To end the drug war and advance drug laws and policies grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights.
Drug Policy Action’s recent grants show a funder built around ballot fights, policy implementation, and advocacy infrastructure in drug policy reform. The largest awards in the file go to Drug Policy Alliance for operations and activities, including $5,250,000 in 2024 and $860,000 in 2025, which points to a sustained relationship rather than isolated project support. Beyond that core support, the foundation has backed state-level campaigns and organizations working on adult-use cannabis legalization, drug decriminalization, and criminal justice reforms tied to policing and public safety policy. The portfolio also shows a mix of campaign money and organizational capacity support. In Oregon, Drug Policy Action funded Unite Oregon Action, The Urban League of Portland, Imagine Black, and Latino Network to support implementation of HB 4002/SB 5204 and build durable advocacy capacity. In Texas and Oklahoma, it financed ballot-measure and electoral efforts around cannabis decriminalization and marijuana legalization. The pattern is consistent with a funder that uses grants to move policy, support allied organizations, and reinforce on-the-ground organizing in targeted states.
Drug Policy Action concentrates on drug policy reform through a few visible channels. On cannabis legalization, it gave $178,000 to Marijuana Policy Project for the ballot measure to legalize adult-use cannabis in Oklahoma, and $90,000 to Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws for the same Oklahoma effort. It also supported marijuana enforcement reform in Texas with $40,000 to Ground Game Texas for the November 2024 general election ballot in Dallas. Criminal justice reform appears in grants tied to policing and public safety policy. The foundation gave $20,000 to Act 4 Sa Action Fund for Prop A, which would decriminalize marijuana, abortion, no-knock warrants, and chokeholds. It also funded Register 2 Vote for local cannabis decriminalization and no-knock ballot measures in multiple Texas cities. Harm reduction and treatment-related policy show up in grants such as $15,000 to Mississippians for Compassionate Care for a safe and legal process for patients to obtain medical marijuana in Mississippi.
Typical grant size sits at $15,250 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $72,500 at the 75th percentile, while the file also includes a much larger operating grant pattern centered on Drug Policy Alliance. The repeated awards to that organization across 2023, 2024, and 2025 suggest ongoing support rather than one-time funding. Drug Policy Action is structured as a foundation rather than a donor-advised fund and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list also shows a mix of operating support, campaign support, and implementation support, indicating flexible grant purposes rather than a single restricted model.
$6.6M
$27M
$8.6M
$6.9M
Most grants fall between $15K and $73K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$73K
About 10% of grants go to recipients in OR.
KASSANDRA FREDERIQUE
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Drug Policy Action gives nationally, but its grants cluster in a small set of states and cities. Oregon appears often, with recipients in Portland, Eugene, Beaverton, and Aloha; Texas is another major destination, including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Edmond, and multiple local ballot-measure efforts. New York City appears through support for Drug Policy Alliance, while other recipient locations include Seattle, Las Vegas, Augusta, Ridgeland, and Washington, DC. All recent grants in the file go to US recipients.
Its grants support drug policy reform, criminal justice reform, harm reduction, addiction treatment and recovery, public policy advocacy, and ballot initiative campaigns. The recent file also shows issue areas such as adult-use cannabis legalization, drug decriminalization, medical marijuana access, and policing-related reforms.
Yes. The recent grants include support for ballot measures in Oklahoma and Texas, as well as campaign support for candidates such as Mike Schmidt, Tina Kotek, Brian Decker, Farrah Chaiachi, Andrea Valderrama, Kayse Jama, Julie Fahey, and Rob Wagner.
The grant-size distribution is $15,250 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $72,500 at the 75th percentile. Several recent awards sit near or above that median, while a few operating grants are substantially larger.
By grant count, Oregon is the top state, with recipients in Portland, Eugene, Beaverton, and Aloha. New York is not the most common giving state, even though the foundation’s headquarters is in New York, NY and some grants go there.
Both patterns appear, but recurring support is visible in the repeated multi-year grants to Drug Policy Alliance in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The file also includes many one-off campaign and implementation grants tied to specific state efforts and election cycles.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $6,600,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES |
| DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $860,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES |
| UNITE OREGON ACTION | PORTLAND, OR | $145,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY |
| MIKE SCHMIDT FOR MULTNOMAH DA | PORTLAND, OR | $75,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE MIKE SCHMIDT CAMPAIGN |
| THE URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND | PORTLAND, OR | $65,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY |
| LATINO NETWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $65,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY |
| IMAGINE BLACK | BEAVERTON, OR | $65,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY |
| GROUND GAME TEXAS | AUSTIN, TX | $40,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT REFORM FOR THE NOVEMBER 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT IN DALLAS, TX |
| SOMOS TEJAS | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO DECRIMALIZE MARIJUANA POSSESSION THROUGH SIGNATURE COLLECTION, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR LASTING POLICY CHANGE |
| NEW DAY NEVADA PAC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT NEW DAY NEVADA'S MISSION OF HELPING HARD WORKING NEVADAN'S GET AHEAD BY ADDRESSING STAGNATING WAGES AND GROWING MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL COSTS |
| CHAICHI FOR OREGON | ALOHA, OR | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FARRAH CHIACHI CAMPAIGN |
| DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $5,250,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES |
| MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $178,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS IN OKLAHOMA |
| GROUND GAME FUND (REGISTER 2 VOTE FUND) | WASHINGTON, DC | $60,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO |
| RECOVERY ADVOCACY PROJECT INC | AUGUSTA, ME | $51,000 | 2024 | TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE MAINE'S RECOVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE; SUPPORT ALL-DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION POLICY REFORM AGENDA |
| FRIENDS OF TINA KOTEK | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT TINA KOTEK CAMPAIGN |
| OREGONIANS FOR ETHICS | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT HOLDING ELECTED LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO OREGONIAN STANDARDS ON ETHICS |
| REGISTER 2 VOTE (GROUND GAME TEXAS) | AUSTIN, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO |
| ACT 4 SA ACTION FUND | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT PROP A WHICH WILL DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, ABORTION, NO KNOCK WARRANTS, AND CHOKEHOLDS |
| SAFETY AND JUSTICE PAC | PORTLAND, OR | $16,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES |
| FRIENDS OF ANDREA VALDERRAMA | PORTLAND, OR | $8,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ANDREA VALDERRAMA CAMPAIGN |
| KAYSE JAMA FOR OREGON | PORTLAND, OR | $8,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT KAYSE JAMA CAMPAIGN |
| FRIENDS OF JULIE FAHEY | EUGENE, OR | $6,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT JULIE FAHEY CAMPAIGN |
| FRIENDS OF ROB WAGNER | PORTLAND, OR | $5,500 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ROB WAGNER CAMPAIGN |
| DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,361,322 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES |
| COMMIT TO CHANGE WA | SEATTLE, WA | $150,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT I-1922 LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS IN WASHINGTON STATE |
| OKLAHOMANS FOR SENSIBLE MARIJUANA LAWS | EDMOND, OK | $90,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS IN OKLAHOMA |
| REGISTER 2 VOTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT LOCAL CANNABIS DECRIMINALIZATION AND NO-KNOCK BALLOT MEASURES IN AUSTIN, SAN MARCOS, ELGIN, KILLEEN, AND HARKER HEIGHTS, TX |
| FRIENDS OF BRIAN DECKER | BEAVERTON, OR | $20,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT BRIAN DECKER CAMPAIGN |
| MISSISSIPPIANS FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE | RIDGELAND, MS | $15,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SAFE AND LEGAL PROCESS FOR PATIENTS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN MISSISSIPPI |
| FRIENDS OF TINA KOTEK | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT TINA KOTEK CAMPAIGN |
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
$6,600,000TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
$860,000TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
UNITE OREGON ACTION
$145,000TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY
MIKE SCHMIDT FOR MULTNOMAH DA
$75,000TO SUPPORT THE MIKE SCHMIDT CAMPAIGN
THE URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND
$65,000TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY
LATINO NETWORK
$65,000TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY
IMAGINE BLACK
$65,000TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF HB 4002/SB 5204 AND TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY
GROUND GAME TEXAS
$40,000TO SUPPORT MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT REFORM FOR THE NOVEMBER 2024 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT IN DALLAS, TX
SOMOS TEJAS
$20,000TO DECRIMALIZE MARIJUANA POSSESSION THROUGH SIGNATURE COLLECTION, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR LASTING POLICY CHANGE
NEW DAY NEVADA PAC
$15,000TO SUPPORT NEW DAY NEVADA'S MISSION OF HELPING HARD WORKING NEVADAN'S GET AHEAD BY ADDRESSING STAGNATING WAGES AND GROWING MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL COSTS
CHAICHI FOR OREGON
$10,000TO SUPPORT FARRAH CHIACHI CAMPAIGN
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
$5,250,000TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT
$178,000TO SUPPORT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS IN OKLAHOMA
GROUND GAME FUND (REGISTER 2 VOTE FUND)
$60,000TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO
RECOVERY ADVOCACY PROJECT INC
$51,000TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE MAINE'S RECOVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE; SUPPORT ALL-DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION POLICY REFORM AGENDA
FRIENDS OF TINA KOTEK
$50,000TO SUPPORT TINA KOTEK CAMPAIGN
OREGONIANS FOR ETHICS
$50,000TO SUPPORT HOLDING ELECTED LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO OREGONIAN STANDARDS ON ETHICS
REGISTER 2 VOTE (GROUND GAME TEXAS)
$20,000TO SUPPORT GROUND GAME TEXAS FUND'S WORK ON A BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN IN SAN ANTONIO
ACT 4 SA ACTION FUND
$20,000TO SUPPORT PROP A WHICH WILL DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA, ABORTION, NO KNOCK WARRANTS, AND CHOKEHOLDS
SAFETY AND JUSTICE PAC
$16,000TO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SAFETY POLICIES
FRIENDS OF ANDREA VALDERRAMA
$8,000TO SUPPORT ANDREA VALDERRAMA CAMPAIGN
KAYSE JAMA FOR OREGON
$8,000TO SUPPORT KAYSE JAMA CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF JULIE FAHEY
$6,000TO SUPPORT JULIE FAHEY CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF ROB WAGNER
$5,500TO SUPPORT ROB WAGNER CAMPAIGN
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
$2,361,322TO SUPPORT ALLIANCE'S OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
COMMIT TO CHANGE WA
$150,000TO SUPPORT I-1922 LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS IN WASHINGTON STATE
OKLAHOMANS FOR SENSIBLE MARIJUANA LAWS
$90,000TO SUPPORT THE BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS IN OKLAHOMA
REGISTER 2 VOTE
$50,000TO SUPPORT LOCAL CANNABIS DECRIMINALIZATION AND NO-KNOCK BALLOT MEASURES IN AUSTIN, SAN MARCOS, ELGIN, KILLEEN, AND HARKER HEIGHTS, TX
FRIENDS OF BRIAN DECKER
$20,000TO SUPPORT BRIAN DECKER CAMPAIGN
MISSISSIPPIANS FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE
$15,000TO SUPPORT SAFE AND LEGAL PROCESS FOR PATIENTS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN MISSISSIPPI
FRIENDS OF TINA KOTEK
$10,000TO SUPPORT TINA KOTEK CAMPAIGN