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The Oakland Institute is a progressive think tank founded in 2004 by Anuradha Mittal. It is headquartered in Oakland, California.
| Motto | The Oakland Institute is bringing fresh ideas and bold action to the most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues of our time. |
|---|---|
| Established | 2004 |
| Executive Director | Anuradha Mittal |
| Budget | Revenue: $521,395 Expenses: $384,075 (FYE December 2015)[1] |
| Address | P.O. Box 18978 Oakland, CA 94619 |
| Location | |
| Website | www.oaklandinstitute.org |
Since 2011, the Institute has investigated land investment deals in developing countries, particularly where there are questions about transparency, fairness, and accountability.[2]
The Oakland Institute's mission is to "increase public participation and promote fair debate on critical social, economic, and environmental issues in both national and international forums".[3] The institute works in coalitions and networks to strengthen social movements, especially in partnership with grassroots constituencies such as faith-based organizations, farm workers, immigrant rights groups, black farmers, and international proponents of food sovereignty and trade justice.[4][5][6]
The Oakland Institute categorizes its work into the following program areas:
- Climate change
- Foreign investment
- High food price crisis
- International aid
- Land rights
- Poverty
- Sustainable food systems
- Trade agreements
In 2011, the institute detailed a $26 million investment made by Vanderbilt University in Emergent Asset Management, later known as EMVest Asset Management, a hedge fund accused of abusive practices in sub-Saharan countries including Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[7] The episode was covered internationally and led to student protests on campus in 2012.[8]
In 2021, the Oakland Institute was involved in a watchdog complaint to the IRS that alleged self-dealing by Mittal, who is also the vice president of Ben & Jerry's non-profit foundation.[9][10] In 2017 and 2018, Ben & Jerry's foundation paid $104,000 to the Oakland Institute, where Mittal is the only salaried employee; during this time, the Oakland Institute paid Mittal a salary of $156,000.[9][10]
The Nation magazine recognized the institute's work, and the efforts of Anuradha Mittal in particular, in their list of Most Valuable Progressives of 2008.[11] The Oakland Institute received the United Nations Association East Bay's Global Citizen Award in 2007 and the KPFA Peace Award in 2006.[12][13] in 2012, the Oakland Institute was honored by the Responsible Endowments Coalition for its leadership in drawing attention to college and university investments in land grabs in Africa.[14] Articles and opinion pieces by The Oakland Institute's staff and fellows and/or perspectives on its work are regularly published in U.S. media outlets including Alternet, Slate, The Huffington Post, Inter Press Service, and The Chronicle of Philanthropy.[15]
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