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Public Policy Institute of California
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| Public Policy Institute of California | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | San Francisco, Calif. |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Mark Baldassare, President and CEO |
| Founder(s): | Roger Heyns, Arjay Miller and William R. Hewlett |
| Year founded: | 1994 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is a private, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization based in San Francisco, Calif. The group also has an office in Sacramento, Calif.[1]
Mission
According to its website, the Public Policy Institute for California's mission consists of the following:[1]
| “ | The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank. We are dedicated to informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research.[2] | ” |
Background
The Public Policy Institute of California was founded by former Ford Motor Company President and Stanford Business School Dean Arjay Miller, former University of California at Berkeley Chancellor Roger W. Heyns, and co-founder of Hewlett-Packard Company William R. Hewlett (Hewlett provided the initial endowment for the group as well) in 1994. According to PPIC's website, the three founders "shared a deep concern about the future of their state" when they formed PPIC.[1]
Focus
According to the Public Policy Institute of California's website, the group's work has three overarching themes: improving policy responses, planning for the future and understanding drivers of change.[1] Below is a breakdown of the policy areas that the group's researchers focus on, according to PPIC's website:[3][4]
- Climate change and energy: "We monitor the state’s leadership in climate change and energy policy through analysis of public opinion, local government actions, and industry trends."
- Corrections: "We analyze the effects of California’s realigned criminal justice system, focusing on effectiveness, outcomes, and public safety."
- Economy: "Our work tracks trends shaping policy decisions in economic development, employment, housing, income, and industry."
- Fiscal and governance reform: "We examine the impact of current and proposed reforms. Areas of interest include the state budget, state-local realignment, and tax policy."
- Health and human services: "We monitor the implementation of federal health care reform and evaluate service delivery and program operations in child welfare and other safety net programs."
- Higher education: "We explore affordability, graduation rates, the effects of budget cuts, and the ability to meet workforce needs."
- K-12 education: "Studies focus on achievement gaps, early education, funding, and student performance."
- Political landscape: "Our work follows elections, voter behavior, the effects of partisanship, and shifts in public opinion."
- Population: "We analyze the immediate and long-term policy implications of key issues such as aging, race/ethnicity, and immigration."
- Water: "The PPIC Water Policy Center spurs innovative water management solutions that support a healthy economy, environment, and society."
The group also produces numerous publications, such as research briefs and reports, to support its work.[5]
Statewide survey
The Public Policy Institute of California conducts public opinion research through its PPIC Statewide Survey, done regularly each year. The survey was first implemented in 1998 and, according to PPIC's website, "has become widely known as a trusted source of public opinion in California" and is often sourced in California media.[6] PPIC is a member of the National Council on Public Polls (NCPP) and a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), and the organization follows AAPOR's Code of Professional Ethics and Practice as part of statewide survey methodology.[7] Below is a breakdown of the three main survey topics, according to PPIC's website:[6]
- Californians and their government: "Examines social, economic, and political attitudes and tracks policy preferences of likely voters and all Californians."
- Californians and education: "Looks at views of K–12 and higher education policies, with special attention to public school parents and likely voters."
- Californians and the environment: "Investigates attitudes toward an array of environmental issues, from climate change to energy to drought, gauging related policy preferences."
Leadership
As of January 2016, Mark Baldassare was the Public Policy Institute of California's president and CEO. Below is a list of PPIC's board of directors:[8][9]
- Donna Lucas, Chair (Chief Executive Officer, Lucas Public Affairs)
- Mark Baldassare (President and CEO, Public Policy Institute of California)
- Ruben Barrales (President and CEO, GROW Elect)
- María Blanco (Executive Director, Undocumented Student Legal Services Center; University of California Office of the President)
- Louise Henry Bryson (Chair Emerita, Board of Trustees J. Paul Getty Trust)
- A. Marisa Chun (Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP)
- Phil Isenberg (Vice Chair, Delta Stewardship Council)
- Mas Masumoto (Author and Farmer)
- Steven A. Merksamer (Senior Partner at Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross & Leoni, LLP)
- Gerald L. Parsky (Chairman, Aurora Capital Group)
- Kim Polese (Chairman at ClearStreet, Inc.)
- Gaddi H. Vasquez (Senior Vice President, Government Affairs at Edison International Southern California Edison)
- William K. Coblentz, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- David A. Coulter, Director Emeritus
- Edward K. Hamilton, Director Emeritus
- Gary K. Hart, Director Emeritus
- Walter B. Hewlett, Director Emeritus
- Roger W. Heyns, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- David W. Lyon, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Cheryl White Mason, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Arjay Miller, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Ki Suh Park, Director Emeritus
- A. Alan Post, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Constance L. Rice, Director Emeritus
- Thomas C. Sutton, Director Emeritus
- Cynthia A. Telles, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Raymond L. Watson, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
- Carol Whiteside, Director Emeritus
- Harold M. Williams, Director Emeritus and Founding Board Member
Finances
Below is a breakdown of the Public Policy Institute of California's revenue (from program services and investment income) and expenses for the 2012-2013 fiscal years:[10][11]
| Annual revenue and expenses for Public Policy Institute of California, 2012-2013 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2013 | $13,961,325 | $13,975,738 |
| 2012 | $9,782,720 | $14,006,460 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Public Policy Institute of California. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- California media
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Sacramento, Calif.
External links
- Website of the Public Policy Institute of California
- About the Public Policy Institute of California
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Public Policy Institute of California, "About PPIC," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "Our Priorities," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "Topics," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "Publications," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Public Policy Institute of California, "About the Survey," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "PPIC Statewide Survey Methodology," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Public Policy Institute of California, "Board of Directors," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Central Valley Business Times, "California voters angry, irritated, pessimistic says new survey," March 24, 2010
- ↑ Guidestar, "2013 IRS Tax Form 990," accessed February 1, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "2012 IRS Tax Form 990," accessed February 1, 2016
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