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INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC STRATEGIES

EIN 33-0519874 SAN DIEGO, CA

Largest nonprofits in California

Revenue 2023
$4,877,902
Expenses 2023
$4,645,726

Program services were 82.7% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
E70Z
Classification
1000
Street
8885 RIO SAN DIEGO DR STE 117

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Other organizations at this address

1 other organization in the IRS Business Master File lists the same street address. matched by us

This address is a suite or unit (STE 117). Organizations that share one are often clients of the same office-services firm, accountant or registered agent rather than related to each other.

We match the street line and ZIP code as the IRS gives them, ignoring case and outer spaces and nothing else, so "AVE" and "AVENUE" count as different streets and this list can miss some. A shared address can mean related organizations or a shared office, but it can also be a registered agent, a mail drop or a service provider holding mail for unrelated clients. It is not, by itself, evidence that two organizations are connected.

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

Institute of Public Strategies (IPS) is a nonprofit corporation that receives its funding from local and federal governmental agencies and private foundations, through long-term grants or contracts to provide community-level services within specified regions or communities. IPS helps community partners prevent problems by focusing on the community conditions (the social determinants of health) that negatively influence population-level health outcomes.IPS vision is safe, secure, vibrant, and healthy communities where everyone can thrive. The mission of IPS is to work alongside communities to build power, challenge systems of injustice, protect health, and improve quality of life. IPS accomplishes this by providing community partners and youth with training, technical assistance, and tools to impact public health, public safety, equity, and social justice through systems change.IPS corporate office is in San Diego, California and we have four additional offices located throughout Southe

Activities or mission (Part I)

to work alongside communities to build power, challenge systems of injustice, protect health, and improve quality of life.

  • Alcohol and Drug Prevention:IPS provides community-based, population-level, environmental prevention services related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in three counties and more than a dozen cities across Southern California. Through community-driven policy change at institutional and municipal levels, IPS strives to reduce underage and binge drinking and substance use disorders, as well as eliminate exposure to second-hand smoke in multi-unit housing complexes and in open areas such as parks, beaches, and festivals. The goal is to create lasting social, cultural, physical, legal, and/or political changes in communities with a focus on policies, systems, and environmental factors that will prevent and reduce ATOD problems.

    Expenses $3,179,785

  • Youth Leadership DevelopmentIPS facilitates Youth in Action, a coalition of immigrant youth ages 16-20 disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, and a #SanDiegoVibes campaign created for youth by youth. Youth are trained in leadership, Youth-led Participatory Action Research, and advocacy. They explore historical divestment in their communities and select and champion policy, systems, and environmental changes to create more equitable neighborhoods. In addition, IPS enhances behavioral health literacy, reduces stigma, and promotes help-seeking behavior in the Latine community of San Diego County's Border Region. Rooted in Social Justice Youth Development, our approach centers on the co-creation of a digital mental health platform that integrates youth-crafted mental health contentvisuals, storytelling, music, and creative arts. We are establishing a culturally resonant and scalable online community for Latin youth and a blueprint for positive change in mental health education and support.

    Expenses $387,452

  • Health EquityTo support health equity and reduce health disparities, IPS is part of a California Statewide Trusted Messenger Network that builds trust with communities through on-the-ground engagement. IPS also advances health equity in communities to prevent behavioral health disparities in underage drinking rates, substance use disorders, and death related to opioid and meth use. By reflecting the language and culture of the communities we serve, IPS has authentic community interactions to provide accurate information and resources on critical issues. Health and behavioral health problems are more common in certain communities based on historical divestment, socio-economic status, and other demographic characteristics. Therefore, the program focuses on making community conditions more equitable so all communities can thrive.

    Expenses $275,408

As filed on the 2023 return.

Officers and directors · 2023

As listed in Part VII of the 2023 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Brenda Simmons

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $205,382
    From this org
    $146,352
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $59,030
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $146,352
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $50,501
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,529
    Filer's total
    $205,382
  • Terri L Howey

    COO

    Total calculated
    $180,442
    From this org
    $134,452
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,990
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,452
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $45,471
    Nontaxable benefits
    $519
    Filer's total
    $180,442
  • Sarah Blanch

    CSO

    Total calculated
    $158,386
    From this org
    $109,598
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,788
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $109,598
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $39,615
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,173
    Filer's total
    $158,386
  • Eric Collins

    VP PROGRAMS

    Total calculated
    $153,617
    From this org
    $105,737
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,880
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $105,737
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $38,039
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,841
    Filer's total
    $153,617
  • Marilyn Wexler

    Chairperson

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dana Sherrod

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sam Becknel

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Richard Yoast

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sara Cooley Broschart

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Vicki Luquette

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kathy Smith-Wenning

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2023
    Revenue
    $4,877,902
    Expenses
    $4,645,726
    Contributions
    $4,872,294
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $4,721,410
    Expenses
    $4,659,990
    Contributions
    $4,718,228
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,623,151
    Expenses
    $3,622,748
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,375,159
  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,327,320
    Expenses
    $3,338,221
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,078,773
  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,391,017
    Expenses
    $3,387,338
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,080,258
  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,284,703
    Expenses
    $3,283,964
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,092,310
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,271,779
    Expenses
    $3,277,724
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,153,590
  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,271,779
    Expenses
    $3,277,724
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,153,590
  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,015,228
    Expenses
    $3,015,980
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,169,915
  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,053,235
    Expenses
    $3,054,333
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,132,801
  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,303,150
    Expenses
    $3,302,699
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,376,125
  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,140,557
    Expenses
    $3,113,028
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,190,924

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

No itemized grants to organizations. Schedule I is filed only by organizations that granted more than $5,000 to a recipient, so most filers have none.

Grants received

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2023 return

Declared as related by

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 1 November 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2023, the newest we have parsed for this organization.