Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy tackling the most pressing problems in America, repairing broken systems, creating lasting change, finding solutions that scale, and maximizing opportunity and minimizing injustice
SCALABLE SOLUTIONS.
EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICY.
LASTING CHANGE.
Who We Are
Founded in 2010 by Laura and John Arnold, Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice.
What We Do
We focus on broken systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change. We fund research to better understand the root causes of problems and build the evidence about what works and what doesn't to inform policy solutions. We advocate for policy reforms at all levels of government and build durable, bipartisan coalitions to drive lasting change and impact.
How We Are Different
We believe philanthropy is uniquely positioned to take risks and make big bets in ways the public and private sectors are often unable or unwilling to do. We approach philanthropy as an engine for innovation that can help catalyze new solutions and advocate for public policies that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice for all.
About Us
Founded by Laura and John Arnold in 2010, Arnold Ventures is a team of more than 100 subject-matter experts. We are headquartered in Houston with offices in New York and Washington, D.C.
Meet the Founders
Laura and John Arnold
Milestones
- Years of giving
- 10+
- Employees
- 100+
- Grantees funded
- 1000+
- Projects funded
- 3200+
- Given so far
- $2.5B+
Our Work
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Health
![Two doctors wearing face masks lean over either side of a patient lying down in an ER bed, with one doctor holding up an index finger to the patient at eye level.]()
How do we improve health care delivery, lower costs, and reduce disparities in quality and access?
What We’re Working On
- Drug Prices
- Commercial Sector Prices
- Complex Care
- Provider Payment Incentives
- Medicare Sustainability
- Contraceptive Choice and Access
- Organ Donation Reform
- The Opioid Epidemic
Read More
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Criminal Justice
![A police officer shakes hands with a male resident over a chain link fence in a residential neighborhood.]()
How can we reduce harms in the system while advancing community safety and racial justice?
What We’re Working On
- Policing
- Police Accountability
- Violence Reduction
- Gun Policy Research
- Police Response
- Community Safety
- Pretrial Justice
- Bail Reform
- Prosecution
- Public Defense
- Community Supervision
- Prisons
- Reintegration
- Fines and Fees
Read More
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Higher Education
![Student is seen sitting at her desk working on a laptop in her dorm room through the hallway door.]()
How do we ensure higher education is a reliable path to economic mobility and stability?
What We’re Working On
- Data in Higher Education
- Higher Education Quality and Accountability
- Effective Student Success Practices
Read More
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Public Finance
![Students wearing backpacks walk with families next to a school building on a bright morning casting shadows against the concrete.]()
How can we promote fiscal stability for government and economic opportunity for all?
What We’re Working On
- Federal Tax Policy
- Program Integrity
- Fiscal Sustainability
Read More
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Evidence-Based Policy
![Two men are seen sitting at a long table with computers in front of them during a skills training class.]()
How can we identify and scale social programs that improve people’s lives?
Read More
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Democracy
![A volunteer election worker assembles voting booths that have the American flag and the word Vote on the side.]()
How do we hold our government accountable and responsive to the best interests of the people it serves?
Read More
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Infrastructure
![Infrastructure Work]()
How can we build U.S. infrastructure faster, better, and at a lower cost?
Read More
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Journalism
![News reporters holding cameras and microphones surround a man in a suit answering questions outside a courthouse..]()
How can we strengthen and support a free and fair press, which is essential to democracy?
Read More
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Affordable Housing
![The wood frame of a house under construction is backlit with sun beams streaming through the construction site.]()
How can we catalyze the development of stable, affordable housing that allows people to live with dignity and build a better future?
Read More
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Climate and Clean Energy
![A worker wearing heavy pants, a sweatshirt and gloves leans over to attach solar panels to a roof with a drill against a bright blue sky.]()
How do we responsibly meet rising energy demand while mitigating the effects of climate change?
Read More
Health
How do we improve health care delivery, lower costs, and reduce disparities in quality and access?
What We’re Working On
- Drug Prices
- Commercial Sector Prices
- Complex Care
- Provider Payment Incentives
- Medicare Sustainability
- Contraceptive Choice and Access
- Organ Donation Reform
- The Opioid Epidemic
Criminal Justice
How can we reduce harms in the system while advancing community safety and racial justice?
What We’re Working On
- Policing
- Police Accountability
- Violence Reduction
- Gun Policy Research
- Police Response
- Community Safety
- Pretrial Justice
- Bail Reform
- Prosecution
- Public Defense
- Community Supervision
- Prisons
- Reintegration
- Fines and Fees
Higher Education
How do we ensure higher education is a reliable path to economic mobility and stability?
What We’re Working On
- Data in Higher Education
- Higher Education Quality and Accountability
- Effective Student Success Practices
Public Finance
How can we promote fiscal stability for government and economic opportunity for all?
What We’re Working On
- Federal Tax Policy
- Program Integrity
- Fiscal Sustainability
Evidence-Based Policy
How can we identify and scale social programs that improve people’s lives?
Read MoreDemocracy
How do we hold our government accountable and responsive to the best interests of the people it serves?
Read MoreInfrastructure
How can we build U.S. infrastructure faster, better, and at a lower cost?
Read MoreJournalism
How can we strengthen and support a free and fair press, which is essential to democracy?
Read MoreAffordable Housing
How can we catalyze the development of stable, affordable housing that allows people to live with dignity and build a better future?
Read MoreClimate and Clean Energy
How do we responsibly meet rising energy demand while mitigating the effects of climate change?
Read MoreVideo 'We CAN Lower Health Care Prices'
The U.S. has more expensive health care than in any other country in the world, and health care prices are rising. Evidence suggests large hospital monopolies are a big part of the pricing problem. In the final video in a series on health care affordability, Arnold Ventures explores solutions for addressing the excessive prices paid to health care providers that ultimately drive higher health care costs for consumers, employers, and taxpayers.
News & Stories Illinois Shows How Media Can Responsibly Cover Criminal Justice Reform
Reporting on implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act has been relatively balanced and evidence-based, setting a standard for newsrooms across the country.
More Stories
All stories-
Improving Prosecutors’ Offices Through Data Prosecution
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Small County. Big Results. Pretrial Justice
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Young Lawmakers Lead the Way on Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Community Supervision
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Five Takeaways From a Discussion of Rising Costs in America’s Health Care System Commercial Sector Prices
