LittleSis* is a free database of who knows who in business and government

* opposite of Big Brother
4 5 4 4 8 2
Dots connected
✔ Paid for politicians
✔ Corporate fat cats
✔ Revolving door lobbyists
✔ Secretive Super PACs
✔ Elite think tanks
✔ Regional powerbrokers

Map the power with Oligrapher

Oligrapher is a tool for visualizing networks of influence using LittleSis Data.


Get started on a new map

sign up for a LittleSis account

A unique resource for investigating profiteering, conflicts of interest, and systemic corruption.

An involuntary facebook of the 1%

We bring transparency to influential social networks at the local, state, national, and international level. We track the key relationships of politicians, business leaders, lobbyists, financiers, and their affiliated institutions. We help answer questions such as:

  • Who do the wealthiest Americans donate their money to?
  • Where did White House officials work before they were appointed?
  • Which lobbyists are married to politicians? Who do they lobby for?

All of this information is public, but scattered. We bring it together in one place. Our data derives from government filings, news articles, and other reputable sources. Some data sets are updated automatically; the rest is filled in by our user community.

Eyes on the ties

Who are the movers and shakers behind the bailouts, government contracts, and austerity policies? We’re working around the clock to stock LittleSis with information about bigwigs who make the news, and their connections to those who don’t. For updates and analysis visit our blog, Eyes on the Ties.

Made for watchdogs

We're bringing together a community of watchdogs who believe in transparency and accountability where it matters most. We're looking for journalists, researchers, programmers, artists and organizers to lend a hand. Get Involved.

Think and do tank

LittleSis is a project of Public Accountability Initiative, a 501(c)3 organization focused on corporate and government accountability.

The code powering LittleSis is free & open source.

Data Summary

11,475,850 Citations
1,880,582 Relationships
306,407 People
136,790 Organizations
86,599 Business People
39,624 Businesses
23,107 Political Fundraising Committees
14,330 Academics
12,708 Lobbyists
12,591 Public Officials
12,478 Lawyers
11,699 Political Candidates
9,574 Private Companies
6,665 Elected Representatives
6,245 Other Not-for-Profits
5,913 Government Bodies
5,645 Media Personalities
4,518 Schools
3,657 Public Companies
3,607 Philanthropies
2,217 Membership Organizations
2,215 Individual Campaign Committees
1,904 Other Campaign Committees
1,847 Lobbying Firms
1,321 Law Firms
1,221 Industry/Trade Associations
1,016 PACs
935 Consulting Firms
856 Policy/Think Tanks
814 Government-Sponsored Enterprises
748 Public Intellectuals
657 Media Organizations
586 Government Advisory Bodies
514 Cultural/Arts
470 Political Parties
415 Academic Research Institutes
374 Labor Unions
338 Professional Associations
275 Social Clubs
244 Public Relations Firms
115 Elite Consensus Groups