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Non-profit

National Policing Institute (NPI)

Website:

www.policinginstitute.org/
Location:

Arlington, VA
Tax ID:

52-0906599
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $10,429,298
Expenses: $9,309,351
Assets: $5,943,495
Formation:

1970
Type:

Law Enforcement Organization
President:

Jim Burch

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National Policing Institute (NPI) is a law enforcement-focused think tank and research organization. 1 Founded in 1970 as the Police Foundation through a grant from the left-of-center Ford Foundation, 2 NPI calls for what it identifies as “science-based” policing reforms 3 and identifies the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity as one of its core values. 4

Following the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, NPI released a statement saying that policing must continue to “atone” for Floyd’s death “as a profession.” 5

NPI Policing Institute received a grant from Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2022. 6 NPI also received $300,000 grants from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 2016 7 and 2018. 8 9

History and Leadership

National Policing Institute (NPI) was originally founded as the Police Foundation in 1970 through a seed grant from the left-of-center Ford Foundation. 10 In 2019, the organization rebranded as the National Police Foundation and moved from Washington, D.C., to Arlington, Virginia. In 2022, National Police Foundation changed its name to National Policing Institute. 11 12

Jim Birch is the president of NPI. Prior to joining NPI, Birch worked at the U.S. Department of Justice for 20 years. Birch is on the board of directors for the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund and the National Public Safety GIS Foundation. 13 In 2019, Birch wrote a letter to the editor in the New York Times saying that eyewitness identification of suspects is not based on current science and that re-evaluation of policing procedures is necessary. 14

Activities and Funding

National Policing Institute is a law enforcement-focused think tank and research organization. NPI calls for what it identifies as “science-based” policing reforms 15 and identifies the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity as one of its core values. 16 NPI consults with municipalities considering reforms to their law enforcement practices, 17 hosts events on law enforcement-related topics, 18  and publishes reports on various law enforcement topics. 19

NPI president Jim Burch has said the organization will “work tirelessly” to pursue the implementation of the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity in policing and law enforcement practices. 20 Following the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, NPI released a statement saying that policing must continue to “atone” for the death “as a profession.” 21

In 2021, NPI collaborated with the Futures Working Group (FWG) to release a research paper on what NPI defines as neighborhood-driven policing 22 and released a paper with Cure Violence Global, Trust Network and Police 2 Peace  that called right-of-center militia groups “unauthorized” and claimed they are not protected by the Second Amendment. 23 Also in 2021, former NPI president Jim Bueermann claimed that “far-right groups carrying Blue Lives Matter slogans” present a threat to community safety and the legitimacy of democratic policing. 24

In 2020, NPI established the Council on Policing Reforms and Race to address issues regarding police reforms and race. 25 26 With the council’s creation, NPI acknowledged that it believes “racism, bias, and culture” led to the deterioration of trust and respect between law enforcement and African American communities. 27

NPI is a national partner of the 30×30 Initiative  in an effort to increase the number of women police officers. 28 Previously, NPI has collaborated with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for crime gun intelligence centers (CGIC), training, and technical assistance on various law enforcement activities. 29 NPI leadership has also praised Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) for introducing the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act. 30 31

Funding

National Policing Institute receives funds from individual donations and grants. 32 In 2020, NPI reported revenue of $10,429,298 and expenses of $9,309,351. In 2019, NPI reported revenue of $8,478,739 and expenses of $8,142,521. 33 In 2019, NPI spent $7,127,756 on program service fees for program development, policing research, and community and outreach activities. 34

In 2022, NPI received a grant from the left-of-center Arnold Ventures to conduct a study on “procedural justice training” with the National Institutes of Health. 35 36 In 2021, National Policing Institute received a grant from Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. 37 NPI also received sponsorship from Microsoft in 2021. 38

NPI received $50,000 from the left-of-center Communities Foundation of Texas in 2019. 39 In 2018, NPI received a $300,000 grant from the left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 40 and $5,585 from the left-of-center Urban Institute. 41 NPI received a separate $300,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation in 2016. 42

References

  1. “About Us.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/about-us/.
  2. “About Us.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/about-us/.
  3. “Police Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520906599/202111379349307426/full.
  4. “2021 Annual Report.” National Police Foundation. Pg. 3. Published 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NPF_2021AnnualReport_Feb2022.pdf.
  5. “Statement Regarding the Trial and Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin and the Murder of George Floyd.” National Police Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Statement-Regarding-the-Trial-of-Former-Minneapolis-Police-Officer-Derek-Chauvin-and-the-Murder-of-George-Floyd.pdf.
  6. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium. March 23, 2022. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
  7. “National Policing Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/police-foundation-10098457/.
  8. “National Policing Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/police-foundation-10098457/.
  9. “Urban Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520880375/201903199349304565/full.
  10. “About Us.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/about-us/.
  11. “About Us.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/about-us/.
  12. “National Police Foundation to Change Name to National Policing Institute.” National Policing Institute. March 4, 2022. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/press-releases/national-police-foundation-to-change-name-to-national-policing-institute/.
  13. [1] “Jim Burch.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/staff/jim-burch/.
  14. Burch II, James H. “Policing Requires Science.” New York Times. January 13, 2019. Accessed via Web Archive October 5, 2022. https://archive.ph/WUs7Y.
  15. [1] “Police Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520906599/202111379349307426/full.
  16.  “2021 Annual Report.” National Police Foundation. Pg. 3. Published 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NPF_2021AnnualReport_Feb2022.pdf.
  17. “City Chooses Consultant to Assist With Final Work on the Reimagine Policing Plan.” City of Boulder, Colorado. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://bouldercolorado.gov/news/city-chooses-consultant-assist-final-work-reimagine-policing-plan.
  18. “Events.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/events/
  19. “Publications.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/publications/.
  20. “A Letter from the President of the National Policing Institute.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/presidents-page/.
  21. “Statement Regarding the Trial and Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin and the Murder of George Floyd.” National Police Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Statement-Regarding-the-Trial-of-Former-Minneapolis-Police-Officer-Derek-Chauvin-and-the-Murder-of-George-Floyd.pdf.
  22. [1] “Neighborhood-Driven Policing Revisited.” National Policing Institute. August 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/publication/neighborhood-driven-policing-revisited/.
  23. “5 Things You Need to Know about Private Militia Groups.” National Police Foundation. March 5, 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/5-Things-Militias_final-2.pdf.
  24. Bueermann, Jim. “The Danger to Policing in Normalizing Extremism.” National Policing Institute. January 15, 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/onpolicing/the-danger-to-policing-in-normalizing-extremism/.
  25. “About Us.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/about-us/.
  26. “A Letter from the President of the National Policing Institute.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/presidents-page/.
  27. “Council on Policing Reforms and Race.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/national-council-on-policing-reforms-and-race/.
  28. “National Policing Institute Joins 30×30 Initiative as National Partner.” National Policing Institute. March 31, 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/announcements/national-police-foundation-joins-30×30-initiative-as-national-partner/.
  29. “What is a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC)?” Crime Gun Intelligence Centers. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://crimegunintelcenters.org/.
  30. “Rep. Demings’ Police Funding Legislation to Be Considered.” Office of Val Demings. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-demings-police-funding-legislation-be-considered.
  31. “Rep. Demings Introduces Victim Act.” Office of Rep. Val Demings. October 28, 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://demings.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-demings-introduces-victim-act.
  32. “Secure Donation.” National Policing Institute. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/?form=nationalpolicinginstitute.
  33. “Police Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520906599/202111379349307426/full.
  34. “Police Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520906599/202111379349307426/full.
  35. Weisburd, David, et. al. “Reforming the police through procedural justice training: A multicity randomized trial at crime hot spots.” National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Marchch28, 2022. Accessed October 9, 2022. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2118780119. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9168920/.
  36. “Understanding Crime Trends.” Police Chief Magazine. August 2022. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/Police_Chief-August_2022_WEB2.pdf.
  37. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium. March 23, 2022. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
  38. “2021 Annual Report.” National Police Foundation. Pg. 14. Published 2021. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.policinginstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NPF_2021AnnualReport_Feb2022.pdf.
  39. “Communities Foundation of Texas.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/750964565/202003569349301065/full.
  40. “National Policing Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/police-foundation-10098457/.
  41. “Urban Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520880375/201903199349304565/full.
  42. “National Policing Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed October 9, 2022. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/police-foundation-10098457/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1989

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $10,429,298 $9,309,351 $5,943,495 $4,092,057 N $9,594,731 $736,099 $1,007 $623,807 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $8,478,739 $8,142,521 $3,256,819 $2,546,928 N $5,890,032 $2,489,598 $917 $615,821 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $7,118,231 $6,673,465 $3,068,326 $2,703,305 Y $4,521,311 $2,498,659 $532 $652,717 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $4,972,155 $5,222,932 $2,289,995 $2,369,739 N $3,331,703 $1,533,957 $501 $831,863 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $3,962,089 $3,580,803 $1,220,235 $1,049,202 N $3,067,908 $879,352 $139 $714,784
    2015 Jun Form 990 $2,939,633 $3,327,223 $593,394 $803,647 N $2,584,404 $355,190 $4 $725,169 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $2,581,296 $2,585,346 $650,250 $472,913 N $2,295,766 $284,550 $30 $338,771 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $2,674,891 $2,577,616 $645,015 $463,628 N $2,255,280 $337,854 $31 $438,956 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $2,201,795 $2,171,987 $609,887 $525,774 N $1,832,443 $281,809 $242 $332,293 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,817,450 $1,880,579 $334,191 $279,886 N $1,652,122 $82,315 $157 $345,683 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Policing Institute (NPI)

    2550 S. Clark Street, Suite 1130
    Arlington, VA