Kailua, HI

Center for a Public Anthropology

EIN 27-2899080

Community & Economic Development Technology, Research & Civic Innovation

Mission

To encourage scholars and students to address public problems in public ways by promoting public-facing, applied anthropology that benefits communities and the common good. The Center operates as a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to open-access publication, community-engaged projects, and advocacy for more socially accountable anthropological practice.

IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity Contributions are tax-deductible

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About Center for a Public Anthropology

The Center for a Public Anthropology is a small, donor-facing nonprofit based in Kailua, Hawaiʻi that promotes public engagement in anthropology through projects, open-access publications, and campaigns that prioritize community benefit. It was founded by Rob (Robert) Borofsky and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on translating anthropological research into public action.

The Center runs a number of sustained initiatives — including a public book series, project work on returning research materials to communities, a Metrics/Faculty Media Impact effort, and community action projects — and continues to publish books and reports made available freely online. The organization files annual IRS returns and maintains an active web presence with up-to-date program and publication materials.

Notable achievements

Yanomami blood-samples repatriation campaign

Led and sustained a successful, long-term campaign to have blood samples collected from the Yanomami returned from U.S. institutions to the Yanomami community, demonstrating the Center’s capacity to run sustained advocacy campaigns tied to ethical research practice.

Open-access book series

Launched and maintains the 'Public Anthropology: An Open Access Series' and related publications, making scholarly work and edited volumes freely available to the public and practitioners.

Recent open-access publications

Produced and distributed substantive works in the last 2–3 years (for example a volume published in 2023), continuing the Center’s emphasis on accessible scholarship and outreach to both academic and public audiences.

At a glance

Total assets: $44K
Annual revenue: $59K
Tax status: 501(c)(3)Public charity
EIN: 27-2899080
Location: Kailua, HI
Website: www.publicanthropology.org
On Mahalo since: May 2026

Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.

Recognition

Maintains profiles and public financial filings on major nonprofit data platforms (ProPublica/Nonprofit Explorer, Charity Navigator entry, BBB listing), indicating recognized nonprofit status and public reporting of Form 990-series filings.

Founder’s scholarship and the Center’s publications have received positive scholarly attention and endorsements in the discipline, including praise for works associated with the Center.

Known within the applied anthropology community for sustained public-engagement initiatives (e.g., Faculty Media Impact and Metrics Project), cited by scholars and used as a resource for public anthropology practice.

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