Non-profit

Roosevelt Institute

Website:

www.rooseveltinstitute.org

Location:

NEW YORK, NY

Tax ID:

23-7213592

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $14,561,739
Expenses: $12,361,255
Assets: $39,947,474

Type:

Think Tank

Formation:

1972

President and CEO:

Felicia Wong

Board Chair:

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Roosevelt Institute is a left-leaning think tank that asserts that the system of free-market capitalism is inherently unjust. The organization’s full name is The Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. It brings together liberal and Democratic lawmakers, economists, and academics to attempt to reshape policies, from the federal to the local levels.1

The group is closely aligned with the progressive funder network Democracy Alliance, and the Alliance categorizes Roosevelt Institute as a “recommended organization.”2 Right-leaning groups are critical of the Institute’s major programs, asserting that Roosevelt Institute would see the American economy changed into a system more resembling socialism.3

Initiatives

One of the institute’s major projects was the creation of a campus network for younger people with liberal ideologies, working together on such projects as Government By and For Millennial America where they learn organizing and campus activism. The group promotes such left-leaning ideas as automatic voter registration, public financing of political candidates, and more government support for public universities4

As an example, Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, reported in April 2017 it had worked on such issues as lobbying trainings for an on-campus gun control group, Kenyon Students for Gun Sense, and mental health issues on campus.5 At George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Roosevelt Institute campus members pushed for the overhaul of a student health insurance plan, including subsidized premiums for low-income students.6

Democracy Alliance, the left’s attempt to help guide top Democratic Party contributors’ money to the states to boost political will, urged its members in 2015 to invest in groups like Roosevelt Institute that pushed progressive economic policies.7

The institute’s “Rewrite the Rules” touts higher taxes for heavy earners.8 Joseph E. Stiglitz, an economist and influential adviser to Hillary Clinton, issued a report published by Roosevelt Institute in 2015 that pushed rewriting decades of economic policies – including boosting taxes on capital gains – and that the group hoped would influence Clinton’s economic agenda during her presidential campaign.

Roosevelt Institute was among the left-leaning groups defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as Republicans looked to curb some of its power following President Trump’s election. Republicans argue that the level of authority given to CFPB Director Richard Cordray, a Democrat appointed by Barack Obama, violates the Constitutional separation of powers.9

Controversy

In December 2023, it was reported by Real News Michiana that Benjamin Falkowski, who served as vice president of Rutgers University’s chapter of the Roosevelt Institute, when it was formerly the Roosevelt Institution, was hired as the Chief of Staff for Republican Indiana Congressman Rudy Yakym (IA-02) in 2022. 10 11 During his time at Roosevelt, in 2008 Falkowski worked with several election activists including Jesse Jackson Jr. to publish, “25 Ideas for Election Reform” which argued for several left-of-center election policy changes including reducing Voter ID requirements, allowing for voter registration in high schools, increasing vote-by-mail, and advocating for open primaries. 12

In 2013, Falkowski joined the staff of the late Republican Indiana congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) as her legislative assistant but eventually became her Chief of Staff by 2015. His position was terminated as of 2019. 13 Rep. Walorksi represented Indiana’s 2nd District from 2013 until her death in August 2022 due to a car accident. In November 2022, Rep. Yakym would go on to win the special election to fulfill Walorski’s remaining term of Indiana’s District 2 Congressional seat. 14 15

Around 2015, Chris Riley, the former St. Joseph County Republican Party Chair and President of Penn Harris Madison Board of School Trustees, attempted to recruit Falkowski to serve as the County’s party chair position but refused. According to Real News Michiana, Riley, while serving on the Penn Harris Madison Board of School Trustees, advocated in favor of policies pushing Critical Race Theory and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). 16

People

Felicia Wong serves as the institute’s president and CEO. She previously worked for the Democracy Alliance. She is co-author of “Rewrite the Racial Rules: Building an Inclusive American Economy.”17 The book claims that various laws, policies and institutions are the “driving force behind the patently unequal life changes and opportunities for too many individuals.”18

Wong received total compensation of $305,431 from the organization in 2015, according to its IRS 990 form.19

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, granddaughter of FDR, serves as the chairwoman of the board. She also served as president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.20

Funding

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Roosevelt Institute is not required to disclose its donors, but according to its most recent 2022 990 tax form, it reported a revenue of $16,733,753, expenses of $13,730,173, and total assets of $35,318,479. 21

Some reports over the years have revealed some sources of Roosevelt’s funding, such as the $200,000 grant in 2011 from the Peterson Foundation to have the institute’s campus network help prepare a fiscal summit to discuss methods for reducing the fiscal deficit. 22 The Rockefeller Brothers Fund reported giving $233,000 to the institute from 2013-15.23 McArthur Foundation is a bedrock donor, having given $750,000 in 2014 and $700,000 in 2016.24

The institute also lists the recipients of its grants, including such colleges and universities as Columbia University ($174,250) and University of California-Berkeley ($10,000). Roosevelt Institute also reports spending more than $300,000 for stipends and fellowships for members of the campus network at left-leaning think tanks in 2015.25

References

  1. Roosevelt Institute About page. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/about/
  2. “Roosevelt Institute.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed April 24, 2017. http://democracyalliance.org/organization/roosevelt-institute/
  3. Discover the Networks: Roosevelt Institute. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/printgroupProfile.asp?grpid=7903
  4. Roosevelt Institute: Government by and for Millennial America. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/government-by-and-millennial-america-3/
  5. Sun, Justin. “Local Roosevelt Institute chapter brainstorms policy ideas.” The Kenyon Collegian. April 6, 2017. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://kenyoncollegian.com/2017/04/06/local-roosevelt-institute-chapter-brainstorms-policy-ideas/
  6. Erhardt, Sydney. “GW’s student health insurance plan needs an overhaul.” The GW Hatchet. April 20, 2017. Accessed April 21, 2017. https://www.gwhatchet.com/2017/04/20/gws-student-health-insurance-plan-needs-an-overhaul/
  7. Gold, Matea. “Wealthy donors on left launch new plan to wrest back control of the states.” Washington Post. April 12, 2015. Accessed April 21, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wealthy-donors-on-left-launch-new-plan-to-wrest-back-control-in-the-states/2015/04/12/ccd2f5ee-dfd3-11e4-a1b8-2ed88bc190d2_story.html?utm_term=.961ff31eb2bb
  8. Roosevelt Institute: Rewrite the Rules. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/rewrite-rules/
  9. Lane, Charles. “How, And Why, Republicans Want To Change The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.” WSHU Public Radio. April 18, 2017. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://wshu.org/post/how-and-why-republicans-want-change-consumer-financial-protection-bureau
  10. French, Clifton. “Congressman Yakym’s Chief of Staff worked to rig elections for Democrats with Jesse Jackson Jr. while member of socialist organization.” Real News Michiana, December 15, 2023. https://realnewsmichiana.com/2023/12/15/congressman-yakyms-chief-of-staff-worked-to-rig-elections-for-democrats-with-jesse-jackson-while-member-of-socialist-organization/
  11. Staff Writer. “Family album.” Times Herald-Record (on record online), May 15, 2008. https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2008/05/16/family-album/63064034007/
  12. French, Clifton. “Congressman Yakym’s Chief of Staff worked to rig elections for Democrats with Jesse Jackson Jr. while member of socialist organization.” Real News Michiana, December 15, 2023. https://realnewsmichiana.com/2023/12/15/congressman-yakyms-chief-of-staff-worked-to-rig-elections-for-democrats-with-jesse-jackson-while-member-of-socialist-organization/
  13. French, Clifton. “Congressman Yakym’s Chief of Staff worked to rig elections for Democrats with Jesse Jackson Jr. while member of socialist organization.” Real News Michiana, December 15, 2023. https://realnewsmichiana.com/2023/12/15/congressman-yakyms-chief-of-staff-worked-to-rig-elections-for-democrats-with-jesse-jackson-while-member-of-socialist-organization/
  14. Woods, Naja. “Rudy Yakym wins District 2 Congressional seat formerly held by Jackie Walorski.” ABC 57, November 8, 2022. https://www.abc57.com/news/rudy-yakym-wins-second-congressional-district-seat
  15. Karni, Annie. “Jackie Walorski, Indiana Congresswoman, Is Killed in Car Crash.” New York Times, August 3, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/us/politics/jackie-walorski.html
  16. French, Clifton. “Congressman Yakym’s Chief of Staff worked to rig elections for Democrats with Jesse Jackson Jr. while member of socialist organization.” Real News Michiana, December 15, 2023. https://realnewsmichiana.com/2023/12/15/congressman-yakyms-chief-of-staff-worked-to-rig-elections-for-democrats-with-jesse-jackson-while-member-of-socialist-organization/
  17. Roosevelt Institute: Felicia Wong biography. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/felicia-wong/
  18. Roosevelt Institute: Rewrite the Racial Rules: Building an Inclusive American Economy. Accessed May 2, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/rewrite-racial-rules-building-inclusive-american-economy/
  19. Guidestar: Roosevelt Institute IRS 990 forms for 2015. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/237/213/2015-237213592-0d051d9b-9.pdf
  20. Roosevelt Institute: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt biography. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://rooseveltinstitute.org/anna-eleanor-roosevelt-bio/
  21. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Roosevelt Institute. 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237213592/202342839349302264/full
  22. Smith, Yves. “Some Background on How the Roosevelt Institute Got Into Bed with Pete Peterson, the Enemy of Social Security.” Naked Capitalism. June 11, 2011. Accessed April 22, 2017. http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/06/some-background-on-how-the-roosevelt-institute-got-into-bed-with-pete-peterson-the-enemy-of-social-security.html
  23. Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Grants to The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. Accessed April 22, 2017. http://www.rbf.org/grantees/franklin-and-eleanor-roosevelt-institute
  24. McArthur Foundation: Grantee profile of The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. Accessed April 22, 2017. https://www.macfound.org/grantees/314/
  25. Guidestar: Roosevelt Institute IRS 990 forms for 2015. Accessed April 21, 2017. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/237/213/2015-237213592-0d051d9b-9.pdf

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Felicia Wong
    President / Chief Executive Officer
  2. Jonathan Soros
    Board Member
  3. Robert A. Johnson
    Senior Fellow
  4. Richard Kirsch
    Former Senior Fellow
  5. K. Sabeel Rahman
    Former Fellow

Donor Organizations

  1. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) (Labor Union)
  2. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) (Labor Union)
  3. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) (Labor Union)
  4. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (Labor Union)
  5. Annie E. Casey Foundation (Non-profit)
  6. Arca Foundation (Non-profit)
  7. Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (Labor Union)
  8. Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust (Non-profit)
  9. Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation (Non-profit)
  10. Bohemian Foundation (Non-profit)
  11. Carnegie Corporation of New York (Non-profit)
  12. Center for Public Interest Research (Non-profit)
  13. Change to Win (Labor Union)
  14. Communications Workers of America (CWA) (Labor Union)
  15. Dobkin Family Foundation (Non-profit)
  16. Dyson Foundation (Non-profit)
  17. Economic Security Project (Non-profit)
  18. Ford Foundation (Non-profit)
  19. Foundation to Promote Open Society (FPOS) (Non-profit)
  20. Hopewell Fund (Non-profit)
  21. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) (Labor Union)
  22. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) (Labor Union)
  23. International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) (Labor Union)
  24. Jennifer and Jonathan Allan Soros Foundation (Non-profit)
  25. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (Non-profit)
  26. Joyce Foundation (Non-profit)
  27. Kresge Foundation (Non-profit)
  28. Leonard & Sophie Davis Fund (Non-profit)
  29. Marguerite Casey Foundation (Non-profit)
  30. New Venture Fund (NVF) (Non-profit)
  31. New World Foundation (NWF) (Non-profit)
  32. Nick and Leslie Hanauer Foundation (Non-profit)
  33. Proteus Fund (Non-profit)
  34. Resources Legacy Fund (Non-profit)
  35. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) (Non-profit)
  36. Rockefeller Brothers Fund (Non-profit)
  37. Sagner Family Foundation (Non-profit)
  38. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (Labor Union)
  39. Stephen M. Silberstein Foundation (Non-profit)
  40. Surdna Foundation (Non-profit)
  41. Unite Here (Labor Union)
  42. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) (Labor Union)
  43. William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Non-profit)
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1972

  • 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 $14,561,739 $12,361,255 $39,947,474 $817,295 N $14,514,092 $0 $24,099 $1,033,157
    2020 Dec Form 990 $21,226,020 $7,961,165 $35,959,001 $857,693 N $20,854,405 $0 $11,158 $888,442
    2019 Dec Form 990 $9,010,597 $8,118,592 $22,038,303 $1,319,044 N $8,524,735 $0 $280,341 $819,841 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $10,036,332 $6,753,663 $18,805,431 $737,211 Y $9,591,615 $0 $243,664 $517,336 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $7,833,449 $7,013,930 $16,139,306 $736,403 N $7,191,613 $0 $183,757 $494,141
    2016 Dec Form 990 $7,261,621 $6,807,755 $14,662,870 $1,168,373 N $6,880,644 $0 $186,114 $465,077 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $5,010,159 $6,446,069 $13,681,374 $989,813 N $4,800,149 $0 $215,611 $453,080 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $6,220,151 $5,984,271 $15,530,663 $1,063,762 N $5,854,423 $0 $195,757 $374,295 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $4,697,331 $8,656,558 $14,507,089 $542,488 N $4,679,124 $0 $175,379 $356,626 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $4,148,061 $7,048,859 $18,064,552 $1,012,660 N $3,641,057 $0 $240,364 $510,380 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $20,604,836 $18,624,616 $21,924,426 $2,269,063 N $17,563,981 $0 $644,723 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Roosevelt Institute

    570 LEXINGTON AVE 5TH FLOOR
    NEW YORK, NY 10022-6837