# Public Religion Research Institute

> American nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization that conducts public opinion polls

**Wikidata**: [Q7257538](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7257538)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Religion_Research_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/public-religion-research-institute

## Summary
The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization based in the United States. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the institute conducts public opinion polls to analyze the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 2009
- **Headquarters:** Washington, D.C., United States
- **Organization Type:** Nonprofit organization; Research institute
- **Primary Activity:** Conducts public opinion polls and education research
- **Website:** https://www.prri.org/
- **Funding:** Received grants from the Open Society Foundations, including $300,000 in 2023 and $330,000 in 2016 for specific research projects.
- **Reliability:** Recognized as a "source known to be reliable" in a 2024 media bias and fact-check assessment.
- **Social Media:** Operates under the handle **@PRRIpoll** on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

## FAQs
### Q: Is the Public Religion Research Institute partisan?
A: No, PRRI is explicitly classified as a nonpartisan organization. It is an American nonprofit dedicated to independent research and education.

### Q: What kind of research does PRRI conduct?
A: PRRI conducts public opinion polls. In 2016, for example, the organization utilized grant funding to research how changing cultural and economic landscapes affect the politics of white working-class Americans.

### Q: Who funds the Public Religion Research Institute?
A: PRRI receives support from various funders. Public records indicate grants from the Open Society Foundations, including $300,000 awarded in both 2022 and 2023 to provide general support.

## Why It Matters
PRRI plays a critical role in the landscape of American sociology and political science by providing data-driven insights into the intersection of religion, culture, and politics. As a nonpartisan entity, it offers neutral ground for understanding complex social dynamics, such as the shifting political behaviors of specific demographics like the white working class.

The institute's work is utilized by reporters, political leaders, and advocacy groups to better understand the cultural forces shaping the United States. Its designation as a reliable source in media fact-checking databases underscores its authority and the trust placed in its methodology. By maintaining an active public presence through polls and social media (@PRRIpoll), PRRI ensures that academic research remains accessible to the broader public, informing discourse on religion's role in modern democracy.

## Notable For
- **Nonpartisan Analysis:** Distinguished as a reliable, nonpartisan source for public opinion data in a polarized media environment.
- **Specific Demographic Focus:** Noted for conducting targeted research, such as its 2016 project on the cultural and economic politics of white working-class Americans.
- **Consistent Funding:** Successfully secured repeated general support funding from major foundations, such as the Open Society Foundations, totaling over $1 million in documented grants between 2016 and 2023.
- **Digital Accessibility:** maintains a verified social media presence (@PRRIpoll) to disseminate poll results directly to the public and media.

## Body

### Organizational Profile
The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) is an American nonprofit organization founded in 2009. It operates as a research institute with a primary purpose centered on education and public opinion polling. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

### Research and Impact
PRRI's core function involves conducting public opinion polls to examine cultural and political trends.
- **2016 Project:** The organization received project support to build on previous research regarding white working-class Americans. The goal was to assist reporters, political leaders, and advocacy groups in understanding how economic and cultural changes impacted this demographic's political views.

### Financial Support
The institute receives philanthropic support to fund its operations and specific projects. Documented funding includes:
- **2023:** $300,000 from the Open Society Foundations (General support).
- **2022:** $300,000 from the Open Society Foundations (General support).
- **2020:** $75,000 from the Open Society Foundations (General support).
- **2016:** $330,000 from the Open Society Foundations (Project support for white working-class research).

### Reputation and Identification
PRRI is recognized within academic and media directories.
- **Reliability:** As of February 2024, PRRI is listed in media bias/fact-check databases as a "source known to be reliable."
- **Identifiers:**
  - ROR ID: `025mrej82`
  - GRID ID: `grid.503924.9`
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: `no2014026295`
- **Social Media:** The organization maintains a presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram under the handle `PRRIpoll`. As of February 2023, the primary Twitter account had over 26,500 followers.

## References

1. [GRID](https://www.grid.ac/institutes/grid.503924.9)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Google Knowledge Graph
4. GRID Release 2019-02-17
5. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2023-90234)
6. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2022-86356)
7. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2020-76265)
8. [Open Society Foundations - Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships](https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?grant_id=OR2016-28574)