Built to be accountable.

Who we are on paper: how the organizations are structured, who holds the power, and where the money goes.

One movement, two organizations.

Advocacy and education play by different IRS rules, so each lives in the entity built for it: YIMBY Action, a 501(c)(4), and YIMBY, a 501(c)(3). YIMBY Law is our legal arm, housed in the 501(c)(3) — not a third organization. Same mission, separate books.

501(c)(4) · advocacy
YIMBY Action
The political arm — unlimited lobbying for pro-housing laws and endorsements of pro-housing candidates. Funded by memberships and non-deductible donations.
Tax ID (EIN)81-5140915
501(c)(3) · education
YIMBY
The charitable arm — education, research, and organizing infrastructure. Tax-deductible gifts, foundation grants, DAFs, and employer matches land here.
Tax ID (EIN)32-0610451
legal arm · housed in the 501(c)(3)
YIMBY Law
Our legal arm — holding cities accountable to state housing law in court. Not a third organization: YIMBY Law is a program of the 501(c)(3), operating at yimbylaw.org.
Websiteyimbylaw.org

Deciding where to give? The taxes & donations page walks through which door fits which kind of gift.

Who holds the power? Boards over staff. Members over both.

A volunteer national board governs YIMBY Action: it hires and oversees the executive director, approves the budget, and holds the organization to its mission. A regional board keeps the national org honest about what chapters actually need.

And chapters govern themselves day to day — every one is run by local volunteer leaders, not national staff.

Meet the boards

YIMBY Action leaders speaking on a conference panel

Members decide every endorsement.

See the endorsements

Chapters do the research.
Local members study the races, send questionnaires, and interview candidates about housing — nobody knows a ballot like the people who live under it.
Members vote.
Every endorsement — every candidate, measure, and bill — is decided by a vote of YIMBY Action members. Not staff. Not the board.
Read our full procedures
The results go public.
Endorsements, voter guides, and outcomes are published openly — wins and losses alike. Accountability you can scroll.

The paper trail is public. Look us up.

Both nonprofits file public Form 990 returns every year, and the results of the work — campaigns run, laws passed, chapters launched — get published annually.