Changelab Solutions (Changelab) is an activist think tank organization that advocates for public health policies that limit or restrict individual decisions concerning use of tobacco, alcohol and food consumption.

Changelab Solutions seeks to change policies, rules, regulations and laws to restrict consumption and provide left-progressive communities with legal advice.

Supported by state and federal government agencies and donations from the left-of-center Kresge Foundation,  left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and left-of-center Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Changelab has expanded its geographical focus from California to national in scope.

History

Changelab Solutions (Changelab) is a non-profit think tank and activist organization that supports aggressive left-progressive policies in the name of public health. It brings together public health and medical and legal experts to research, write, and advocate to supplant individual decisions with government regulation. ¹

Leveraging a background in curbing tobacco use, Marice Ashe joined the Public Health Institute (PHI) to run the Public Health Trust and manage $200 million in cy pres awards from a pharmaceutical advertising settlement. ²

In 1996 PHI joined with UC Berkeley School of Law and created the Technical Assistance Legal Center (TALC) to provide legal counsel and assistance for implementing ongoing policies to curb tobacco use. ³

In 2006 Ashe combined TALC with Planning For Healthy Places (another PHI initiative) and in 2008 with $10 million in funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation began an obesity initiative. ⁴

In 2010 PHLP separated from PHI and in 2012 re-branded itself Changelab Solutions as part an effort to become national in orientation. ⁵

Organization

Changelab provides services to all levels of government and organizations that include research and analysis, policy and strategy development, training and capacity building, individualized coaching, and development of sales materials designed to communicate complex issues to a wider audience. ⁶

Good Governance, healthy neighborhoods, child-care and schools, tobacco prevention, food and beverage, and health care encompass their range of work areas. Specific programs include limiting sugary drinks, reducing the number of alcohol retailers, restricting school discipline, and incorporating health in all policies. ^{7 8 9 10}

Changelab is backed by a cooperative agreement with the CDC and funding from left-of-center organizations such as Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, California Endowment, and John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. ¹¹

Changelab has continued to expand its efforts across a broader range of programs and geographically across the nation. 

Leadership

Marice Ashe founded Changelab and is an attorney who led the organization for 22 years. ¹²

Sarah de Guia, chief executive officer, is an attorney who previously served as executive director at California Pan-Ethnic Health Network and advocated for government-run health care, language access, and immigrant rights. ¹³

Carla Jackson, chief operations officer, leads the development of internal infrastructure for Changelab. Previously she was grants and development manager at Meta House. ^{14 15}

Shauneequa Owusu, chief strategy officer, previously was director of strategic partnerships and community engagement for the left-of-center funded New York Academy of Medicine. ^{16 17}

Stephanie Mayfield Gibson, board chair, served as commissioner of health for Kentucky where she oversaw the state’s expansion of the Medicaid government-run health care program under Obamacare. She currently works as a physician adviser and population health consultant and serves on the board of Trust for America’s Health. ^{18 19}

Finances

Revenue of $5,992,365 including $5,516,699 in grants and contributions and expenses of $8,985,372 was reported in 2018. Salaries were reported to be $4,985,508 with other expense totaling $3,999,864. ²⁰

Other expenses include subcontracts of $2,757,644 that went to University of Maryland Baltimore, Health Management Association Inc., Temple University, National Health Law Program, and CounterTools. ²¹

Of the total support for the years 2013 thru 2017, $12,101,533 came from government entities or 39%. ²² In 2018 government grants totaled $1,044,342. ²³

Lobbying expenses of $600,228 were reported. ²⁴

Net assets at the end of the year totaled $3,826,125. ²⁵

1. “Who We Are.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/who-we-are.
2. “History Timeline.” ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=14VUQZAodNHm6G6SALagE_m9qvoUcPTHHxK_I9EJ8Skw&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650.
3. “History Timeline.” ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=14VUQZAodNHm6G6SALagE_m9qvoUcPTHHxK_I9EJ8Skw&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650.
4. “History Timeline.” ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=14VUQZAodNHm6G6SALagE_m9qvoUcPTHHxK_I9EJ8Skw&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650.
5. “History Timeline.” ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. http://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=14VUQZAodNHm6G6SALagE_m9qvoUcPTHHxK_I9EJ8Skw&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650.
6. “Our Work.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/our-work.
7. “Our Work.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/our-work.
8. “Food & Beverages.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/food-beverages.
9. “Sugary Drink Strategy Playbook.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/product/sugary-drink-strategy-playbook.
10. “School Discipline Practices.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/product/school-discipline-practices.
11. “Our History | ChangeLab Solutions,” accessed May 28, 2020, https://www.changelabsolutions.org/who-we-are/our-history, history timeline.
12. “Marice Ashe.” Linked In. Accessed May 30, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marice-ashe-5b045117/.
13. “Farewell Letter from Marice Ashe.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 28, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/blog/farewell-letter-marice-ashe.
14. “Carla Jackson, MA: ChangeLab Solutions.” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions. Accessed May 28, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/staff/carla-jackson-ma.
15. “Carla Jackson.” Linked In. Accessed May 28, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-jackson-2a1ba439/.
16. “Shauneequa Owusu MS” | ChangeLab Solutions.” Accessed May 28, 2020. https://www.changelabsolutions.org/staff/shauneequa-owusu-ms.
17. “Shauneequa Owusu.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 28, 2020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauneequa-owusu-819b0a4a/.
18. “Stephanie Mayfield Gibson, MD: ChangeLab Solutions,” Navigate to ChangeLab Solutions, accessed May 28, 2020, https://www.changelabsolutions.org/board/stephanie-mayfield-gibson-md.
19. tfah.org, accessed May 28, 2020, https://www.tfah.org/people/stephanie-mayfield-gibson-md/.
20. “ChangeLab Solutions”.  Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part I Lines 12, 8, 18, 15,17.
21. “ChangeLab Solutions”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part VII Section B Line 1.
22. “ChangeLab Solutions”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part II Line 5
23. “ChangeLab Solutions”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part VIII Line 1 e.
24. “ChangeLab Solutions”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part II-A line 1 f.
25. “ChangeLab Solutions”. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2017. Part I Line 22