to Harvard University, $80,000 each to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of California, Los Angeles, and $79,200 to the University of Chicago. Each was identified as a research grant. Other listed awards included $77,520 to Carnegie Mellon University, $75,260 to the University of Maryland College Park, and $66,500 to the University of California Berkeley.
Equitable Growth periodically releases requests for proposals open to researchers affiliated with U.S. universities. Its early-career grants are for eligible researchers affiliated with a U.S. university: current Ph.D. students in the dissertation phase may receive $15,000 for one year, while other eligible early-career scholars may receive $30,000 over one to two years. The affiliated university must administer the latter grants; graduate-student awards may also need university administration. International students at U.S. universities are eligible to apply. Grants may support salary and benefits, research assistance, data purchases, experiments, and conference participation, but cannot cover indirect overhead. The organization’s filing describes periodic interim narrative and financial reports, including reports signed by the principal investigator and a university officer, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steve Daetz as board chair, Byron Auguste as board secretary, and Ira Fishman as board treasurer. It lists Shayna Strom as president and CEO; Melissa Grober-Morrow and Janelle Jones as vice presidents; Sameera Fazili and Mary Beth Maxwell as members at large; and Jessica Presher as senior director of human resources, operations, and finance.
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc is led by Shayna Strom, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2022); 9 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shayna Strom
President & CEO
Interim President → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$67K (2022) → $305K (2024)
Steve Daetz
Board Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, Treasurer & Chairman at Aug', 2022
Secretary, Treasurer & Chairman at Aug' → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Waskey
Senior Director of Communications
Communications Director → Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, 2022
Senior Director of Communications & Marketing → Senior Director of Communications, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$138K (2021) → $171K (2024)
Korin Davis
Director of Academic Program
Director of Academic Programs → Director of Academic Program, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$177K (2023) → $154K (2024)
Gina Salerno
Director of Development
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$141K (2024)
Jessica Presher
Senior Director, Hr, Operations & Finance
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$47K (2024)
Loria Lopez
Director of Hr
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$153K (2024)
Melissa Grober-Morrow
Vice President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $204K (2024)
Janelle Jones
Vice President & Policy
Vice President & Policy - Started Nov → Vice President & Policy, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$10K (2023) → $205K (2024)
David Mitchell
Senior Fellow
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$152K (2024)
Byron Auguste
Board Secretary
Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer → Assistant Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
Assistant Secretary & Treasurer → Board Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ira Fishman
Board Treasurer
Member at Large → Board Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Maxwell
Member at Large
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sameera Fazili
Member at Large
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Edward Paisley (2020–2023) — Editorial Director & Senior Ad
- Former: Katherine Banks (2020–2023) — Director of Finance & Adm-
- Former: Mehrsa Baradaran (2020–2023) — Member at Large
- Former: Jonathan Fisher (2022–2023) — Research Advisor
- Former: Laura Alexander (2023) — Director of Markets & Competition Policy
- Former: John Podesta (2020–2022) — Chairman of Board
- Former: Katherine Bahn (2021–2022) — Director of Labor Market Policy & Chief Economist
- Former: Michelle Holder PhD (2021–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Maryam Janani (2022) — Policy Director
- Former: Casey Schoeneberger (2020–2021) — Acting President
- Former: Michael Kades (2020–2021) — Director of Markets
- Former: Alix Gould-Werth (2021) — Director of Family Economic Security Policy
- Former: Amanda Fischer (2020) — Policy Dirctor
- Former: Claudia Sahm (2020) — Director of Macroeconomic Policy
- Former: Gregory Leiserson (2020) — Director of Tax Policy
- Former: Heather Boushey (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Tara Dawson McGuiness (2020) — Member at Large
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 $305K, to Shayna Strom (President & CEO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc
How much does Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc give each year?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc gave $751K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $750K across 14 grants.
What is Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's typical grant size?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $46,918, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc that year got $52K on average.
Where does Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc give grants?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's top state is California, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Massachusetts (13%) and Maryland (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and College Park, MD (2 grants).
Does Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grant" (16 grants).
Who are Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's largest grantees?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Harvard University ($97,200), University of Maryland College Park ($90,260 across 2 grants) and University of Wisconsin Madison ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc reported $12.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.0M.
What does Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to advance evidence-backed ideas and policies that promote strong, stable, and broad-based economic growth. Its research interests include how inequality in wages, income, wealth, job quality, and benefits may affect growth and stability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc?
The Programs page says Equitable Growth does not accept unsolicited requests (described there as unsolicited proposals) and refers to a 2015 request for proposals that is closed. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's EIN?
Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4464400. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 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 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/washington-center-for-equitable-growth-inc-morg_9b3bbe6d50b0487190c129d1bac75a8b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474464400_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Washington Center for Equitable Growth Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/washington-center-for-equitable-growth-inc-morg_9b3bbe6d50b0487190c129d1bac75a8b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Washington Center for Equitable Growth 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.
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