The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research.

PPIC’s research program is as diverse and dynamic as California itself.  Focused on the forces shaping California’s future, our projects cut across a wide range of policy areas.

Our multidisciplinary research staff has expertise in a number of fields, including economics, demography, political science, sociology, and environmental resources.  The institute expands its research capacity with visiting fellows, dissertation fellows, and a summer intern program.

We make our findings widely available to public officials and organizations, as well as to decisionmakers in both the nonprofit and private sectors.  Because we strive to raise public awareness on critical policy issues, the media and the general public are also important audiences for our work.  Our publications range from comprehensive in-depth reports to surveys to one-page fact sheets. In addition, the PPIC Statewide Survey has generated an extensive, searchable database.  All of our materials are available for free on our website.

We value our role in public service very highly.  Our extensive outreach program offers a rich array of activities and events, including an ongoing briefing series in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.  In addition, our research staff individually contribute to the public debate in numerous ways, from writing opinion pieces to providing expert testimony to lawmakers both in the California Legislature and Congress.

PPIC was founded in 1994 with an endowment from William R. Hewlett.  Many of our research projects and outreach activities have also received generous support from foundations, including the California Endowment, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Pacific Life Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Smith Richardson Foundation, and Stuart Foundation.  We have received additional research support from private individuals and philanthropies.

PPIC headquarters are in San Francisco.  The PPIC Sacramento Center opened in 2007.

Mark Baldassare is President and Chief Executive Officer of PPIC.  Thomas C. Sutton is Chair of the Board of Directors.