Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI)

Website:

pnpi.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

47-4374655
Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,828,980
Expenses: $996,832
Assets: $1,804,348
Type:

Education Advocacy Organization
Formation:

2011
President:

MaryEllen McGuire
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $362,877

Expenses: $1,089,657

Assets: $1,130,476 1

References

  1. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/202331189349301323/full.

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) is a left-of-center postsecondary education policy advocacy organization that targets policymakers, leaders, and influential thinkers. 1 2 PNPI is a supporting organization “operated, supervised, or controlled by” the New Venture Fund (NVF), 3 4 which is managed by liberal philanthropic consultancy Arabella Advisors. 5 6

PNPI runs programming to inform congressional staff on policy issues and a summer scholars program that targets the next generation of education policy professionals. As of March 2024, PNPI’s alumni network includes more than 750 individuals. 7

In 2023, PNPI received a $1.4 million grant from the left-of-center Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 8 PNPI has received financial support from the left-of-center Kresge Foundation 9 10 and the Lumina Foundation for Education. 11

History and Leadership

Postsecondary National Policy Institute was founded by MaryEllen McGuire in 2011. 12 The group officially launched in 2012 as a part of left-of-center organization New America to host Congressional briefings on postsecondary education policy. PNPI held its first briefing on Capitol Hill in 2015 and became an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2016. PNPI launched its Emerging Leaders Development Program and alumni network in 2021 and its Giving Circles Program in 2022. 13

MaryEllen McGuire is the founder and president of PNPI. Prior to forming the organization, she worked in the Obama administration White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and was President Barack Obama’s (D) senior advisor for education policy. 14

Previously, McGuire worked as senior education policy advisor to then-U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), an education policy advisor for then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), and as assistant director of research to former First Lady Hillary Clinton (D). 15

Activities

Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) is a left-of-center postsecondary education policy advocacy organization that targets policymakers, leaders, and influential thinkers. 16 17

PNPI is a supporting organization “operated, supervised, or controlled by” the left-of-center New Venture Fund (NVF), 18 19 which is managed by liberal dark money organization Arabella Advisors. 20 21 PNPI is affiliated with Telescope Fund, which is also a supporting organization of NVF. 22

PNPI’s programming includes Congressional Seminars to inform congressional staff about PNPI’s priority issues for postsecondary education. The organization also hosts a leadership development program to train individuals with skills and build education policy networks and a community boot camp to engage with whom PNPI considers the next generation of education policymakers. 23 Since 2017, PNPI has run a summer scholars program through which it taught undergraduate and graduate students about education policymaking in Washington, D.C. 24 25

As of March 2024, PNPI’s alumni network includes more than 750 individuals. The organization has hosted 298 speakers at 92 events, trained 30 policy leaders, engaged with more than 300 community learners on education policy issues, and worked with more than 225 congressional staffers on education policy issues. 26

The organization also publishes featured reports highlighting postsecondary education issues, writes primers on education topics, and compiles other information on America’s postsecondary education student body. 27 In 2022, PNPI spent $3294,601 on Zoom briefings and its virtual trainings. The organization also spent $123,069 on researcher spotlights, virtual courses, and an in-person course for prospective policymakers. 28 29

Funding

Postsecondary National Policy Institute receives funding from individual contributions and grants. 30 In 2022, PNPI reported revenue of $362,877 and expenses of $1,089,657. PNPI reported revenue of $1,828,980 and expenses of $996,832 in 2021. 31

PNPI received $100,625 from New Venture Fund 32 in 2022 and $186,455 in 2021, respectively. 33

In 2023, PNPI received a $1,400,000 grant from the left-of-center Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 34 PNPI also received $375,000 from the Gates Foundation in 2022 35 and $1.2 million from the Gates Foundation in 2021. 36

PNPI also received $335,500 from the Lumina Foundation for Education 37 and $75,000 from the left-of-center Kresge Foundation in 2022 38 and 2021, respectively. 39 In 2018, PNPI received $473,2000 from the left-of-center Lumina Foundation for Education. 40

References

  1. “Our Story – MaryEllen McGuire, President of PNPI.” PNPI YouTube. Uploaded April 20, 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PN4zf3GOI&t=19s.
  2. “Overview.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Uploaded April 2023. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-PNPI-One-Pager-FINAL.pdf.
  3. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Schedule A. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/202331189349301323/full.
  4. “Telescope Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule R. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862577635/202223199349307782/IRS990ScheduleR.
  5. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part V. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NVF-2022-Public-Disclosure-Copy-257292001.pdf.
  6. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2016. Part V. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/201703039349300900/full.
  7. “By the Numbers.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Horizontal_PNPI_ByTheNumbers_FINAL-3.png.
  8. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. July 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2023/07/inv-059794.
  9.   [1] “Kresge Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381359217/202333179349102048/full.
  10. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” CauseIQ. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/postsecondary-national-policy-institute,474374655/.
  11. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Lumina Foundation. April 2018. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.luminafoundation.org/grant/10527/.
  12.  “Our Story – Mary Ellen McGuire, President of PNPI.” PNPI Email YouTube Channel. Uploaded April 20, 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PN4zf3GOI&t=19s.
  13. “Timeline.” Postsecondary National Policy Center. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Horizontal_PNPI_Timeline.png.
  14. “MaryEllen McGuire.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/staff-bio-maryellen-mcguire/.
  15. “MaryEllen McGuire.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/staff-bio-maryellen-mcguire/.
  16. “Our Story – MaryEllen McGuire, President of PNPI.” PNPI YouTube. Uploaded April 20, 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PN4zf3GOI&t=19s.
  17. “Overview.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Uploaded April 2023. Accessed March 11, 2024. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-PNPI-One-Pager-FINAL.pdf.
  18. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Schedule A. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/202331189349301323/full.
  19. “Telescope Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule R. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862577635/202223199349307782/IRS990ScheduleR.
  20. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part V. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NVF-2022-Public-Disclosure-Copy-257292001.pdf.
  21. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2016. Part V. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/201703039349300900/full.
  22. “Telescope Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule R. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862577635/202223199349307782/full.
  23. “One Pager FINAL.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. March 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PN4zf3GOI&t=19s.
  24. “One Pager FINAL.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. March 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PN4zf3GOI&t=19s.
  25. “Summer Scholars.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/summer-scholars/.
  26.  “By the Numbers.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Horizontal_PNPI_ByTheNumbers_FINAL-3.png.
  27. “Overview.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI) LinkedIn. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/pnpi/about/.
  28. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/202331189349301323/full.
  29. “Congressional Programming.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://pnpi.org/congressional-programming/.
  30. “Donate.” Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://secure.donationpay.org/pnpi/.
  31. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474374655/202331189349301323/full.
  32. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part V. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NVF-2022-Public-Disclosure-Copy-257292001.pdf.
  33. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Schedule R. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/202243139349303999/full.
  34. [1] “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. July 2023. Accessed March 9, 2024. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2023/07/inv-059794.
  35. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” CauseIQ. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/postsecondary-national-policy-institute,474374655/.
  36. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. July 2021. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/committed-grants/2021/07/inv031263.
  37. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Lumina Foundation. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.luminafoundation.org/grant/2109-1114702/.
  38. “Kresge Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381359217/202333179349102048/full.
  39. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” CauseIQ. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/postsecondary-national-policy-institute,474374655/.
  40. “Postsecondary National Policy Institute.” Lumina Foundation. April 2018. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.luminafoundation.org/grant/10527/.
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 2015

    • 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
    2021 Dec Form 990 $1,828,980 $996,832 $1,804,348 $228,099 N $1,810,164 $18,816 $0 $278,081
    2020 Dec Form 990 $536,276 $931,840 $945,000 $200,899 N $523,060 $13,216 $0 $286,465 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $1,245,837 $1,035,290 $1,285,149 $145,484 N $1,222,779 $23,058 $0 $264,045 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $502,626 $920,618 $1,062,977 $133,859 N $493,436 $8,955 $0 $327,352 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,509,064 $798,526 $1,430,632 $83,522 N $1,497,784 $11,280 $0 $243,655 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $20,106 $616,953 $710,396 $73,824 N $20,106 $0 $0 $216,212 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,351,137 $117,718 $1,285,083 $51,664 N $1,351,137 $0 $0 $52,422 PDF

    Postsecondary National Policy Institute (PNPI)

    1828 L Street NW, No. 300-E
    Washington, DC 20036-5104