What We Do
Our mission: the Urban Institute gathers data, conducts research, evaluates programs, offers technical assistance overseas, and educates Americans on social and economic issues — to foster sound public policy and effective government.
The Urban Institute builds knowledge about the nation’s social and fiscal challenges, practicing open-minded, evidence-based research to diagnose problems and figure out which policies and programs work best, for whom, and how.
Learn more about our work:
Our History
In the mid-1960s, President Johnson saw the need for independent nonpartisan analysis of the problems facing America's cities and their residents. The President created a blue-ribbon commission of civic leaders who recommended chartering a center to do that work. In 1968, the Urban Institute became that center.
Our Commitments
- Use rigorous, state-of-the-art methods to analyze public policies and programs
- Bring sound objective evidence to public policy decisions
- Deepen public understanding of policy issues
- Save government and communities time and money through research on effective and efficient programs
- Work to make our Washington, D.C., metropolitan area a stronger community
The Urban Institute is a member of the
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Latest Research
