About Drug Policy Action
To end the drug war and advance drug laws and policies grounded in evidence, health, equity, and human rights.
Focus Areas
drug policy reformcriminal justice reformharm reductionaddiction treatment and recoverypublic policy advocacyballot initiative campaigns
Who They Fund
state and local voters in targeted states (OK, WA, OR, TX, ME, MS, NV)people who use drugs and the recovery communitypatients seeking medical marijuanacommunities impacted by aggressive policing (no‑knock warrants, chokeholds)state and local candidates supportive of specified public safety/policy stances
About Drug Policy Action
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.
What Drug Policy Action Funds
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.
How Drug Policy Action Gives
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.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.6M
Total Assets
$27M
Total Revenue
$8.6M
Total Expenses
$6.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $73K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$73K
Geographic Reach
National9 states funded
About 10% of grants go to recipients in OR.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
KASSANDRA FREDERIQUE
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