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POLICYLINK

OAKLAND, CA · EIN 943297479 · Form 990 · FY2020 · NTEE S21 · Community Improvement · Very Large (>$50M) · www.policylink.org
revenue
$62.0M
expenses
$18.7M
net assets
$63.5M
employees
90
volunteers
7
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

POLICYLINK IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION AND A NATIONAL RESEARCH AND ACTION INSTITUTE ADVANCING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY BY LIFTING UP WHAT WORKS.

profile · synthesized from sources

PolicyLink is a national research and advocacy institute working to advance racial and economic equity. They focus on policy change at local, state, and federal levels across various issues including housing, infrastructure, governance, and water equity. The organization partners with frontline groups and national organizations to develop and advocate for equitable solutions.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $3.47M
    JUST SOCIETY - THIS PORTFOLIO IS DEDICATED TO BUILDING POWER AND EXPANDING AGENCY TO ENSURE THAT ALL SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE JUST, FREE OF RACIAL BIAS, AND LEAD TO A VIBRANT DEMOCRACY WHERE ALL, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE, CAN PARTICIPATE AND PROSPER. TO DO SO, POLICYLINK PROVIDES REPRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND STRATEGIES TO COMMUNITY-BASED COALITIONS WORKING TOWARD EQUITY IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THIS INCLUDES ADVANCING POLICIES RELATED TO INEQUITABLE FINES, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ALTERNATIVES, AND THE NEEDS OF BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR. SPECIFIC PROJECTS INCLUDE POLICYLINK LEGAL; ALLIANCE FOR BOYS AND MEN OF COLOR; COMMUNITY SAFETY AND JUSTICE, FINES AND FEES; AND PUBLIC SAFETY METRICS.
  2. #2 $3.03M
    EQUITABLE ECONOMY - THIS PORTFOLIO IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING ECONOMIC INCLUSION AND OWNERSHIP TO ELIMINATE POVERTY, SHRINK INEQUALITY, AND INCREASE MOBILITY. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES ALL-IN-CITIES, NATIONAL EQUITY ATLAS, BAY AREA EQUITY ATLAS, THE FEDERAL JOB GUARANTEE, RACIAL WEALTH GAP, CORPORATE RACIAL EQUITY INDEX AND FINANCIAL SECURITY AND IS A BODY OF WORK DRIVEN BY DATA AND DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS THAT IS APPLIED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY PROPOSALS AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT TO SECURE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, INCLUDING PEOPLE IN LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EQUITABLE ECONOMY: ONE IN WHICH WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE GOOD JOBS, ECONOMIC SECURITY, RISING STANDARDS OF LIVING, AND INCREASED VOICE, POWER, AND OWNERSHIP.
named programs · 15 · from sources

what they call their work

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)
Advocacy and technical work to strengthen and implement the AFFH rule to combat housing discrimination and promote equitable development
Alliance for Housing Justice
Coalition-building initiative to advance grassroots-led housing justice movement infrastructure
Community Ownership and Equitable Acquisition Strategies
Supports strategies like Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) to take housing units out of the speculative market and put them into the hands of tenants or community-based organizations.
Governing For All
Works to remake governing systems and structures to ensure fair and just outcomes for all people, focusing on policy, legal theory, and regulatory processes.
Housing Futures
Develops resources and tools to advance a housing justice narrative and support equitable housing models that promote stability and community connection
Infrastructure Justice
Transforms infrastructure, climate, and post-disaster policies to ensure federal, state, and local investments serve people living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and advances mobility justice and climate justice.
SRF Advocates Forum
Nationwide community of practice co-anchored by PolicyLink to promote equitable and climate-resilient investments through State Revolving Funds
Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy Project
Three-year initiative to support community-based advocacy for equitable State Revolving Fund reforms in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee
Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy project
A three-year project supporting community-based organization advocacy on State Revolving Fund (SRF) reform in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee.
Spatial Futures Initiative
Policy hub for reparative spatial justice work in land and housing, including the Spatial Futures Fellowship that supports visionary leaders
Tenant Protections
Works to expand tenant protections across the country, including rent stabilization, eviction protections, and sealing eviction records.
Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship
Fellowship program that supports leaders in advancing infrastructure justice in frontline communities
Water Affordability for All
A campaign to build momentum and support leaders across the nation to advance policies ensuring safe and affordable drinking water for everyone.
Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus
National network of frontline leaders and organizations advancing equitable water and climate policies and solutions
We Are The Founders
Initiative to reshape American democracy through legal theory, policy standards, and civic engagement for a multiracial democracy
activities · 5 clusters

what they do

  • Advocacy for Housing Access & Equity 11 activities
    • Advancing climate-just disaster response and infrastructure policy
      Works to reshape infrastructure, climate, and post-disaster policies to direct public investments toward low-income communities. Identifies and promotes innovative disaster response and recovery approaches that advance climate justice in frontline communities.
    • Advocates for equitable housing and land use policies and narratives
      Supports the Alliance for Housing Justice and develops policy strategies and campaigns to advance housing as a human right, including promoting social housing models and protecting cities from preemption. Engages in narrative-building and policy advocacy at the intersection of housing, land, and racial justice.
    • Advocates for equitable housing, infrastructure, and disaster recovery policies
      Advances local, state, and federal policies that promote fair housing, safe drinking water, resilient infrastructure, and post-disaster recovery that centers low-income and frontline communities. Supports grassroots coalitions like the Alliance for Housing Justice and engages in state-level legislative development and preemption defense.
    • Advocates for equitable housing, infrastructure, and economic policies
      Advances local, state, and federal policies related to fair housing, safe and affordable drinking water, infrastructure investment, and equitable economic development. Supports grassroots coalitions like the Alliance for Housing Justice and protects cities from harmful preemption.
    • Conducts research to advance equity in industrial, housing, and spatial policy
      Produces research, standards, and tools to guide equitable policy development, including industrial policy to combat discrimination, reparative spatial justice in land and housing, and equitable housing models. Develops forward-looking infrastructure models centered on community input and climate resilience.
    • Designs forward-looking models for equitable and climate-resilient infrastructure
      Researches and promotes innovative disaster response, recovery, and infrastructure investment models that prioritize equity, community input, and climate justice in frontline communities.
    • Develops equitable infrastructure and industrial policy through research and standards
      Conducts research and collaboration to create actionable standards for government policies that address discrimination and advance equity in industrial and infrastructure policy. Develops forward-looking models for infrastructure funding that prioritize community input, equity, and climate resilience.
    • Equity-focused research and policy development
      Conducts research and data analysis to produce actionable standards and forward-looking models for equitable industrial, housing, and infrastructure policy. Focuses on combating discrimination, advancing climate justice, and guiding government investment with community input.
    • Housing justice policy advocacy and coalition support
      Advances fair housing and equitable infrastructure policies at all levels of government. Supports the Alliance for Housing Justice and collaborates with power-building organizations to develop legislation, tools, and strategies while protecting cities from preemption.
    • Policy advocacy for housing, infrastructure, and economic equity
      Advances local, state, and federal policies on fair housing, safe and affordable drinking water, infrastructure, and equitable economy. Supports state-level policy development through collaboration with power-building organizations, including legislative drafting, strategy tools, and defending cities from abusive preemption.
    • Support for grassroots housing justice movement
      Supports the Alliance for Housing Justice, a coalition building infrastructure for a grassroots-led housing justice movement. Hosted a townhall webinar titled 'Making Housing a Human Right in California' in April 2024 to advance public dialogue.
  • Housing Justice Research & Narrative Development 9 activities
    • Builds leadership and capacity for reparative spatial justice
      Operates the Spatial Futures Initiative as a policy hub for reparative spatial justice in land and housing, including a fellowship program to develop leaders in the field.
    • Builds leadership capacity in reparative spatial justice
      Maintains the Spatial Futures Initiative as a policy hub for reparative spatial justice in land and housing, including a fellowship program to develop leaders in the field.
    • Capacity building for reparative spatial justice
      Operates the Spatial Futures Initiative as a policy hub for reparative spatial justice in land and housing, including a fellowship program to support emerging leaders.
    • Capacity building for reparative spatial justice
      Maintains the Spatial Futures Initiative as a policy hub for reparative spatial justice in land and housing, including a fellowship program to support emerging leaders in the field.
    • Conducts research to advance housing justice and reparative spatial futures
      Produces research reports, tools, and narratives to support equitable housing models and land-use policies, including the publication of 'Housing for the People' (2025), 'Grounding Justice' (2024), and the Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit (2023). Leads the Spatial Futures Initiative and develops resources for reparative spatial justice in housing and land.
    • Develops and publishes tools, reports, and frameworks for housing and spatial justice
      Creates and disseminates practical resources such as the Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit, reports on social housing, and frameworks for reparative spatial futures in land and housing to support grassroots movements and government action.
    • Publishes research reports and toolkits on housing justice and public governance
      Releases public reports and resources such as the 'Housing for the People' report (2025), 'Grounding Justice' executive summary (2024), the Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit (2023), and 'The Values We Share' report on public perspectives about government.
    • Publishing housing justice and spatial equity resources
      Produces and publishes research reports, toolkits, and executive summaries to advance housing justice and reparative spatial futures, including 'Housing for the People' (2025), 'Grounding Justice' (2024), and the Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit (2023).
    • Publishing housing justice research and tools
      Develops and publishes resources such as the 'Housing for the People' report (2025), the 'Grounding Justice' executive summary (2024), and the Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit (2023) to support equitable housing models and advance a housing justice narrative.
  • State Revolving Fund Equity Advocacy 6 activities
    • Advances water, climate, and infrastructure equity through State Revolving Fund advocacy
      Leads and co-anchors national advocacy initiatives—the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus and the SRF Advocates Forum—and supports state-level campaigns in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee to reform State Revolving Fund policies for greater equity and climate resilience.
    • Leads national coalitions and networks on water, climate, and infrastructure equity
      Anchors and co-anchors national advocacy networks such as the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus and the SRF Advocates Forum, supporting community-based organizations in advancing equitable water and infrastructure policies. Leads the Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy project in four Southern states.
    • National coalition leadership on water equity and climate resilience
      Anchors the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus, a national network advancing policies and community solutions at the intersection of water, climate, and justice. Also co-anchors the SRF Advocates Forum, a nationwide community of practice promoting equitable and climate-resilient investments through State Revolving Funds.
    • Organizes national coalitions and summits on climate, water, and infrastructure equity
      Anchors and co-anchors national networks such as the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus and the SRF Advocates Forum, and organizes a national summit in 2026 to reimagine public service systems. Supports community-based organizations in advocating for equitable State Revolving Fund investments in Southern states.
    • State-level advocacy for State Revolving Fund reform
      Leads the Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy project to support community-based organizations in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee in advocating for State Revolving Fund reform to ensure more equitable infrastructure investment.
    • Water equity and climate resilience advocacy
      Anchors the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus and co-anchors the SRF Advocates Forum to advance equitable, climate-resilient water infrastructure policies. Leads the Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy project to support community-based advocacy for State Revolving Fund reform in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee.
  • Democracy Reform Litigation & Advocacy 5 activities
    • Advances equitable governance and multiracial democracy through policy advocacy
      Advocates for systemic changes in norms, policies, and governance structures at local, state, and federal levels to build a multiracial democracy and ensure government serves all people equitably. This includes advancing inclusive regulatory frameworks and challenging discriminatory practices.
    • Advances equitable governance and multiracial democracy through policy advocacy
      Leads national and state-level advocacy efforts to transform governance systems, advance equity, and build multiracial democracy by influencing norms, policies, and institutions. This includes shaping regulatory frameworks, litigation strategies, and democratic standards to ensure inclusive decision-making.
    • Advances national policy and advocacy for multiracial democracy and inclusive governance
      Leads efforts to transform norms, policies, and governance structures at local, state, and federal levels to advance a multiracial democracy and inclusive public systems. This includes developing legal theories, regulatory strategies, and litigation approaches to reshape democratic institutions.
    • Advocacy for equitable governance and multiracial democracy
      Advances policies and public demand to realize a governing system that works for all, with a focus on building a multiracial democracy through changes in norms, policies, agencies, and state-level governance. Includes developing legal theories and litigation strategies to reshape regulations and standards for inclusive democracy.
    • Advocacy for equitable governance and multiracial democracy
      Advances policies and public demand to build a multiracial democracy through changes in norms, governance structures, and legal frameworks at local, state, and federal levels. Organizes national summits and develops legal theories and litigation strategies to reshape regulations for inclusive democracy.
  • Uncategorized 9 activities
    • Conducts public opinion research on governance and shared values
      Researches American public perspectives on fairness, equal protection, and government accountability, including the publication of the report 'The Values We Share: What People Want From Government'.
    • Conducts research on public values and perspectives on governance and fairness
      Studies American public opinion on fairness, equal protection, and expectations for government, producing findings that inform policy and advocacy strategies for equitable governance.
    • Conducts research to develop equitable policy standards and governance models
      Produces research and actionable standards to guide government on ending discrimination, advancing equity through industrial policy, and improving public trust in governance. Includes analysis of public values and perspectives on fairness and equal protection.
    • Hosts public engagement events on housing and democracy
      Organizes townhall webinars and public discussions on critical policy issues, such as the April 2024 event 'Making Housing a Human Right in California', to advance public dialogue and policy change.
    • Hosts public events and summits to advance policy change
      Organizes national summits, townhalls, and webinars—such as the 2026 national summit on reimagining public service and the 2024 California housing rights townhall—to build public demand and shape policy agendas.
    • National summit organizing for democratic redesign
      Organizing a national summit in August 2026 to reimagine and redesign how the nation serves its people, focused on systemic transformation of public institutions.
    • Organizes national summits, townhalls, and coalitions to build collective action for equity
      Convenes national networks and public forums—including a planned 2026 national summit and past townhall webinars—to mobilize stakeholders around reimagining public service, housing justice, and democratic reform.
    • Public opinion research on governance and fairness
      Conducted and published research on American views regarding fairness, equal protection, and public expectations of government, including the report 'The Values We Share: What People Want From Government'.
    • Research and development of equitable policy models
      Conducts research and data analysis to develop forward-looking models for infrastructure, industrial policy, and governance that prioritize equity and community input. Produces actionable standards to guide government on remedying discrimination and advancing equity.
financials · form 990 · fy2020

the money

revenue
Total revenue$61.96M
Contributions & grants$60.28M97%
Program service revenue$1.51M2%
Investment income$92K0%
Other revenue$77K
expenses
Total expenses$18.68M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$10.86M
Grants paid out$1.76M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$67.15M
Cash$24.39M
Investments$32.48M
Liabilities$3.60M
Net assets$63.55M
Liquid reserves36.5 mo
1 years on record · 2020–2020
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2020

who runs it

paid leadership · 18
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MICHAEL A MCAFEE PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $502K
ANGELA GLOVER BLACKWELL FOUNDER IN RESIDENCE 40 $359K
JOSHUA F KIRSCHENBAUM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $342K
MICHAEL J HASSID CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $287K
KALIMA K ROSE SENIOR FELLOW 40 $248K
AMANDA M NAVARRO CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER 40 $223K
JENNIFER E THOMPSON DIRECTOR OF HR AND ADMINISTRATION 40 $222K
SARAH C TREUHAFT VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH 40 $213K
ANAND SUBRAMANIAN MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $207K
MARC A PHILPART II MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $205K
EUGENE Y C CHAN CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER 40 $204K
GLENDA JOHNSON DIRECTOR, DIGITAL COMM. 40 $194K
CHIONE L FLEGAL MANAGING DIRECTOR 40 $190K
MONTANA K RANE SENIOR SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 40 $187K
TRACEY L ROSS DIRECTOR 40 $164K
MARIAM WAKLI RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER 40 $163K
SYBIL G GRANT SENIOR ASSOCIATE 40 $161K
DALILA MADISON ALMQUIST DIR. OF CONSTITUENCY ALIGNMENT 40 $149K
board members · 7
  • DOLORES ACEVEDO-GARCIA — DIRECTOR
  • GEOFFREY CANADA — DIRECTOR
  • JOAN WALSH — DIRECTOR
  • RADHIKA FOX — DIRECTOR
  • RICHARD BARON — DIRECTOR
  • SHERI DUNN BERRY — DIRECTOR, CHAIR
  • STEWART KWOH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 6

who they work with

  • Alliance for Housing Justice Partner — Coalition working to advance grassroots-led housing justice movement infrastructure, supported by PolicyLink.
  • SRF Advocates Forum Partner — Nationwide community of practice co-anchored by PolicyLink to advance equitable and climate-resilient State Revolving Fund investments.
  • Summit 2026 Partner — Collaborating to organize a national summit in August 2026 to reimagine democratic governance.
  • Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship Partner — Collaborative initiative to support leaders advancing infrastructure justice in frontline communities
  • Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus Partner — National network anchored by PolicyLink to advance equitable water and climate solutions.
  • We Are The Founders Partner — Collaborative initiative focused on building a true multiracial democracy, co-advanced by PolicyLink.