Drug Policy Action is located in New York, NY. The organization was established in 2003. According to its NTEE Classification (R20) the organization is classified as: Civil Rights, under the broad grouping of Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy and related organizations. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Drug Policy Action is a 501(c)(4) and as such, is described as a "Civic League, Social Welfare Organization, and Local Association of Employees" by the IRS.
For the year ending 05/2023, Drug Policy Action generated $3.2m in total revenue. The organization has seen a slow decline revenue. Over the past 8 years, revenues have fallen by an average of (0.8%) each year. All expenses for the organization totaled $6.0m during the year ending 05/2023. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Since 2019, Drug Policy Action has awarded 34 individual grants totaling $32,751,033. If you would like to learn more about the grant giving history of this organization, scroll down to the grant profile section of this page.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2023
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
DRUG POLICY ACTION WORKS TO PASS NEW DRUG LAWS AND POLICIES GROUNDED IN EVIDENCE, HEALTH, EQUITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS - AND UNDERTAKES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND ELECTORAL WORK TO SUPPORT THESE PRINCIPLES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
GENERAL ADVOCACY: DRUG POLICY ACTION WORKS TO END THE WAR ON DRUGS. WE SEEK TO DISMANTLE THE SYSTEM OF MASS CRIMINALIZATION THAT UNDERGIRDS THE DRUG WAR AND BUILD AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO DRUGS GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, COMPASSION, HEALTH, EQUITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS. WE ADVOCATE FOR LAW AND POLICY CHANGE AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, INCLUDING THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND BALLOT MEASURE ADVOCACY.DRUG POLICY ACTION'S GOALS ARE THREEFOLD. FIRST, WE SEEK TO ELIMINATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR DRUG POSSESSION AND EXPAND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE. SECOND, WE SEEK TO REMOVE PUNITIVE RESPONSES TO DRUG USE IN CIVIL SYSTEMS. AND THIRD, WE SEEK TO REPLACE MARIJUANA PROHIBITION WITH A SYSTEM OF SENSIBLE REGULATIONS THAT ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND REPAIR THE HARMS OF CRIMINALIZATION.
DRUG POLICY ACTION ADVANCED THE FOLLOWING BALLOT INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS:1) OKLAHOMA - QUESTION 8202) SAN MARCOS, TX - PROPOSITION A3) DENTON, TX - PROPOSITION B4) KILLEEN, TX - PROPOSITION A5) HARKER HEIGHTS, TX - PROPOSITION A6) ELGIN, TX - PROPOSITION A1) OKLAHOMA - QUESTION 820 TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA DRUG POLICY ACTION SUPPORTED THE OKLAHOMA BALLOT CAMPAIGN FOR STATE QUESTION 820, TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT EXPUNGEMENT PROVISIONS FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OF MARIJUANA OFFENSES. THE INITIATIVE INCLUDED THE MOST FAR-REACHING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROVISIONS OF ANY MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE TO DATE, RETROACTIVELY RE-SENTENCING AND RELEASING PEOPLE, AND REDUCING PROBATION AND PAROLE VIOLATIONS. THE CAMPAIGN WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. 2-6) VARIOUS TEXAS MUNICIPALITIES DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA POSSESSIONIN PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUND GAME TEXAS, DRUG POLICY ACTION SUPPORTED BALLOT CAMPAIGNS FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION DECRIMINALIZATION IN FIVE TEXAS JURISDICTIONS:- SAN MARCOS, TX (PROPOSITION A)- DENTON, TX (PROPOSITION B)- KILLEEN, TX (PROPOSITION A)- HARKER HEIGHTS, TX (PROPOSITION A)- ELGIN, TX (PROPOSITION A)ALL FIVE WERE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED BY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER 2022.
LOBBYING ACTIVITIES:IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PRINCIPLE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING SOCIAL WELFARE THROUGH INFLUENCING POLICY AND LEGISLATION, DRUG POLICY ACTION LOBBIES FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE THEM TO SPONSOR, PROMOTE, AND/OR SUPPORT POLICIES AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPROVE LAWS RELATED TO DRUGS.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Derek Oscar Hodel President | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Kenneth T Monteiro Treasurer | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Sondra Youdelman Secretary | OfficerTrustee | 2 | $0 |
Juan Cartagena Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Pamela Lichty Director | Trustee | 1 | $0 |
Kassandra Frederique Executive Director | Officer | 8 | $7,929 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Bowers Consulting Firm Program Consulting | 5/30/17 | $162,654 |
Institute Of The Black World 21st Centur Program Consulting | 5/30/17 | $105,000 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $0 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $3,050,760 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $3,050,760 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $0 |
Investment income | $167,180 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $3,217,940 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $5,756,500 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $0 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $0 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $0 |
Other employee benefits | $0 |
Payroll taxes | $0 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $64,984 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $22,026 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $2,650 |
Advertising and promotion | $0 |
Office expenses | $1,905 |
Information technology | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $0 |
Travel | $0 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $0 |
Insurance | $3,926 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $5,989,024 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $9,672,608 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $1,090,746 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $1,500,000 |
Accounts receivable, net | $0 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $0 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $0 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $8,150,521 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $0 |
Total assets | $20,413,875 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $51,000 |
Grants payable | $5,301,000 |
Deferred revenue | $0 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $67,351 |
Total liabilities | $5,419,351 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $12,260,826 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $2,733,698 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $20,413,875 |
Over the last fiscal year, Drug Policy Action has awarded $5,722,500 in support to 13 organizations.
Grant Recipient | Amount |
---|---|
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES | $5,250,000 |
MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS IN OKLAHOMA | $178,000 |
GROUND GAME FUND (REGISTER 2 VOTE FUND) PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO | $60,000 |
REGISTER 2 VOTE (GROUND GAME TEXAS) PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO | $20,000 |
RECOVERY ADVOCACY PROJECT INC PURPOSE: TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE MAINE'S RECOVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE; SUPPORT ALL-DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION POLICY REFORM AGENDA | $51,000 |
ACT 4 SA ACTION FUND PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT PROP A WHICH WILL DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, ABORTION, NO KNOCK WARRANTS, AND CHOKEHOLDS | $20,000 |