# Public Policy Institute of California

Public Policy Institute of California is an Endowment / Foundation based in San Francisco, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 500 Washington Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94111, United States
- **Founded:** 1994
- **Assets under management:** 323 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** ppic.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-policy-institute-of-california

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Public Policy Institute of California was established in 1994 by William R. Hewlett, Arjay Miller, and Roger W. Heyns. Hewlett provided the founding $70 million gift that seeded the endowment. The institute operates as a nonprofit research organization focused on California-specific issues. The endowment allocates across public equities, fixed income, private equity, and venture capital. Confirmed holdings include equity mutual funds valued at $144.1 million and alternative investments in private equity and hedge funds. Geographic exposure centers on the United States with secondary activity in global markets through fund commitments. Deployment occurs via direct holdings and limited partner positions rather than fund-of-funds structures. The organization employs 107 professionals across offices in San Francisco and Sacramento. It sold its former headquarters building at 500 Washington Street in late 2024. Adjacent vehicles include grant relationships with the James Irvine Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for education and economic research. Governance separates the research mandate from endowment decisions through an independent board that includes Leon E. Panetta and Chet Hewitt. This structure limits direct family control after the initial Hewlett gift and channels capital exclusively toward policy research outputs.

## Sectors

- Public Policy
- Education
- Economy

## Offices

- Sacramento, CA, United States

## People

- Tani Cantil-Sakauye — President and CEO
- Chet Hewitt — Board Chair

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Public Policy Institute of California?

Tani Cantil-Sakauye serves as President and CEO. The board, chaired by Chet Hewitt, oversees endowment policy with input from external counsel.

### Does Public Policy Institute of California participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The endowment holds both public equity mutual funds and alternative investments including private equity and venture capital positions.

### What investment stages does Public Policy Institute of California typically target?

The endowment maintains exposure to early-stage venture, growth equity, buyouts, and secondaries through its alternative allocation.

### How is Public Policy Institute of California related to its founders?

William R. Hewlett provided the founding gift. Arjay Miller and Roger W. Heyns served as co-founders but hold no ongoing operational roles.

## Related profiles

- [Carnegie Hall Corporation](https://altss.com/profile/carnegie-hall-corporation)
- [GP Investments](https://altss.com/profile/gp-investments)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/public-policy-institute-of-california

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