DC Fiscal Policy Institute

What DC Fiscal Policy Institute does

DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy research and advocacy organization founded in 2000 and headquartered at 712 H Street NE in Washington, DC. The organization produces evidence-based research, policy analysis, testimony, and educational resources focused exclusively on District of Columbia fiscal, tax, budget, and economic policy, with issue areas spanning the DC Budget, Economy, Tax and Revenue, Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Education, and DC Statehood. DCFPI is Black and woman-led and centers racial equity in its analytical work, primarily serving DC Council members, the mayor's office, DC government agencies, community advocates, and coalition partners.

The organization operates on a nonprofit donation and grant funding model; all research outputs are provided free of charge. Its core "products" are policy reports, fact sheets, testimonies, blog posts, op-eds, and educational guides such as A Resident's Guide to the DC Budget, distributed through its website, email newsletter, social media channels, formal DC Council testimony, and coalition partnerships. There is no software platform, SaaS offering, or proprietary technology stack — DCFPI is a human-delivered research and advocacy operation rather than a technology company.

Revenue is generated through charitable donations (processed via Qgiv and Bloomerang), foundation grants, and limited programmatic collaboration with coalition partners such as Martha's Table. The organization employs 28 staff under Executive Director Erica Williams and has built measurable policy impact through advocacy that has contributed to specific DC Council budget outcomes, including restored funding for the Pay Equity Fund, expanded childcare subsidies, and local housing voucher additions in the FY 2027 budget cycle.

Name

DC Fiscal Policy Institute

Legal name

DC Fiscal Policy Institute

Website

https://dcfpi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DC Fiscal Policy Institute is a Black and woman-led nonprofit policy research organization that produces evidence-based analysis on DC budget, tax, housing, education, and economic policy, serving DC Council members, community advocates, and residents through free reports, testimony, and educational guides.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Public Finance Activities (921130), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (9211)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Finance, Treasury, Budget & Procurement (BPAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Budgeting & Fiscal Planning (BPAIAEAA), State/Provincial Treasury, Budget & Fiscal Management (BPAIABAC)

Keywords

• Fiscal policy research
• Budget policy analysis
• Economic policy advocacy
• Tax policy analysis
• Nonprofit policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, DC

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: DCFPI operates as a nonprofit organization that accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations to fund its operations and policy research work. The organization has a dedicated donation page and accepts contributions through its website.
2. Policy Research and Advocacy Services: Provides research, analysis, and strategy to advocates, community members, and policymakers to inform just policy solutions. Services support organizations like Martha's Table for programs such as Strong Families, Strong Futures guaranteed income pilot.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) is a Black and woman-led nonprofit that produces independent fiscal policy research, economic analysis, and advocacy strategy for the District of Columbia. Its core work covers DC budget, economy, tax and revenue, affordable housing and homelessness, education, and DC statehood, delivered as reports, fact sheets, testimonies, op-eds, and educational guides such as A Resident's Guide to the DC Budget.

Product overview

DC Fiscal Policy Institute (DCFPI) is a non-profit policy research organization, not a technology product company. It offers a portfolio of research and analysis services focused on DC budget, economy, tax and revenue, affordable housing, education, and DC statehood. The organization produces reports, fact sheets, testimonies, blog posts, and educational resources to advance racially-just tax and budget policies. DCFPI does not offer a software platform, SaaS product, or technology-enabled services—it provides informational content and policy analysis to inform public policy decisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DC Budget Research and Analysis

Quantifiable outcome

• DC Council restored $61.5 million in funding for the salary component of the Pay Equity Fund in FY 2027 budget
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Coalition PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCFPI works with coalition partners to move issue area campaigns and provides strategic and tactical communications support to partner organizations. Partnerships include advocacy coalitions focused on housing, early childhood education, economic justice, and worker rights.
• Martha's TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCFPI partners with Martha's Table on the Strong Families, Strong Futures guaranteed income pilot program, serving approximately 130 participants. The partnership supports DC's economic development strategy focusing on supporting thriving people.
• DC Policymakers and Government OfficialscoreOthersDCFPI engages directly with DC Council members, the mayor's office, and various DC government agencies to provide research, analysis, and testimony to inform policy decisions. Works with Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), Committee on Human Services, and other Council committees.
• DC Council CommitteescoreOthersProvides testimonies and budget analysis to DC Council committees including Committee on Business & Economic Development, Committee on Human Services, Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, and Committee of the Whole.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: National research organization producing evidence-based insights on economic, social, housing, and fiscal policy. Comparable to DCFPI in research-driven approach to equity-centered public policy, though far larger in scope and scale.
• Brookings Institution: Major Washington, DC-based research institution producing analysis on economic, urban, and tax policy. Overlaps with DCFPI's research topics but operates at a much larger scale with a broader policy portfolio.
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: National policy think tank focused on fiscal and economic policy affecting low- and moderate-income Americans. Directly comparable to DCFPI's mission and methodology; DCFPI's Executive Director previously served as VP here.

Direct peers

• Empower DC: DC-based grassroots advocacy organization focused on economic justice and community-led policy campaigns. Comparable to DCFPI in mission around racial equity and community-centered policy change in DC.
• Economic Policy Institute: Nonprofit think tank focused on economic policy analysis from a working-family lens, covering tax, budget, and labor issues. Shares DCFPI's evidence-based, equity-framed approach to fiscal and economic research.
• DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice: DC-based nonprofit that conducts research and advocacy on local policy issues affecting residents, often partnering with community organizations. Directly comparable to DCFPI as a locally focused DC policy research and advocacy organization.
• Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: Nonprofit focused on tax policy analysis at federal, state, and local levels, with explicit attention to equity. Closely aligned with DCFPI's tax-and-revenue research stream and progressive policy framing.
• Fair Budget Coalition: DC-based coalition advocating for equitable budget and economic policies through research and community organizing. Closely aligned with DCFPI's community-centered, equity-focused fiscal policy advocacy work.

Regional players

• Maryland Center on Economic Policy: State-level policy organization producing research on fiscal, tax, and economic issues affecting Maryland residents. Operates the same state-level fiscal policy model as DCFPI but in an adjacent jurisdiction.

Others

• DC Office of Revenue Analysis: DC government office providing economic, revenue, and policy analysis to support the District's budget process. Operates in the same fiscal policy domain as DCFPI but as a government entity rather than an advocacy nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DCFPI
• Facebookfacebook.com/dcfpi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dc-fiscal-policy-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/dcfpi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 DC Fiscal Policy Institute