Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

What Lincoln Institute of Land Policy does

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt nonprofit private operating foundation founded in 1946 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with regional offices in Phoenix and Washington DC and an international center co-located with Peking University in Beijing. The Institute's mission is to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land, organized across four impact areas: Land and Water, Land and Fiscal Systems, Land and Communities, and Research and Cross-Cutting Initiatives.

Its core offerings combine proprietary data tools (Fiscally Standardized Cities covering 150 U.S. cities; Significant Features of the Property Tax spanning all 50 states; Visualizing Density; Vertical Equity App) with a publishing platform (Land Lines magazine in English/Spanish/Portuguese, books, policy reports, the Land Wise blog, and the Land Matters podcast), an accredited educational institution (Claremont Lincoln University with bachelor's and master's degree programs), specialized research centers (Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, Center for Geospatial Solutions, Center for Impact Finance), and practitioner networks (Consortium for Scenario Planning, I'm HOME Network for manufactured housing, International Land Conservation Network). The underlying technology stack is a content-and-data platform built on geospatial analysis, standardized fiscal datasets, and interactive web tools rather than software-as-a-service productization.

The Institute's business model is a hybrid typical of policy-research nonprofits: an endowment and foundation grant base funds core research and education, supplemented by earned revenue from course tuition ($270 per course at CLU plus a $125 application fee), conference and event registration ($0 for students, $325–$350 for general attendees), publication and book sales, and institutional data subscriptions. Distribution is entirely direct through the Institute's own website, Claremont Lincoln University enrollment platform, events portal, and podcast channels, with no third-party resellers. The Institute serves four primary customer segments — policymakers and government officials, academics and researchers, housing developers and affordability advocates, and urban/regional planners — across more than 50 countries.

Name

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Legal name

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Website

https://lincolninst.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a nonprofit private operating foundation founded in 1946 that conducts research, education, and policy analysis on land use, property taxation, and urban planning, serving policymakers, academics, and practitioners globally through proprietary data tools, publications, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Policy Research and Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land-Grant–Like/Extension-Oriented Private Research Universities (Applied Outreach) (EDAHABAK), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Land policy research
• Property tax analysis
• Urban planning education
• Public finance training
• Land use publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs and Course Fees: Revenue generated from tuition and course fees for degree programs at Claremont Lincoln University and professional development courses offered by the Lincoln Institute, including self-paced online courses and live instructor-led courses.
2. Publications and Book Sales: Revenue from sales of books, policy reports, working papers, and other publications covering land use, property tax, and urban planning topics.
3. Conference and Event Registration Fees: Registration fees charged for annual conferences including the Consortium for Scenario Planning Conference and the I'm HOME Annual Conference. Conference fees range from $0 for students to $350 for general attendees.
4. Foundation and Grant Funding: As a tax-exempt private operating foundation, the Lincoln Institute relies on endowment income and grant funding to support its research, education, and policy programs.
5. Data Licensing and Subscriptions: Distribution of data tools and databases such as Fiscally Standardized Cities and Significant Features of the Property Tax, potentially through institutional subscriptions.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt nonprofit private operating foundation that delivers research, data tools, educational programs, and publications on land use, property taxation, and urban planning. It operates degree programs through Claremont Lincoln University, runs self-paced and live professional courses, publishes books and the Land Lines magazine, hosts the Land Matters podcast, and maintains proprietary databases (Fiscally Standardized Cities, Significant Features of the Property Tax) and interactive tools for policymakers, academics, and practitioners worldwide.

Product overview

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a nonpartisan, tax-exempt non-profit private operating foundation that offers a portfolio of educational programs, research publications, data tools, and professional networks focused on improving quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. The institute operates as a platform-plus-services model, combining its core publishing and educational offerings (Land Lines Magazine, Books, Podcasts, Self-Paced and Live Courses) with specialized data tools (Fiscally Standardized Cities Database, Significant Features of the Property Tax, Vertical Equity App, Visualizing Density), research centers (Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, Center for Geospatial Solutions, Center for Impact Finance), professional networks (Consortium for Scenario Planning, I'm HOME Network, International Land Conservation Network), an accredited university (Claremont Lincoln University with its Lincoln Vibrant Communities program), and the interactive Making Sense of Place multimedia project. The institute serves policymakers, practitioners, scholars, and community leaders through publications, educational programs, annual conferences, and data-driven research across four impact areas: Land and Water, Land and Fiscal Systems, Land and Communities, and Research and Cross-Cutting Initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I'M HOME: Innovations in Manufactured and Modular Homes Network - focuses on advancing policy and technical advancements in the off-site housing industry
• Land Lines
• Land Matters
• Lincoln Vibrant Communities

Products and services

• Land Lines Magazine Bimonthly digital magazine providing articles, analysis, and coverage of land policy issues for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars.
• Fiscally Standardized Cities Database Database providing revenue and spending data for 150 large U.S. cities to enable comparative fiscal analysis for policymakers and researchers.
• Significant Features of the Property Tax Comprehensive database tracking property tax systems across all 50 U.S. states and localities for use by policymakers, researchers, and tax administrators.
• State-by-State Property Tax at a Glance Quick-reference comparison tool for property tax policies across U.S. states for policymakers and researchers.
• Visualizing Density Interactive web-based tool for visualizing and comparing urban density patterns for planners, educators, and policymakers.
• Vertical Equity App Interactive application for analyzing vertical equity in property taxation for tax administrators and policy researchers.
• Claremont Lincoln University Degree Programs Accredited private nonprofit university offering bachelor's and master's degree programs and advanced practice graduate certificates that integrate Lincoln Institute research and practices, for adult learners and community leaders.
• Self-Paced Online Courses Self-paced online courses on foundations of local government finance, conservation easements, and exploratory scenario planning for professional development of urban planners and public finance professionals.
• Live Instructor-Led Courses Live instructor-led courses and workshops on municipal fiscal health, urban financing, and scenario planning for working professionals.
• Books and Policy Reports Library of books, policy focus reports, working papers, and conference papers on land policy topics, available for purchase to researchers, policymakers, and the public.
• Land Matters Podcast Podcast series exploring urban planning, land policy, climate change, housing affordability, and infrastructure financing through interviews with experts and practitioners.
• Annual Conferences Annual conferences including the Consortium for Scenario Planning Conference and the I'm HOME Annual Conference, providing in-person professional development and networking for scenario planning and manufactured housing practitioners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 276,000 acres of buildable public land identified that could support over 6.9 million homes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Prevention InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2026Co-host of the webinar 'Public Land for Public Good: Advancing Community Stewardship of Public Land' (June 4, 2026). Partnership focused on strategies for supporting community stewardship of public land as part of the PLACE campaign.
• Claremont Lincoln UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLU is an accredited, private nonprofit university that offers degree programs integrating the research, cases, toolkits, and advanced practices of the Lincoln Institute. Through the Lincoln Vibrant Communities initiative, co-designed bachelor's and master's degrees, and Advanced Practice Graduate Certificates, CLU helps leaders advance in their careers. The Lincoln Institute supports CLU through financial backing, including the Course-Based Cost Model to expand access to undergraduate education.
• Property Tax Experts Across EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research network of property tax experts from across Europe who contributed case studies to the book 'Property Tax in Europe: A Changing Landscape.' Features in-depth institutional analysis from more than a dozen countries.
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 10th annual Consortium for Scenario Planning Conference, January 27–29, 2027, in Los Angeles, California. SCAG is the nation's largest metropolitan planning organization, serving Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.
• Peking University–Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint center with Peking University located in Beijing, China (Leo Koguan Building, Suite 508). Focused on urban development and land policy research, education, and technical assistance in China and Asia.
• Babbitt Center for Land and Water PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA center of the Lincoln Institute focused on land and water policy, located in Phoenix, Arizona. Advances research and practice at the intersection of land use and water resource management.
• Center for Geospatial SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln Institute center providing geospatial analysis capabilities. Conducted national analysis identifying 276,000+ acres of buildable government-owned land and nearly 9% corporate ownership of residential parcels in 500 U.S. counties.
• Center for Impact FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln Institute center focused on innovative financing mechanisms for land use and urban development, including infrastructure finance and community investment strategies.
• Minnesota Center for Fiscal ExcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published the '50-State Property Tax Comparison Study' (2025) with the Lincoln Institute, providing comparative analysis of property tax systems across all U.S. states.
• International Land Conservation NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln Institute initiative connecting organizations worldwide working on land conservation. Facilitates knowledge exchange and collaborative action on land stewardship across borders.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Peers

• Resources for the Future:

Direct peers

• Urban Institute: Nonprofit research organization focused on economic and social policy, including housing affordability, community development, and urban planning, serving similar policymaker and researcher audiences with data-driven analysis.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI): Nonprofit research and education organization focused on land use, real estate, and urban development, providing similar data tools, publications, and policy research to real estate and planning professionals.
• National League of Cities: Nonprofit advocacy and research organization serving municipal officials with policy analysis, training, and publications on local government issues including land use and fiscal policy, comparable to Lincoln Institute's policymaker audience.
• American Planning Association: Nonprofit organization representing urban and regional planners, offering publications, training, conferences, and policy advocacy on planning practice, directly overlapping with Lincoln Institute's professional planner constituency.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Major nonprofit public policy think tank conducting research across economic, urban, and governance topics; directly comparable as Lincoln Institute's incoming CEO Robert Puentes is VP and Director of Brookings Metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm5qfdOn5I51kMYbZFkn42A
• Facebookfacebook.com/lincolninstituteoflandpolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-institute-of-land-policy
• Instagraminstagram.com/landpolicy
• Xx.com/landpolicy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Institute of Land Policy