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 2008 by Laura and John Arnold with the launch of a foundation, the philanthropy is 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
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 Co-Founders
Laura and John Arnold
Milestones
- Years of giving
- 15+
- Employees
- 100+
- Grantees funded
- 1000+
- Projects funded
- 2000+
Our Work
-
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
- Clinical Trials
- Commercial Sector Prices
- Same Service, Same Price
- Medicare-Medicaid Integration
- Drug Prices
- Civica Rx
- Medicare Sustainability
- Provider Payment Incentives
- Organ Donation Reform
- Medicaid
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?
What We’re Working On
- Policing
- Crime Reduction
- Fair and Effective Policing
- Pretrial Justice
- Bail Reform
- Prosecution
- Public Defense
- Community Supervision
- Prisons
- Reintegration
- Fines and Fees
Read More
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Higher Education & Career Pathways
![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 and career pathways lead to economic mobility?
What We’re Working On
- Higher Education
- Career Pathways
- Scaling What Works
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 & Evaluation
![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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Infrastructure
![Close-up view of metal rebar laid out on a construction site, with workers in the background engaging in various activities.]()
How can we build U.S. infrastructure faster, better, and at a lower cost?
What We’re Working On
- Housing
- Transportation
- Energy
Read More
Health
How do we improve health care delivery, lower costs, and reduce disparities in quality and access?
What We’re Working On
- Clinical Trials
- Commercial Sector Prices
- Same Service, Same Price
- Medicare-Medicaid Integration
- Drug Prices
- Civica Rx
- Medicare Sustainability
- Provider Payment Incentives
- Organ Donation Reform
- Medicaid
Criminal Justice
How can we reduce harms in the system while advancing community safety?
What We’re Working On
- Policing
- Crime Reduction
- Fair and Effective Policing
- Pretrial Justice
- Bail Reform
- Prosecution
- Public Defense
- Community Supervision
- Prisons
- Reintegration
- Fines and Fees
Higher Education & Career Pathways
How do we ensure higher education and career pathways lead to economic mobility?
What We’re Working On
- Higher Education
- Career Pathways
- Scaling What Works
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 & Evaluation
How can we identify and scale social programs that improve people’s lives?
Read MoreInfrastructure
How can we build U.S. infrastructure faster, better, and at a lower cost?
What We’re Working On
- Housing
- Transportation
- Energy
Online and Sports Betting
Arnold Ventures is supporting rigorous, causal research and policy infrastructure to help decision-makers act on evidence about sports betting. Legalized sports betting has expanded rapidly across the U.S., but critical questions remain about its financial, social, and behavioral impacts — and about which policy choices reduce harm.
News & Stories How Do School Cell Phone Policies Affect Student Outcomes?
Schools are banning cell phones at a historic pace, but with little research to guide them. Arnold Ventures is launching a new request for proposals (RFP) to understand the impacts of cell phone policies on student outcomes.