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ADVOCACY INSTITUTE INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 920240689 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE R02 · Civil Rights & Advocacy · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$1.5M
expenses
$1.5M
net assets
$2.0M
employees
9
volunteers
30
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

BUILD ADVOCACY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND POWER TO SHAPE GOVERNMENT POLICY FOR A MORE EQUITABLE NEW YORK.

profile · synthesized from sources

Advocacy Institute Inc builds advocacy skills and power among underrepresented communities to influence government policy in New York. The organization provides training, strategic consulting, and membership resources to help organizations and individuals engage more effectively in legislative advocacy. It focuses on equity and civic participation across the state.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $380K
    TRAINING - ADVOCACY INSTITUTE OFFERS A SUITE OF ADVOCACY 101 DIGITAL TRAININGS AND CURRICULUM TO MEET THE DEMAND OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT MORE SUPPORT WITH STEPPING INTO LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY. ADVOCACY INSTITUTE'S NON REMOTE TRAINING SERIES OCCUR THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE TO ACCOMMODATE ADVOCATES WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM A COLLABORATIVE IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE. CORE PROGRAMMING ALSO INCLUDES AN ANNUAL ADVOCACY 101 VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP. THERE WERE 1,125 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024.
  2. #2 $217K
    STRATEGIC CONSULTING - THE ADVOCACY INSTITUTE PROVIDES ONGOING CONSULTING--FROM PROVIDING INPUT ON DRAFTING TESTIMONIES, PLANNING LEGISLATIVE MEETING AGENDAS, AND ASSISTANCE MAPPING OUT ADVOCACY ACTIONS--AS PART OF ITS ONE-TO ONE STRATEGIC CONSULTING SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, ADVOCACY INSTITUTE PROVIDES CONNECTIONS TO GOVERNMENT INSIDERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN OFFER STRATEGIC ADVICE BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH STATE AND LOCAL LEGISLATURES AND BUDGETS WITH REGIONALLY SPECIFIC INSIGHTS. THERE WERE 62 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NEW YORK STATE IN 2024.
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Advocacy 101 Training
Offers digital and in-person trainings on legislative advocacy, including a virtual summer camp and regional in-person series, designed for organizations seeking to build advocacy capacity.
Membership Program
Offers members access to an online community, campaign resources, legislative directories, official data, and real-time support; tools available in English and Spanish for organizations across New York.
Strategic Consulting
Provides one-on-one consulting support, including help drafting testimony, planning legislative meetings, and mapping advocacy actions, with connections to government insiders and policy professionals across New York State.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Political Leadership Training for Underrepresented Groups 2 activities
    • Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program
      A 10-month capacity-building program for emerging organizers and advocates from social justice organizations across New York State, designed to build advocacy skills, strategic thinking, and peer networks. The program recruits a regionally diverse cohort, with a focus on BIPOC-led organizations.
    • Develop and deliver advocacy curriculum using LCATT framework
      Delivers a core curriculum on legislative advocacy, including the Legislative Campaign Assessment and Tracking Tool (LCATT), state budget processes, and relationship mapping, to strengthen campaign strategy and timing for advocates across New York State.
  • Housing Policy Advocacy & Tenant Organizing 1 activity
    • Advocate for housing, immigration, education, and victim compensation policy changes
      Engages in advocacy campaigns on issues including housing justice, immigration rights, education equity, and victim compensation. Notable efforts include leading the Housing Justice for All coalition to win an eviction moratorium, advancing education policy with the Alliance for Quality Education, and supporting the Fair Access to Victim Compensation Campaign.
  • Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Deliver in-person and virtual advocacy trainings
      Provides digital and in-person advocacy training programs across New York State, including a three-day Summer Camp in NYC, a two-day regional training in Albany, and year-round webinars covering legislative processes, budgeting, coalition-building, and campaign strategy. In 2024, trained 1,125 participants.
  • Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
    • Distribute advocacy tools and digital resources
      Provides members with access to an online community and digital tools such as a legislative directory, interactive legislature snapshots, campaign tracking tools, and data on officials. Resources are available in English and Spanish and support legislative and budget advocacy efforts.
  • Membership Program Administration 1 activity
    • Offer sliding-scale organizational memberships
      Provides annual membership to organizations on a sliding scale based on budget size, with fees such as $3,000 for organizations with budgets between $1.2M and $2.5M, to ensure accessibility for smaller and grassroots groups.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Participate in national and state-level advocacy coalitions and conventions
      Serves as a delegate and collaborator in national and state advocacy forums, including participation as a New York State Delegate in the 2020 Black National Convention, to advance social justice policy goals.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Provide strategic consulting and campaign support to member organizations
      Offers one-on-one strategic consulting to member organizations, including drafting testimony, planning legislative meetings, campaign assessment, and ongoing coaching to advance legislative and budget campaigns. Provided support to 62 member organizations in 2024.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$1.54M
Contributions & grants$1.37M89%
Program service revenue$172K11%
Investment income$60%
Other revenue$-4K
expenses
Total expenses$1.52M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$1.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.07M
Cash$1.57M
Investments$0
Liabilities$78K
Net assets$1.99M
Liquid reserves12.4 mo
3 years on record · 2023–2025 · YoY revenue +20.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CORI PARRISH CO-DIRECTOR 40 $169K
TANVIER PEART CO-DIRECTOR 40 $152K
JASMIN HERNANDEZ SYSTEMS ENGINEER 40 $127K
DAVID NG ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR 40 $107K
ROCKY FINE THRU APRIL BOARD MEMBER/CONSULTANT 1 $10K
board members · 11
  • ASHLEY GANTT — BOARD MEMBER
  • CARLYN COWEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DOROTHY JANICK — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELZ JONES BOARD V-CHAIR — (THRU DEC 2024); BOARD CHAIR
  • GABRIELA QUINTANILLA — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOSE DAVILA — BOARD MEMBER
  • KATHLEEN RUBENSTEIN — BOARD SECRETARY
  • KIANA ABBADY BOARD MEMBER — (THRU DEC 2024); VICE CHAIR
  • LUKEE FORBES — BOARD MEMBER
  • MURAD AWAWDEH BOARD TREASURER — (THRU SEP. 2025); BOARD MEMBER
  • MYLES PAISLEY BOARD MEMBER — (THRU AUG.); TREASURER
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • Advocacy Institute Team Partner — Provides instant support to members through the Advocacy Institute tools platform
  • Afghans For A Better Tomorrow Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • African Communities Together (ACT) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Albany Armory Partner — Venue partner for the Advocacy Institute’s two-day regional training in Albany, NY.
  • Alliance for Quality Education Partner — Worked with to advance statewide education policy change.
  • Coalition for Chinese American Children and Families (CACF) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Common Justice Partner — Tanvier Peart served as Director of Policy and led the passage of the Fair Access to Victim Compensation bill.
  • Communications Workers-America District 1 Partner — Organization represented by member Hae-Lin Choi participating in Advocacy Institute programs.
  • Community Resource Center Partner — Participant organization in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program
  • Community Resource Center (CRC) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Community Voices Heard (CVH) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Desis Rising Up & Moving Partner — Collaborated with as a youth organizer to develop an ICE rapid-response network and lead deportation-defense campaigns.
  • Fines and Fees Justice Center Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Foundations Funder — Foundations are noted as supporting consulting budgets for membership fees.
  • Government Insiders and Professionals Partner — Connects advocates with government insiders and professionals for strategic advice on state and local legislative engagement.
  • Housing Justice for All Coalition — Helped lead this statewide coalition to win an eviction moratorium and emergency rental assistance.
  • Judson Memorial Church Partner — Host site for the Advocacy Institute’s Summer Camp training series in New York City.
  • Long Island Progressive Coalition (LIPC) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • MinKwon Center for Community Action Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Mothers Out Front Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Partner — Participant organization in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program
  • New York County Defender Services Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • New York State Government — Provides advocacy support and resources focused on New York State legislative and budget processes.
  • Northeast Dutchess Immigrant Services (NEDIS) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • Partnership for Public Good Partner — Tanvier Peart served as Director of Policy Advancement, working with a network of over 370 organizations to build power through coordinated policy strategies.
  • Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
  • WE ACT for Environmental Justice Partner — Participant organization in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program
  • WE ACT for Environmental Justice Partner — Partner organization whose representative participated in the Advocacy Leadership Accelerator program.
+ 5 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Inside-Outside Advocacy Strategy
    methodology: inside-outside_strategy
    By coordinating advocacy efforts both inside government institutions and through external grassroots pressure, the organization amplifies influence on policy change because dual leverage increases accountability and strategic agility.
  • Integrated Advocacy and Organizing
    methodology: advocacy-and-organizing-integration
    By integrating policy advocacy with grassroots organizing, the organization builds collective power in underrepresented communities because sustained engagement across tactics strengthens political influence and community ownership of change.
  • Intersectional Racial Equity Lens
    methodology: intersectional-racial-equity-lens
    By analyzing systemic oppression through an intersectional and racial equity framework grounded in lived experience, advocacy becomes more responsive and effective because it addresses root causes and centers impacted communities in strategy development.
  • Peer-Collaborative Problem Solving
    methodology: peer-collaborative-problem-solving
    By grounding advocacy training in participants’ real-world campaigns and facilitating peer collaboration, problem-solving becomes contextually relevant and actionable because shared experience builds practical knowledge and collective efficacy.
  • Winnable Campaigns Framework
    methodology: winnable-campaigns
    By breaking down large policy challenges into smaller, achievable campaigns, advocates build confidence and momentum, which increases long-term effectiveness and sustained engagement because early wins reinforce capability and collective power.