Urban Institute
Washington, D.C.–based think tank
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The Urban Institute has been categorized as "nonpartisan", "liberal", and "left-leaning". In 2020, the Urban Institute co-hosted the second annual Sadie T.M. Alexander Conference for Economics and Related Fields with The Sadie Collective in Washington, D.C.
History and funding
The Urban Institute was established in 1968 by the Lyndon B. Johnson administration to study the nation's urban problems and evaluate the Great Society initiatives embodied in more than 400 laws passed in the prior four years. Johnson hand-selected economists and civic leaders such as Kermit Gordon, McGeorge Bundy, Irwin Miller, Arjay Miller, Richard Neustadt, Cyrus Vance, and Robert McNamara. William Gorham, former Assistant Secretary for Health, Education and Welfare, was selected as its first president and served from 1968 to 2000. Gradually, Urban's research and funding base broadened.
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Organization
Urban Institute's more than 600 staff works in several research divisions and program areas: Family and Financial Well-Being; Health Policy; Housing and Communities; Justice and Safety; Nonprofits and Philanthropy; Race and Equity; Research to Action; Tax and Income Supports; Technology and Data; Upward Mobility; and Work, Education, and Labor. The institute also houses the Urban Institute–Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center, the WorkRise network and Housing Matters.
The Institute works with the Association of Fundraising Professionals to produce the Fundraising Effectiveness Project. This report provides a summary of data from several different donor software firms and other data providers such as Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, NeonCRM, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, DataLake, DonorTrends, eTapestry, ResultsPlus, and ClearViewCRM. According to the report, donors gave 3% more in 2016 than 2015, but getting $100 cost nonprofits $95.
Staff
Sarah Rosen Wartell, a public policy executive and housing markets expert, became the third president of the Urban Institute in February 2012. She succeeded Robert D. Reischauer, former head of the Congressional Budget Office. Reischauer succeeded William Gorham, founding president, in 2000.
Most Urban Institute researchers are economists, social scientists, or public policy and administration researchers. Others are mathematicians, statisticians, city planners, engineers, or computer scientists. A few have backgrounds in medicine, law, or arts and letters. Since at least 2015, the institute's DEI program has resulted in staff being approximately 60% female identifying, and 25% minority staff.
In 2021, the Urban Institute Employees Union (UIEU) was formed and is affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. In 2024, ratification of the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was reached.
Board of trustees
As of 2026, the board members were: Annette Nazareth (chair), Raphael Bostic (vice chair), Diana Farrell (vice chair), W. Matthew Kelly (vice chair), J. Adam Abram, Rosie Allen-Herring, Margaret Anadu, Roy L. Austin, Kenneth Bacon, Karan Bhatia, G. T. Bynum, Jay Carney, Shaun Donovan, Tony Fratto, Alexandra Reeve Givens, Edward Glaeser, John Goodman, Heather Higginbottom, Ruth Marcus, Mary J. Miller, Michael A. Nutter, Eduardo Padrón, M. Lee Pelton, John Wallis Rowe, Patti B. Saris, Ashley Swearengin, David A. Thomas, Marta Tienda, Sarah Rosen Wartell, Neal S. Wolin.
Political stance
The Urban Institute has been referred to as "nonpartisan", "liberal", and "left-leaning". According to a study by U.S. News & World Report most political campaign donations by Urban Institute employees go to Democratic politicians. Between 2003 and 2010, Urban Institute employees' made $79,529 in political contributions, none of which went to the Republican Party.
Assets
As of 2024, the Urban Institute had assets of $311,581,937.