Economic Opportunity Institute

What Economic Opportunity Institute does

Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy research and advocacy organization founded in 1998 by John Burbank. The organization operates exclusively within Washington state, with a mission to equip public decision-makers and the public with policy research and practical tools needed to embed the values of fairness, care, and opportunity into the state's economy. EOI's core focus areas are progressive taxation (including the Millionaires Tax and wealth tax), healthcare affordability, worker protections (Paid Family and Medical Leave, minimum wage, paid sick days), and economic opportunity for low-income and BIPOC communities.

EOI does not sell products or services; instead, its outputs are policy research reports, legislative testimony, blog content, a quarterly newsletter (FYI w/ EOI), and community organizing. The organization distributes this work through multiple channels including its website, social media (Instagram), in-person listening sessions across the state, the annual Changemakers Dinner fundraising event, and virtual Session Scoop webinars during legislative sessions. Approximately 33% of its funding comes from individual donations, with the remainder from unspecified sources (likely foundation grants).

The organization's revenue model is entirely donation-based. EOI is governed independently with no parent company, and in 2024 transitioned executive leadership from founder Burbank to Rian Watt. EOI operates within a dense coalition ecosystem that includes the Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO), United States of Care, the Fair Health Prices Washington coalition, and over 50 community organizations spanning urban and rural Washington. Its policy track record includes landmark wins such as Paid Family and Medical Leave, the Equal Pay and Opportunity Act, and the Washington College Grant, alongside 2024 victories on medical debt, hospital price transparency, and paid sick leave expansion.

Name

Economic Opportunity Institute

Legal name

Economic Opportunity Institute

Website

https://opportunityinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Economic Opportunity Institute is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that conducts progressive economic policy research and advocacy in Washington state, serving low- and middle-income residents, workers, and state policymakers through legislation, coalition building, and community organizing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle, Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donations constitute approximately 33% of EOI's total funding, supporting the organization's mission to advocate for progressive economic policies in Washington state.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Economic Opportunity Institute (EOI) is a Washington state nonprofit policy research and advocacy organization that conducts research, builds coalitions, and engages in legislative advocacy to advance progressive economic policies. The organization focuses on progressive taxation, healthcare affordability, worker protections (Paid Family and Medical Leave, minimum wage), and economic opportunity for low- and middle-income Washingtonians, producing reports, legislative agendas, and community organizing support as its primary deliverables.

Product overview

Economic Opportunity Institute is a policy research and advocacy organization that does not offer traditional software products or services. The organization produces policy research, legislative advocacy tools, and publishes reports and blog content focused on progressive taxation, healthcare affordability, worker protections, and economic opportunity in Washington state. Their offerings include educational publications, a newsletter (FYI w/ EOI), the Changemakers Dinner annual event, legislative agenda advocacy, and community organizing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Changemakers Dinner
• FYI w/ EOI Newsletter
• Legislative Agenda Advocacy
• Major Policy Reports and Research
• Community Listening Sessions and Organizing Support

Quantifiable outcome

• HB 1213 passed expanding job protections for Paid Family and Medical Leave workers
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Fair Health Prices WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEOI co-founded the Fair Health Prices Washington coalition, a statewide coalition focused on healthcare affordability. The coalition works to drive down healthcare prices, slow corporate influence, improve transparency, and stop unfair medical billing in Washington state.
• United States of CaremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner in the Fair Health Prices coalition; collaborated with EOI to conduct polling of over 1,000 Washingtonians on healthcare costs, revealing that 57% of respondents avoided medical treatment due to cost.
• Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington's largest union organization representing more than half a million union members. April Sims, President, serves as emcee for EOI's annual Changemakers Dinner.
• La Casa HogarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization in Yakima that leads civic engagement classes amplifying immigrant voices locally and at the capitol. EOI connects with this partner during statewide policy road trips.
• Spokane Independent Metro Business AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative collaborative organization supporting small businesses in the Inland Northwest. EOI met with this partner during Spokane visit on policy road trip.
• Rural People's VoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization reclaiming the rural narrative in Okanogan County and north-central Washington around economic opportunity. EOI connected during policy road trips.
• Community to CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization in Skagit and Whatcom counties leveraging power within agriculture worker communities to protect workers, families, land, and food. Met during EOI's policy road trip to Mt. Vernon.
• Dignity GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLewis County organization building community belonging, dignity, and justice for queer and marginalized communities through visibility projects like Rural Americans Against Racism (RAAR) and Queer Prom.
• Poder LatinxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive organization in Yakima and surrounding areas educating and engaging voters and empowering the Latinx community to become agents of change.
• Communities in SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization in Benton & Franklin counties focused on providing wrap-around supports for students including access to healthy food, healthcare, and stable housing.
• Gather ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLewis County organization providing extensive community care services, particularly for those struggling with homelessness and addiction.
• Attorney General Nick BrownmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington State's 19th Attorney General, elected in November 2024. Keynote speaker at EOI's 2025 Changemakers Dinner. Committed to protecting people's rights, worker protections, and holding powerful accountable.
• State Rep. Nicole MacrimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington House Representative from the 43rd legislative district since 2016. Speaker at EOI's 2025 Changemakers Dinner. Known for 25+ years championing affordable housing, homelessness, and behavioral health.
• Working Washington & Fair Work CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Danielle Alvarado serves as panelist at EOI's Changemakers Dinner. Organization advocates for public policy putting workers first in Washington state.
• Communities for Our CollegesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign of Just Strategy focused on higher education access and equity in Washington state. Director Fernando Mejia Ledesma served as panelist at Changemakers Dinner.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• State Innovation Exchange: National network supporting state-level progressive legislators on economic, social, and racial-justice policy. Comparable to EOI in operating at the state legislative level on progressive policy advocacy, though with a broader national footprint.
• Roosevelt Institute: Progressive economic policy think tank producing research on inequality, labor, and democratic economy. Comparable to EOI in producing rigorous progressive economic policy research coupled with advocacy and coalition engagement.
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: National nonprofit policy institute focused on fiscal policy, anti-poverty programs, and progressive tax policy at federal and state levels. Comparable to EOI in research-driven advocacy on economic justice, tax fairness, and benefits policy.
• Economic Policy Institute: National nonprofit dedicated to economic policy analysis on wages, jobs, inequality, and tax fairness. Directly comparable to EOI in mission (progressive economic research and advocacy), though operating at federal rather than state level.
• Northwest Progressive Institute: Pacific Northwest regional progressive advocacy organization focused on state and federal policy. Directly comparable to EOI as a Pacific-Northwest-based progressive advocacy outfit pursuing similar economic and social-justice policy goals.
• Washington State Budget & Policy Center: Washington-state-based progressive policy research organization focused on state budget, tax, and economic policy. Highly comparable to EOI as a state-level think tank producing research and analysis for Washington policymakers on progressive revenue and anti-poverty issues.

Broad incumbents

• People's Action Institute: National progressive advocacy and organizing network spanning state affiliates and member organizations. Comparable to EOI as a progressive advocacy entity that combines community organizing with state and federal policy campaigns, but with a national rather than single-state scope.
• Urban Institute: Major national research organization studying economic and social policy, including tax, housing, and healthcare. Comparable to EOI in producing evidence-based research on economic justice and affordability, though broader in scope and methodology.
• Center for American Progress: Large national progressive policy think tank and advocacy organization producing research across economic, social, and health policy. Comparable to EOI as a progressive policy research and advocacy entity, but operating at a much larger national scale.

Others

• Movement Voter Project: National progressive infrastructure organization funding state and local allied groups. Comparable to EOI as part of the same progressive ecosystem, though focused on infrastructure funding rather than direct policy research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/eoionline
• Instagraminstagram.com/eoionline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eoionline

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 Economic Opportunity Institute