The Cato Institute is an American libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded as the Charles Koch Foundation in 1974 by Ed Crane, Murray Rothbard, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries. In July 1976, the name was changed to the Cato Institute. Cato was established to have a focus on public advocacy, media exposure and societal influence. According to the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, Cato is number 15 in the "Top Think Tanks Worldwide" and number 10 in the "Top Think Tanks in the United States".
The Fraser Institute is a Canadian public policy think tank and registered charity. It has been described as politically conservative and libertarian. The institute is headquartered in Vancouver, with offices also located in Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, and ties to a global network of 80 think-tanks through the Economic Freedom Network.
Atlas Network, formerly known as the Atlas Economic Research Foundation, is a nonprofit organization based in the United States. The group aims to promote free-market economic policies across the world. The stated mission of the Atlas Network is "Atlas Network increases global prosperity by strengthening a network of independent partner organizations that promote individual freedom and are committed to identifying and removing barriers to human flourishing." Atlas Network has awarded grants of over $20 million. Atlas Network is not named after Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation, operating as the Freedom Foundation, is a state-based free market conservative think tank founded in the state of Washington. Today, the Freedom Foundation has offices in the states of Washington, Oregon, California, and Ohio. The organization is registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
The Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy (PRI) is a California-based free-market think tank which promotes "the principles of individual freedom and personal responsibility" through policies that emphasize a free economy, private initiative, and limited government. PRI was founded in 1979 by British philanthropist Antony Fisher.
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is an American non-profit free-market-oriented research, education, and outreach think tank directed by Tyler Cowen. It works with policy experts, lobbyists, and government officials to connect academic learning and real-world practice. Taking its name from the Latin word for "market", the center advocates free-market approaches to public policy. During the George W. Bush administration's campaign to reduce government regulation, the Wall Street Journal reported, "14 of the 23 rules the White House chose for its 'hit list' to eliminate or modify were Mercatus entries".
The Show-Me Institute, or SMI, is an American think tank based in St. Louis, Missouri that promotes public policies that advance free market principles. Founded in 2005, the organization focuses on economic and good governance issues in the state of Missouri. The stated mission of the Show-Me Institute is "improving the quality of life for all citizens of Missouri by advancing sensible, well-researched solutions to state and local policy issues." The Institute opened a branch office in Kansas City in 2014.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP), founded in 2004, is a libertarian/conservative political advocacy group in the United States funded by David Koch and Charles Koch. As the Koch brothers' primary political advocacy group, it is one of the most influential American conservative organizations.
Michael Steven Stenhouse is a former outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Montreal Expos from 1982-1984, the Minnesota Twins in 1985, and the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Stenhouse is the CEO of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, a public policy think tank. Listed at 6'1", 195 lb., Stenhouse batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of pitcher Dave Stenhouse.
The James Madison Institute (JMI) is a free-market American think tank headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida in the United States. It is a member of the State Policy Network. The organization's stated mission is "to keep the citizens of Florida informed about their government and to shape our state’s future through the advancement of practical free-market ideas on public policy issues."
Ocean State Policy Research Institute (OSPRI) was free market-oriented, Rhode Island-based think tank that was active from July 2007 until July 2011. The group's stated mission was to "craft sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values". OSPRI's CEO was former major league baseball player Mike Stenhouse. After OSPRI was dissolved, Stenhouse and several members of OSPRI's board of directors went on to found another think tank, the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity.
The Buckeye Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, free-market public policy think tank. The organization, based in Columbus, Ohio, says its mission is "to advance free-market public policy in the states."
The Washington Policy Center (WPC) is a free market think tank based in the state of Washington. The organization's stated mission is "to promote sound public policy based on free-market solutions." It has a statewide staff of 23 and offices in Seattle, Olympia, Spokane, and Richland. The organization is divided into eight research centers: Agriculture, Education, Environment, Government Reform, Health Care, Small Business, Transportation, and Worker Rights - with a research center director that leads research efforts in each area.
The State Policy Network (SPN) is an American nonprofit organization that functions primarily as an umbrella organization for a consortium of conservative and libertarian think tanks that focus on state-level policy. The organization serves as a public policy clearinghouse and advises its member think tanks on fundraising, running a nonprofit, and communicating ideas. Founded in 1992, it is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, with member groups located in all fifty states.
The political activities of the Koch brothers include the financial and political influence of Charles G. and David H. Koch (1940–2019) on United States politics. This influence is seen both directly and indirectly via various political and public policy organizations that were supported by the Koch brothers.
The Yankee Institute for Public Policy is a free market, limited government American think tank based in Hartford, Connecticut, that researches Connecticut public policy questions. Organized as a 501(c)(3), the group's stated mission is to "develop and advocate for free market, limited government public policy solutions in Connecticut." Yankee was founded in 1984 by Bernard Zimmern, a French entrepreneur who was living in Norwalk, Connecticut, and Professor Gerald Gunderson of Trinity College. The organization is a member of the State Policy Network.
The Kansas Policy Institute (KPI) is a free market American think tank based in Wichita, Kansas. A member of the State Policy Network, it primarily focuses on state and local policy issues in Kansas, including education, budget and spending, health care, and property taxes. The president of the KPI is Dave Trabert and the chairman of the board is George Pearson.
The Beacon Center of Tennessee, formerly the Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR), is a non-profit free-market think tank based in Nashville, Tennessee. The organization's stated mission is to "empower Tennesseans to reclaim control of their lives, so that they can freely pursue their version of the American Dream." The Center's research areas include tax and economic policy, education policy, and healthcare policy. The organization is a member of the State Policy Network.
The Maine Policy Institute, formerly the Maine Heritage Policy Center, is a free-market think tank located in Portland, Maine. According to its mission statement, the Maine Policy Institute is "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts detailed and timely research to educate the public, the media, and lawmakers about public policy solutions that advance economic freedom and individual liberty in Maine." The organization has an associated media outlet, The Maine Wire.
The Platte Institute for Economic Research is a free market think tank headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. According to the organization, it is "dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Nebraska by advancing sensible, well-researched solutions to state and local economic policy issues." The Institute's research areas include tax and economic policy, education policy, and healthcare policy.
