The Employment Policies Institute (EPI)
Not to be confused with Economic Policy Institute, a left-of-center labor-union-backed think tank.
Contents
The Employment Policies Institute (EPI) is a right-leaning research organization that focuses on public policy issues related to employment growth, especially as it affects entry-level employment. EPI sponsors research that looks at new labor costs, welfare reform, and mandated benefits. 2
Activities
The Employment Policies Institute published the findings of a February 2022 survey of economists regarding a $15 federal minimum wage. The survey found that most economists opposed raising the minimum wage to $15, with an even larger majority believing that raising the wage would have a negative impact on employment levels for individuals under 20 years old. Most of the economists surveyed agreed that raising the minimum wage would not efficiently address poverty, unlike earned income tax credits and general welfare supports like food stamps. 3
The Employment Policies Institute advocates for the federal tip credit, which allows employers to include gratuities in their minimum wage calculations. In research published in February 2021, EPI claimed that eliminating the tip credit would have negative economic impacts for tipped restaurant workers. EPI’s report concluded that tipped workers tend to earn substantially more than minimum wage, that eliminating the tip credit would result in job losses, and that attempts to eliminate the tip credit have failed in many restaurants due to customer preferences. 4
In a January 2021 analysis of the Biden administration’s proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 and eliminate the tip credit, the Employment Policies Institute claimed that if implemented, the proposal would cause significant negative economic impacts. EPI’s analysis concluded that the proposal would ultimately cost employers upwards of $100 billion and that more that 2 million jobs would be lost. A large percentage of job losses would occur for workers aged 16-24, women, and tipped workers. 5
Funding
The Employment Policies Institute is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While EPI does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Searle Freedom Trust ($300,000 in 2019), 6 the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation ($250,000 in 2017), 7 and the National Philanthropic Trust ($75,000 in 2017). 8
People
Richard Berman is the president and executive director of the Employment Policies Institute, 1 the president of Berman and Company, and the executive director of both the Center for Consumer Freedom 9 and the Center for Union Facts. 10
Michael Saltsman is the managing director at EPI and senior vice president at Berman and Company. Saltsman formerly worked as a field economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 11
Members of the board include Gerald Francis (secretary and treasurer), Paul Avery, John Berglund, Shannon Foust, Warren Hardie, and James Ledley. 1
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $783,905 | $691,644 | $815,990 | View |
| 2023 | $944,131 | $765,323 | $1,053,790 | View |
| 2022 | $1,204,829 | $963,618 | $638,673 | View |
| 2021 | $994,008 | $1,171,297 | $663,641 | View |
| 2020 | $837,595 | $677,182 | $809,682 | View |
Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
Highest Earning Employees
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $9,988,406
- Number of Grants: 44
- Number of Funders: 15
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years: