How we are Funded

The Institute for Research on Public Policy was incorporated in 1972 as an independent organization, following a recommendation from a federally commissioned report. Half of the Institute’s start-up funding ($10 million) was provided by the federal government, and the other half was raised through a combination of contributions from nine provinces, and a range of private sector and foundation partners. The funds were used to create an endowment, which endures today and provides the core of the Institute’s operational budget. The endowment gives the Institute the flexibility to pursue independent research and activities of its own choosing.

In 2018, the federal government provided an additional $10 million in funding to the Institute to create the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation. These funds are administered through a separate endowment. The investment committee of the IRPP’s Board of Directors manages both endowments. No government body is involved in the administration of our funds or our operations.

Withdrawals from the endowments do not cover all the Institute’s annual operational budget. We also receive funding for our activities from charitable foundations, private sector partners, government departments, other non-profits and from individual donors who wish to support independent public policy research. Policy Options, the IRPP’s digital magazine, also receives revenue from advertising. We do not accept funds from political parties.

Our research is rigorously independent, and we always retain control over the scope, methodology, conclusions and recommendations of our work. We also clearly and publicly disclose who our supporters are. We inform our partners of these policies in writing.

For more detailed information, please consult our annual reports.