Funding
We receive the majority of our funding in the form of grants and contracts from all levels of government and from other institutions, including foundations and other nonprofits, universities, and corporations. With this funding, we conduct research, evaluate programs, and offer technical assistance. We also are fortunate to receive charitable contributions from individuals who support our mission with flexible funding and with contributions toward work on specific issues.
The Urban Institute strives to meet the highest standards of integrity and quality in its research and analyses and in the evidence-based policy recommendations offered by its researchers and experts. We believe that operating consistent with the values of independence, rigor, and transparency is essential to maintaining those standards.
As an organization, the Urban Institute does not take positions on issues, but it does empower and support its experts in sharing their own evidence-based views and policy recommendations that have been shaped by scholarship. Funders do not determine our research findings or the insights and recommendations of our experts. Urban scholars and experts are expected to be objective and follow the evidence wherever it may lead. Learn more about our funding principles.