The 5BORO Institute

What The 5BORO Institute does

The 5BORO Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy think tank headquartered in New York City and launched in spring 2022. It produces data-driven research reports, policy proposals, and survey instruments on governance, housing, child care, mental health, and climate issues facing New York City, and engages directly with City Hall, NYC Council committees, the MTA Board, the NY State Legislature, and the NYC Comptroller's Office through formal testimony, op-eds in major publications (NYT, Daily News, Gotham Gazette, WNYC), podcast appearances, and stakeholder convenings. Core analytical products include the inaugural 'Solving the Staffing Crisis' report (documenting 23,000 vacant city government positions), 'Flexible Co-Living' on office-to-residential conversions, 'Investing in Families and Our Future' on the child care crisis, 'Smoke in the City' on air quality, and The People's Pulse survey of 3,000 NYC adults; each is built on a pipeline of research, expert consultation (50+ stakeholders on housing alone), and partnership-funded polling rather than on proprietary technology.

The institute operates with a small 1–10 person staff led by Executive Director Grace Rauh (formerly an NY1 political reporter) and a board co-chaired by Tom Allon (City & State publisher) and Raj Goyle (entrepreneur and former Kansas state legislator), with Dick Ravitch as co-founder prior to his death in June 2023. Revenue is generated entirely through foundation grants and corporate charitable contributions — from Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, Altman Foundation, and TD Bank — funding specific projects such as the People's Pulse survey and the Flexible Co-Living report; all publications are distributed free of charge. In May 2025, 5BORO announced it will join Citizens Union as its new Public Policy Program, a structural expansion that broadens its governance-reform footprint while preserving its research-publishing core.

Name

The 5BORO Institute

Legal name

The 5BORO Institute

Website

https://fiveboro.nyc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The 5BORO Institute is a nonpartisan NYC public policy think tank that produces data-driven research reports, policy proposals, and surveys on governance, housing, child care, mental health, and climate issues for New York City policymakers and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAO

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDADADAA

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYBPAGADAB

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADADAF

Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Think tank services
• Policy reports
• Government affairs consulting
• Urban policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Partnerships: 5BORO receives support from foundations including Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, and Altman Foundation for specific initiatives like The People's Pulse survey. TD Bank provided funding for the Flexible Co-Living report.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The 5BORO Institute is a nonpartisan public policy think tank that produces research reports, policy proposals, and survey data addressing NYC's most challenging problems in governance, housing, child care, mental health, and climate. Its core offerings include data-driven policy reports, formal government testimony, stakeholder convening, and issue-based surveys like The People's Pulse. All publications are provided free to the public, policymakers, and media.

Product overview

The 5BORO Institute is a non-partisan public policy think tank that produces research reports, policy recommendations, and survey data to address NYC's most challenging problems. The organization's core offerings include policy reports on key issue areas (governance, housing, climate, child care, mental health), The People's Pulse survey initiative, and government testimony. The portfolio centers on actionable research designed to inform policymakers, with flagship publications including the Staffing Crisis Report, Child Care Policy Report, and Flexible Co-Living Housing Model—all serving as the institute's primary analytical products for driving policy change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solving the Staffing Crisis: Saving City Government for New Yorkers The inaugural policy report from 5BORO Institute documenting 23,000 vacant positions across NYC city government agencies and proposing recommendations including Chief Retention Officer, Chief Recruitment Officer, and workforce modernization. Targeted at NYC policymakers and government officials.
• Investing in Families and Our Future A comprehensive policy roadmap addressing NYC's child care crisis, outlining steps to improve access, affordability, and infrastructure for families and providers. Documents that over 80% of NYC families cannot afford full-time child care and outlines a $23 billion economic impact.
• Flexible Co-Living Housing Model A proposal for a new housing model combining office-to-residential conversions, co-living arrangements, and interior window flexibility to address NYC's housing shortage and affordability crisis. Funded by TD Bank and developed with input from over 50 housing experts.
• Smoke in the City: Air Quality Recommendations Policy recommendations for NYC government to protect residents from poor air quality events, including proposals for clean air centers, traffic reduction, and emergency preparedness measures to address climate resilience.
• The People's Pulse Survey An issues-based survey initiative that elevates New Yorkers' voices and top issues in citywide elections, providing insights into affordability, mental health, public safety, and other concerns. Surveyed 3,000 NYC adults across all five boroughs, conducted by polling firm Slingshot Strategies in January 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 48% of NYC residents considered leaving the city; 61% say meeting basic needs increasingly difficult; 84% believe city faces mental health crisis (from People's Pulse survey of 3,000 residents)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Citizens UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 20255BORO Institute announced plans to join Citizens Union as its new Public Policy Program, with Grace Rauh named as Citizens Union's new Executive Director. This merger combines two NYC civic institutions to amplify policy impact.
• Brooklyn Org, The New York Community Trust, The Staten Island Foundation, and Altman FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2025Four leading NYC foundations commissioned The People's Pulse survey, an issues-based survey of 3,000 NYC adults conducted by Slingshot Strategies. The survey elevates New Yorkers' voices on affordability, mental health, public safety, and other top issues in the 2025 election year. Findings are being shared with residents, media, and candidates to shape citywide elections.
• Work for AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2024Work for America and 5BORO jointly released a case study showcasing the NYC Comptroller's Agency Staffing Dashboard as a national model for workforce management. The case study 'Workforce Data in Action' highlights innovative approaches to public sector workforce challenges.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for an Urban Future: NYC-focused nonprofit think tank producing research on economic opportunity, housing, and city policy. Direct peer: same city focus, similar small-team research-and-advocacy model, similar foundation funding model, and overlapping issue areas (housing affordability, workforce, child care).
• Regional Plan Association: Tri-state regional planning and policy organization producing research on housing, transit, and economic development. Direct peer: directly overlapping issue areas (housing, climate, infrastructure) and same policy-research-and-advocacy model targeting NYC-area governments.
• Manhattan Institute: NYC-headquartered policy research organization producing reports on urban policy, housing, and governance. Direct peer: same NYC focus, longer track record, and overlapping issue areas (housing affordability, criminal justice, government reform), but with substantially larger staff and budget.
• NYC Fiscal Policy Institute: NYC-based nonprofit research organization focused on state and local tax, budget, and economic policy affecting low- and middle-income New Yorkers. Direct peer: same NYC focus, similar foundation-funded research-shop model, and direct overlap on staff retention, child care, and affordability reports.
• Brennan Center for Justice: NYC-based law and policy institute at NYU working on democracy, criminal justice, and housing policy. Direct peer: same NYC base, similar research-and-advocacy model targeting government reform, and overlapping interest in NYC staffing/governance issues.
• Citizens Union: Historic NYC civic reform organization (founded 1897) running voter, campaign finance, and policy reform work. Direct peer: merger partner of 5BORO as of May 2025, with overlapping NYC policy scope and government-reform issue focus.
• Community Service Society of New York: NYC nonprofit research and advocacy organization producing policy reports on poverty, economic security, housing, and child care. Direct peer: closely parallel mission on affordability and the child care crisis, similar revenue model, and directly overlapping research output on families and economic opportunity.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Large, multi-issue national policy research organization based in Washington, DC. Broad incumbent: produces overlapping work on housing, urban policy, and governance at a national scale, but does not focus exclusively on NYC and operates with a substantially larger budget and staff.
• Urban Institute: Large Washington-based economic and social policy research organization studying housing, child care, and health policy. Broad incumbent: directly relevant research areas (child care affordability, housing, workforce) but national in scope rather than NYC-focused.

Emerging players

• Drum Major Institute: NYC-based progressive policy and civic engagement organization focused on economic justice and community-driven policy. Emerging player: smaller scope and more grassroots-oriented than 5BORO, but historically addressed overlapping NYC policy issues including housing and economic opportunity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/5boroinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fiveboro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The 5BORO Institute