# Public Accountability Initiative

> US research organisation

**Wikidata**: [Q61589130](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61589130)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Accountability_Initiative)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/public-accountability-initiative

## Summary
The Public Accountability Initiative (PAI) is a United States-based research institute and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on watchdog journalism. Founded in 2008 by Kevin Connor, it operates the LittleSis database and is headquartered in Buffalo, New York.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 2008 by Kevin Connor.
- **Location:** Headquarters in Buffalo, United States.
- **Organization Type:** 501(c)(3) organization and research institute.
- **Primary Field:** Watchdog journalism.
- **Key Operations:** Operates the "LittleSis" database and power mapping tool.
- **Ownership:** Owned by Kevin Connor.
- **Revenue (2023):** $826,870 USD.
- **Total Assets (2023):** $875,979 USD.
- **Funders:** Includes the Sunlight Foundation and Open Society Foundations (grant of $280,000 in 2016).
- **IRS EIN:** 20-0972582.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Public Accountability Initiative?
A: The Public Accountability Initiative (PAI) is a U.S. research institute and nonprofit organization dedicated to watchdog journalism. It was founded in 2008 and conducts research on power and accountability.

### Q: Who owns and founded the Public Accountability Initiative?
A: The organization was founded by Kevin Connor in 2008 and is owned by him.

### Q: What tools does the Public Accountability Initiative operate?
A: PAI operates "LittleSis," a free database and power mapping tool that tracks relationships between powerful individuals and organizations. It also maintains a GitHub presence for technical tools.

### Q: How is the Public Accountability Initiative funded?
A: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, PAI is funded through donations and grants. Notable past funders include the Sunlight Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. In 2023, it reported donations totaling $770,273.

### Q: What is the financial size of the Public Accountability Initiative?
A: In 2023, the organization reported a total revenue of $826,870 USD and held total assets of $875,979 USD.

## Why It Matters
The Public Accountability Initiative plays a critical role in the landscape of modern watchdog journalism and transparency research. By defining itself as a research institute dedicated to "power analysis," it addresses a specific gap in understanding how influence networks operate within the United States.

Its significance is largely operationalized through the LittleSis platform, which serves as a "roll call of the 1%" by mapping connections between corporate elites, political figures, and organizations. This tool provides journalists, activists, and researchers with the data necessary to conduct deep-dive investigations into conflicts of interest and systemic power structures.

Furthermore, PAI's status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit allows it to provide educational resources and training. For instance, with support from the Open Society Foundations in 2016, the organization worked to build the capacity of local leaders to conduct their own power analysis research. This moves beyond passive reporting to active empowerment of communities, helping to democratize access to information that is often obscured. Through its research and tool development, PAI contributes to a more informed public and holds institutions accountable by making opaque networks of influence visible and analyzable.

## Notable For
- **LittleSis Database:** Operating a distinct "little sister" database to the intelligence world's Big Brother, mapping power relationships for public use.
- **Power Analysis Training:** actively training local leaders and organizations to conduct power mapping and analysis.
- **Watchdog Focus:** Dedicating its organizational purpose specifically to watchdog journalism within a research institute framework.
- **Rapid Growth:** Increasing its revenue from under $200,000 in 2015 to over $800,000 by 2023, reflecting a significant expansion in its operational capacity.
- **Open Source Tools:** Maintaining a public GitHub repository ("public-accountability"), indicating a commitment to open-source software and technical transparency.

## Body

### Organizational Structure and Leadership
The Public Accountability Initiative is formally recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization and a research institute. The entity was founded in 2008 by Kevin Connor, who also serves as the owner. It is incorporated under the name Public Accountability Initiative, Inc. and is headquartered in Buffalo, United States.

### Financial Overview
PAI has demonstrated significant financial growth over its operational history.
- **Revenue:**
  - **2023:** $826,870 USD
  - **2022:** $771,096 USD
  - **2021:** $848,892 USD
  - **2012:** $78,913 USD (earliest recorded revenue in source data)
- **Donations:** In 2023, the organization received $770,273 in donations, a substantial increase from $52,110 in 2012.
- **Assets:** Total assets as of 2023 were reported at $875,979 USD, growing from $44,606 in 2012.

### Funding and Support
The organization's funding sources include major philanthropic foundations. Records indicate:
- **Open Society Foundations:** Provided a grant of $280,000 USD in 2016. This funding was designated to support the "Open Places Initiative," specifically to develop an interactive power mapping tool on LittleSis.org and build capacity for local leaders.
- **Sunlight Foundation:** Listed as a funder of the organization.

### Projects and Operations
The primary operational output of the Public Accountability Initiative is **LittleSis**. Described as an item operated by the organization, LittleSis is a tool for power analysis and research. The organization actively uses this platform to assist in developing interactive power mapping tools for various regions.

PAI maintains a digital presence through its website (available in English and Spanish) and various social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and a YouTube channel started in 2013. It also engages in technical development under the GitHub username "public-accountability."

### Legal and Identifiers
The organization is registered in the United States with the following identifiers:
- **IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN):** 20-0972582
- **OpenCorporates ID:** us_ma/200972582
- **LittleSis Organization ID:** 49262

## References

1. [Source](https://public-accountability.org/about/funding/)
2. Nonprofit Explorer
3. [Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/200972582)
4. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2015-25600)
5. YouTube API