PolicyLink

What PolicyLink does

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute founded in 1999 and headquartered in Oakland, California, operating as a 501(c)(3) public charity. The organization works to advance the laws, policies, and public demand necessary to realize a nation that 'governs for all,' focusing on racial and economic equity across housing, water, infrastructure, transportation, corporate accountability, and democratic governance. PolicyLink serves a beneficiary population of approximately 100 million Americans living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, with targeted place-based engagement in California (15 million residents in/near poverty) and Puerto Rico (2.1 million residents in/near poverty).

The organization's core 'products' are research, data tools, and policy frameworks rather than commercial software. These include the National Equity Atlas and Bay Area Atlas (equity data platforms), the Civil Rights Audit Standards (the first such framework for U.S. businesses), the CEO Blueprint for Racial Equity, Corporate Performance Standards on Racial and Economic Equity, the Housing Antidisplacement Toolkit, the Spatial Futures Initiative, and The People's Score legislative scoring approach. Distribution occurs through a primary website, six+ affiliated microsites, the annual PolicyLink Summit (running since 2002, drawing 650–3,000+ attendees), podcast and video series, and a coalition cascade via caucuses including Transportation Equity and Water Equity and Climate Resilience.

PolicyLink's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than fee-based: revenue derives from charitable contributions from foundations, individuals, and corporate partners, with an affiliated PolicyLink Equity Action Network supporting programmatic work. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Sandra Gasca and led by CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere, supported by ~70+ staff organized under C-suite officers covering research, operations, finance, philanthropy, people, impact, strategy, and communications. It holds Charity Navigator's four-star rating and Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency, indicating institutional-quality financial management.

Name

PolicyLink

Legal name

PolicyLink

Website

https://policylink.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PolicyLink is a 501(c)(3) national research and action institute that produces equity data tools (National Equity Atlas), corporate and policy standards, and coalition infrastructure to advance racial and economic equity for low-income communities and communities of color in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN), Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research (EDADADAF)

Keywords

• Equity policy research
• Nonprofit research institute
• Racial equity advocacy
• Community development research
• Equity data tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) public charity, PolicyLink's primary revenue comes from charitable donations, grants, and contributions from foundations, individuals, and corporate partners supporting its equity and democracy mission.
2. PolicyLink Equity Action Network: PolicyLink operates PolicyLink Equity Action Network as an affiliated entity, likely supporting expanded advocacy and programmatic work under the organization's mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute that produces equity-focused research, data tools, policy frameworks, standards, and convenings to advance laws and policies that govern for all. Its primary assets include the National Equity Atlas data platform, the Bay Area Atlas regional tracker, the Corporate Racial Equity Alliance standards, and an annual national Summit convening thousands of equity leaders. The organization delivers research, advocacy, coalition building, and partner support to governments, corporations, and civil society organizations working on racial, economic, and infrastructure equity.

Product overview

PolicyLink is a national research and action institute, not a traditional technology product company. Its offerings consist primarily of research publications, data tools, standards frameworks, podcasts, and advocacy programs. The core data tools include the National Equity Atlas (a racial and economic equity data platform) and the Bay Area Atlas (regional equity tracking). PolicyLink also produces standards frameworks including Civil Rights Audit Standards, the CEO Blueprint for Racial Equity, and Corporate Performance Standards on Racial and Economic Equity. Additional offerings include the Housing Antidisplacement Toolkit, podcasts (Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life, Radical Imagination), video series (In The Making), commentaries, publications, and the Spatial Futures Initiative. These products collectively support PolicyLink's mission to advance policies for a nation that governs for all.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Corporate Racial Equity Alliance: A collaborative initiative co-founded by PolicyLink with FSG and JUST Capital to develop business standards for racial equity and inclusion in corporate practices.
• National Equity Atlas
• Bay Area Atlas
• Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus
• Transportation Equity Caucus
• We Are The Founders
• Spatial Futures Initiative

Products and services

• National Equity Atlas National data platform equipping movement leaders and policymakers with comprehensive racial and economic equity data across the United States.
• Bay Area Atlas Regional equity tracking platform providing data on demographics, economic opportunity, health, climate, and governance across the Bay Area.
• Housing Antidisplacement Toolkit Resource toolkit for communities and policymakers addressing housing displacement and expanding housing opportunity for low-income communities of color.
• Civil Rights Audit Standards Standards framework for U.S. businesses to conduct civil rights audits, promote nondiscrimination, and advance responsible business practices.
• Corporate Performance Standards on Racial and Economic Equity Standards framework providing corporate performance expectations on racial and economic equity, designed to drive measurable business practice change.
• CEO Blueprint for Racial Equity Guidelines for CEOs and senior executives on how to analyze and address their companies' impact on racial equity.
• Investor Blueprint Blueprint for institutional investors on how to align investment decisions and stewardship with racial and economic equity objectives.
• The People's Score Legislative scoring methodology that assesses how well proposed bills improve fairness in outcomes, designed to support accountable and responsive democracy.
• Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life (Documentary Podcast) Documentary podcast exploring what it takes to build a thriving, multiracial democracy in service of human flourishing.
• Radical Imagination Podcast series featuring conversations with thinkers and changemakers focused on radical solutions to pressing societal problems.
• In The Making (Video Series) Video series hosted by Baratunde Thurston with PolicyLink leadership, exploring the unfinished work of democracy and building next practices together.
• Spatial Futures Initiative Policy hub for reparative spatial justice work in land and housing, including the Spatial Futures Fellowship supporting leaders visioning equitable land and housing futures.
• PolicyLink Summits (national equity convenings) National equity summits convening thousands of movement leaders, policymakers, and corporate partners to advance equitable governance. The 2022 founding event drew 650 attendees, with later summits drawing up to 3,000+ attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• PolicyLink Summit 2026 expected to draw thousands of attendees to shape the future of equitable governance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and major.

• Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable CommunitiesfoundingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002The PolicyLink Summit was launched in partnership with the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. The Summit was founded as the first national convening to position equity, the environment, and the economy on equal footing.
• FSGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSG is a key co-founder of the Corporate Racial Equity Alliance alongside PolicyLink and JUST Capital. FSG brings expertise in strategy, evaluation, and collective impact to develop groundbreaking business standards for racial equity and inclusion.
• JUST CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJUST Capital co-founded the Corporate Racial Equity Alliance with PolicyLink and FSG. JUST Capital brings expertise in corporate performance measurement and stakeholder capitalism to develop equity standards for businesses.
• Transportation Equity CaucuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink chairs the Transportation Equity Caucus, a network of non-profit organizations working collaboratively to transform transportation systems in all communities, especially those most impacted by economic insecurity. The Caucus advances transportation equity nationally through advocacy, capacity building, and organizing.
• Water Equity and Climate Resilience CaucuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink anchors the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus, a national network of frontline leaders and allies advancing policies and community solutions at the intersection of water, climate, and justice. The caucus sets strategy, grows power and policy momentum, and advances a national narrative for equitable water and climate solutions.
• Southern SRF Analysis and Advocacy Project PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year project supporting community-based organization advocacy on State Revolving Fund (SRF) reform in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee to advance equitable water infrastructure investments.
• SRF Advocates ForummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink co-anchors the SRF Advocates Forum, a nationwide community of practice focused on pursuing more equitable and climate-resilient investments of the State Revolving Funds established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Alliance for Housing JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink supports the Alliance for Housing Justice, a coalition working to advance the infrastructure needed for a powerful, grassroots-led housing justice movement.
• Spatial Futures InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink created the Spatial Futures Initiative (spatialfutures.org), a policy hub for reparative spatial justice work in land and housing. Through the Spatial Futures Fellowship, the initiative supports leaders visioning equitable land and housing futures.
• Constitutional Accountability CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink collaborates with Constitutional Accountability Center on legal frameworks around the Fourteenth Amendment and equal protection to advance the organization's governing for all agenda.
• Worthy Strategy GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorthy Strategy Group conducted extensive research on American views on fairness and equal protection commissioned by PolicyLink, including in-depth interviews and metaphor elicitation techniques with demographically and ideologically diverse participants.
• Communities First Infrastructure AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink partners with the Communities First Infrastructure Alliance on the Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship for public sector leaders.
• Race Forward (Government Alliance on Race and Equity)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink partners with Race Forward's Government Alliance on Race and Equity on the Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship for public sector leaders.
• Baratunde ThurstonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaratunde Thurston hosts the 'In The Making' video series with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere, exploring the unfinished work of democracy and building what's next together.
• Puerto Rico-Based Partners and EcosystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicyLink works with an ecosystem of Puerto Rico-based partners including NGOs, community-based groups, and organizations reimagining approaches to development and shifting power from central government to municipalities and communities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Race Forward: Race Forward operates the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and a Center for Racial Justice Innovation, advancing racial equity policy across government systems; explicitly comparable because PolicyLink and Race Forward co-lead initiatives (e.g., the Transformative Justice Infrastructure Fellowship) and operate in overlapping equity-policy and coalition-building space.
• The Roosevelt Institute: Roosevelt Institute is a think tank producing policy research and ideas to advance economic and racial equity, including corporate power and democracy reform work; comparable because both organizations pair research, narrative, and convening to drive structural change on equity and democratic governance.
• Demos: Demos is a public policy organization working on racial equity, economic justice, and democracy reform through research, advocacy, and litigation; directly comparable because both combine data, policy frameworks, and coalition strategies to advance equity and "governing for all" outcomes at federal and state levels.
• Movement Strategy Center: Movement Strategy Center advances racial justice through organizing, training, narrative, and resource redistribution to grassroots groups; comparable because both organizations serve as backbone infrastructure for equity movements, with PolicyLink leaning policy/research and MSC leaning organizing — frequently cross-referenced in movement convenings.
• Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): CLASP is a national policy organization focused on equity for people with low incomes through policy research, advocacy, and technical assistance; comparable because both rely heavily on federal/state policy advocacy, data-driven research, and coalition infrastructure to advance economic and racial equity outcomes.
• Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC): PRRAC conducts research and policy advocacy on the links between race and poverty, with emphasis on housing, education, and structural inequality; directly comparable because PolicyLink's housing, infrastructure, and place-based equity work substantially overlaps PRRAC's research-and-advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• Center for American Progress: Center for American Progress is a large, multi-issue progressive policy institute producing research on democracy, economy, and equity; comparable as a broader-incumbent peer because both produce policy analysis, frameworks, and convenings aimed at federal/state equity outcomes, though CAP's portfolio is much wider than PolicyLink's equity-focused scope.
• Urban Institute: Urban Institute is a major social and economic policy research organization producing data and evidence on poverty, race, housing, and place; comparable as a broader-incumbent research peer because both build policy-relevant data assets (e.g., National Equity Atlas vs. Urban's data tools) and influence federal/state equity decisions.
• The Brookings Institution: Brookings produces economic and social policy research, including on inequality, race, and metropolitan policy; comparable as a broader-incumbent policy research peer whose metropolitan/inequality work overlaps PolicyLink's place-based and equity analysis, though Brookings operates with a much wider policy scope.

Others

• FSG: FSG is a global strategy and consulting firm focused on social impact, co-founder with PolicyLink of the Corporate Racial Equity Alliance; included as an adjacent partner/peer because FSG provides the strategy/evaluation muscle behind much of PolicyLink's corporate-facing equity standards work and shapes the same corporate-equity market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/policylink
• Facebookfacebook.com/PolicyLink
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/35195

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PolicyLink