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Policy & Innovation Center

EIN 87-1401636 · San Diego, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE POLICY & INNOVATION CENTER'S (PIC) MISSION IS TO UNLOCK THE REGION'S POTENTIAL BY CULTIVATING AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS. OUR NICHE IS TO ADDRESS INTRACTABLE ISSUES THAT CAN ONLY BE SOLVED WITH CROSS-SECTOR, MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL COLLABORATIONS. PIC DEVELOPS, TESTS, AND IMPLEMENTS WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH AND POLICY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE RESILIENCE, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, QUALITY JOBS, AND BUILDING COMMUNITY WEALTH FOR DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 48%
Employees
23
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$774,120, ceo, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 96% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. SEE SCHEDULE O.USING RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS, THE POLICY & INNOVATION CENTER PRODUCED REGIONAL PLANS, INFORMED THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO'S CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, AND DEVELOPED MUNICIPAL FINANCING AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS, ALSO, THE POLICY & INNOVATION CENTER IDENTIFIED LOCAL GAPS IN BACCALAUREATE DEGREES TO ASSIST A COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TO OFFER FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS.
  2. SEE SCHEDULE O.APPLYING EQUITY FOCUSED RESEARCH TO OUR REGION'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES. FOUND SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES IN EVERY DOMAIN AND DEMOGRAPHIC, BUT SOME OF THE STARKEST WERE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME. COUNTINUED TO TRACK PROGRESS SAN DIEGO COUNTY YOUTH HAVE MADE DESPITE A VARIETY OF OBSTACLES FROM DISCRIMINATION TO HOMELESSNESS AND IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES FOR TARGETED ASSISTANCE. EXAMINED DRIVERS ON WATER PRICES AND POTENTIAL FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE WATER POVERTY.
  3. SEE SCHEDULE O.APPLICATIONS, CONTRACT PROPOSALS AND RESEARCH LED TO AWARDS TOTALING OVER $15 MILLION TO THE REGION, ALONGSIDE CONTINUED GRANTS OF $4.5 MILLION.
  4. $3.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN:(1) BRINGING TOGETHER AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND CONSENSUS AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, RESEARCHERS, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION;(2) COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA AND CONDUCTING RIGOROUS ORIGINAL RESEARCH TO HELP EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE REGION'S PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, HEALTH, HOUSING, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND MAKING THE RESULTS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE;(3) DEVELOPING AND HELPING IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS BASED ON THAT DATA RESEARCH;(4) HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES INCREASE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING AND IDENTIFY AND OBTAIN OTHER FUNDING RESOURCES TO ADDRESS PUBLIC NEEDS ACROSS THE REGION; AND(5) SHARING THE RESEARCH, RESULTS, POLICIES AND INNOVATIONS NATIONALLY, TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC IN OTHER REGIONS OF THE U.S.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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