National League of Cities Institute (NLCI)

National League of Cities Institute (NLCI) is the charitable arm of the National League of Cities (NLC). Many of the two organization’s training and educational programs are intertwined with the NLCI providing the funding for conferences and travel expenses. NLCI has received grants from left-of-center nonprofits to facilitate training and research.

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Website: www.nlc.org
Founded:

1958

Executive Director:

Clarence E. Anthony

Location: Washington, DC View on map
Tax ID: 52-6055762
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $18,579,264 Revenue: $21,256,291 Expenses: $26,004,907

Contents

    History

    The National League of Cities Institute is the charitable subsidiary of the National League of Cities. 1 While the NLC does federal advocacy as a nonprofit under the IRS 501(c)(4) “social welfare” designation, NLCI is a public charity providing training and conducting forums, providing small grants to city programs, and using much of its income for staff salaries and travel expenses. 2

    Finances

    In 2020, National League of Cities and National League of Cities Institute had combined revenues of $26.9 million. 3 In 2019, National League of Cities Institute had assets of $6,318,728. 4 According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2019 National League of Cities Institute recorded $10,816,580 in revenue and $9,768,874 in expenses. 4 A majority of expenses were incurred for employee salaries and compensation. 5 Over a $1 million was spent on conferences and travel for local officials. 6 In 2019, NLCI made $951,615 in grants mainly focusing on hunger, children and nature, and addressing city fines and fees equitably. 4 In 2018, National League of Cities Institute had $10,841,600 in revenue and $9,983,451 in expenses. 7

    Issues and Funding

    In 2017, George Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society provided a 14-month, $75,000 grant to raise awareness on how state preemption impacts cities’ ability to govern. 8 The grant resulted in meetings and a municipal action guide. 9 The guide deems state laws that attempt to ban sanctuary cities, discourage local enactment of tough local gun control laws, or attempt to disallow local bans on plastic bags as punitive. 9The plan provides three strategies of communicating the problems to state legislators, forming coalitions and campaign against state initiatives, and pursuing litigation against state laws. 9 Since 2010, Soros’s Open Society Foundations have given the National League of Cities Institute at least $700,000 in grant funding. 10

    In 2020, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families a $2.2 million grant for two years to understand and address the economic impacts of COVID-19 and develop equitable recovery plans for the future. 11

    Between 1993-2022, the MacArthur Foundation awarded the National League of Cities Institute over $3.7 million. 12 Grants included a 2022 grant of $50,000 to address racial inequities, a 2021 grant of $650,000 for justice reform initiatives, a $750,000 grant in 2019 for justice reform, $800,000 grants in 2017 and 2015 on reducing the reliance on jails, and a $400,000 grant in 2013 on juvenile justice reform. 12

    Leadership

    Clarence E. Anthony is executive director and secretary/treasurer at the National League of Cities Institute and CEO and executive director at the National League of Cities. 13 Prior to his appointment in 2012, Anthony spent two years as director at the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council. 14 From 1984 through 2008, Anthony was mayor of South Bay, Florida. 14

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $18,579,264 $21,256,291 $26,004,907 View
    2023 $23,823,330 $27,174,469 $27,965,957 View
    2022 $19,106,059 $27,391,350 $18,497,550 View
    2021 $13,808,985 $15,783,128 $10,361,384 View
    2020 $6,693,116 $9,164,106 $11,814,580 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 59

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Robert BlaineSR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LEAD$233,403
    Katie DailingerPROJECT DIRECTOR, LIH$174,278
    Clarence E AnthonyCEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$170,366
    Andrew MooreDIR. YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT CONNECTIONS$166,608
    Justin EdwardsDATA DIRECTOR$165,948
    Tonja RuckerDIRECTOR, EARLY CHILDHOOD$162,979

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $159,066,566
    • Number of Grants: 347
    • Number of Funders: 80

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $5,000,0002020 Freedom Together FoundationTo make an emphasis on equitable nature connections for children the norm among city leaders across the nation.
    $4,000,0002021 Wells Fargo FoundationReimagining Public Safety
    $3,773,0002024 The Bloomberg Family Foundation IncTO SUPPORT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    $3,000,0002023 The Bloomberg Family Foundation IncTO SUPPORT THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE HUB
    $2,936,6262022 Robert Wood Johnson FoundationTo build the capacity of city-level leaders to adopt evidence-based policies and practices to improve health, well-being, and equity for residents, through learning communities, dissemination of best practices, and customized support on priority issues such as affordable housing.
    $2,800,0002022 Waverley Street FoundationEcotrust – Climate Hubs Learning Partner
    $2,500,0002024 Freedom Together FoundationCITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE RESILIENTLY
    $2,500,0002023 Freedom Together FoundationCITIES CONNECTING CHILDREN TO NATURE RESILIENTLY
    $2,500,0002022 Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management IncPUBLIC SERVICE
    $2,500,0002022 Ballmer GroupNational League of Cities is comprised of city, town, and village leaders who are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. Our grant supports the Bloomberg Local Infrastructure Hub, which connects cities and towns with the resources and expert advice they need to access federal infrastructure funding to drive local progress, improve communities, and deliver results for residents
    $2,095,1882024 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT FOR THE CITY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT UP TO 150 ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES OVER TWO YEARS. 202105-10530
    $2,000,0002024 Waverley Street FoundationSmart Surfaces Coalition
    $2,000,0002023 Waverley Street FoundationSmart Surfaces Coalition
    $2,000,0002021 Wells Fargo FoundationReimagining Public Safety
    $2,000,0002020 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
    $1,993,9802022 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT FOR THE CITY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT UP TO 150 ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES OVER TWO YEARS. 202105-10530
    $1,562,5002024 Gates FoundationU.S. ECONOMIC MOBILITY & OPPORTUNITY
    $1,505,5992022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
    $1,500,0002022 Freedom Together FoundationMAKING NATURE CONNECTION THE NORM IN US CITIES AND EMERGENCY RELIEF
    $1,500,0002022 The Bloomberg Family Foundation IncTO SUPPORT THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE HUB
    $1,460,0002024 Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management IncCOMMUNITY & HUMAN SERVICES
    $1,414,6662024 Children's Defense FundPROGRAM SUPPORTS
    $1,400,0002021 W.K. Kellogg Foundationincrease economic security and financial inclusion for people of color and minority and women owned businesses through deepening the bench and increasing capacity of leaders through applying an economic inclusion lens and launching a learning community for municipal leaders in at least 10 cities
    $1,200,0002021 Siemens FoundationADVANCING EQUITABLE YOUTH ECONOMICS
    $1,144,4312021 Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationSUPPORT FOR THE CITY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT UP TO 150 ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES OVER TWO YEARS. 202105-10530

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $17,500,190
    • Number of Grants: 361
    • Number of Recipients: 294

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $1,380,9102023 CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORKGENERAL SUPPORT
    $1,036,2772023 America Achieves IncECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $1,026,5932022 America Achieves IncECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $740,0002024 CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORKGENERAL SUPPORT
    $700,0002023 Philadelphia City FundGENERAL SUPPORT
    $599,2502020 CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORKCOVID-19 CRISIS OPERATING SUPPORT
    $513,3722023 Drexel UniversityECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $513,3722022 Drexel UniversityECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $490,0002023 City of Jackson MississippiSOUTHERN CITIES ECONOMIC INCLUSION INITIATIVE, MUNICIPALITIES REIMAGINING COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
    $490,0002022 City of Jackson MississippiSOUTHERN CITIES ECONOMIC INCLUSION INITIATIVE, MUNICIPALITIES REIMAGINING COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
    $475,0002022 St. Louis Mental Health BoardMUNICIPALITIES REIMAGINING COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
    $270,7082023 Neighborhood Reinvestment CorporationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $233,6282023 Georgia State University Research FoundationGENERAL SUPPORT
    $225,0002024 Lone Star Justice AllianceSUPPORT COORDINATED, EQUITABLE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED SAFETY EFFORTS
    $225,0002024 Mayor and City Council of BaltimoreREIMAGINING COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE
    $202,1002023 Federation of American ScientistsECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $202,1002022 Federation of American ScientistsECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT
    $200,0002023 Research Foundation of the City University of New YorkGENERAL SUPPORT
    $150,6372023 Saint Paul, City ofGENERAL SUPPORT
    $146,3782023 Sacramento, City ofEQUITABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE, YOUTH EXCEL INITIATIVE
    $145,0002022 Sacramento, City ofEQUITABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE, YOUTH EXCEL INITIATIVE
    $122,2172023 Georgia City Solutions IncGENERAL SUPPORT
    $120,0002023 Social Progress ImperativeGENERAL SUPPORT
    $111,1492023 City of CharlestonCITY INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE, STRONG SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
    $95,0002022 City of Roanoke VaCITY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS GRANT, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. [1] National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019; “About NLC.” National League of Cities. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.nlc.org/about/.
    2. “Resource Library.” National League of Cities. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.nlc.org/resources-training/resource-library/; National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
    3. National League of Cities. “Leading With Urgency: 2020 Annual Report.” 2020. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020_NLC_Annual_Report_FNLpdf.pdf.
    4. National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
    5. National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part I, 2019.
    6. National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), Part IX, 2019.
    7. National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018.
    8. “Awarded Grants: National League of Cities Institute.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=national+league+of+cities&grant_id=OR2017-39274
    9. “Restoring City Rights in an Era of Preemption: A Municipal Action Guide.” National League of Cities. 2019. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.nlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Restoring-City-Rights-in-an-Era-of-PreemptionWeb.pdf.
    10. Open Society Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2011; Open Society Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2014; “Awarded Grants: National League of Cities Institute.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 19, 2022. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=national+league+of+cities&grant_id=OR2017-39274.
    11. [1] “Committed Grants: National League of Cities, Institute for Youth, Education, and Families.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. November 2020. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2020/11/inv023946
    12. “National League of Cities Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/national-league-of-cities-institute-17504/.
    13. National League of Cities Institute, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019; “CEO and Executive Director.” National League of Cities. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://www.nlc.org/people/clarence-anthony/.
    14. “Clarence E. Anthony.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 20, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarence-anthony-12010419/details/experience/.