Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

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The Manhattan Institute (MI) is a right-wing 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank that describes itself as a "community of scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders dedicated to advancing opportunity, individual liberty, and rule of law in America and its great cities."[1] MI's primary activities consist of its public policy think tank, the urban-policy magazine City Journal, and the Adam Smith Society network.[1]

"Buying a Movement," a 1996 publication by progressive advocacy group People for the American Way, described MI's agenda as advocating for "privatization of sanitation services and infrastructure maintenance, deregulation in the area of environmental and consumer protection, school vouchers and cuts in governmental spending on social welfare programs," and that it was "a preferred source of information for New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani."[2] Similarly, Kurt Nimmo's 2002 CounterPunch article characterized MI's primary concerns as "dismantling social programs," "blurring the distinction between church and state," and "destroying public education."[3]

The Manhattan Institute is a "partner" of the State Policy Network, a web of right-wing "think tanks" and tax-exempt organizations in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the United Kingdom.[4]

History

The International Center for Economic Policy Studies (ICEPS) was founded in 1978 by Antony Fisher and William J. Casey, and was later renamed the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (MI) in 1981. MI is one of around 150 free-market think tanks that Fisher helped establish worldwide.[5]

The Manhattan Institute has been a "launch pad for conservative authors," according to Norman Solomon's EXTRA! article published in 1998, sponsoring conservative authors like George Gilder ("Wealth and Poverty"), Linda Chavez ("Out of the Barrio") and Charles Murray ("Losing Ground") during the 1980s. According to Solomon, MI financed these authors and their work by funneling money from major conservative foundations, including the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, the Carthage Foundation, and the John M. Olin Foundation.[6]

The Manhattan Institute is also credited with significantly influencing the policies of then New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani. According to a 1998 article published in the Boston Globe, Giuliani attended at least one Manhattan Institute seminar after he lost a 1989 mayoral election. The same article reported that during his eventual mayoral tenure from 1993 to 2001, Giuliani consulted the editors of City Journal when preparing his State of the City address in January of 1998, in order to echo the same themes that would appear in the magazine's forthcoming issue. In addition, the Boston Globe quotes Giuliani's communications director as stating that "the mayor has a very close working relationship with the Manhattan Institute."[7]

News and Controversies

Heather Mac Donald and the Claremont Institute

Heather Mac Donald, the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, was featured in a January 2024 New York Times piece exposing the coordinated anti-DEI. efforts of prominent conservative activists and academics. Documents obtained through public-records requests revealed exchanges between Mac Donald and individuals associated with the Claremont Institute in the spring of 2023, where Mac Donald "derided working mothers who employed people from 'the low IQ 3rd world' to care for their children and lamented that some Republicans still celebrated the idea of racially diverse political appointments." In another exchange, Mac Donald "opined that gay men 'are much more prone' to extramarital affairs 'on the empirical basis of testosterone unchecked by female modesty,'" in reference to news reports that a boyfriend of billionaire entrepreneur and political activist Peter Thiel had committed suicide following a confrontation with Thiel's husband.[8]

Opposition to the Accurate Teaching of Racism and the LGBTQ+ Community

Multiple Manhattan Institute fellows have published articles condemning Critical Race Theory and gender ideology. In an article called "Failure Factory", a case study of Buffalo Public Schools, senior fellow Christopher Rufo writes, "Antiracist ideologues claim to have the solution to America's deepest problems, but in institutions such as Buffalo Public Schools, they have failed to ensure that students reach minimum levels of literacy. If they cannot teach the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, how can we trust them to reshape society?"[9] The Manhattan Institute also published an article that cites Rufo as the motivation behind the movement against CRT, and says about many of the underlying truths supporting CRT's sociological validity that "whatever one thinks of these ideas, they are hardly 'settled facts' on the same epistemic plane as heliocentrism, natural selection or even climate change. To the contrary, they are moral-ideological just-so theory of group differences, an all-encompassing worldview akin to a secular religion, whose claims can't be measured, tested or falsified." [10]

MIPR Called Out for Blocking Action on Climate Change

In July of 2016, nineteen U.S. Senators delivered a series of speeches denouncing climate change denial from 32 organizations with links to fossil-fuel interests, including the Manhattan Institute for Public Policy.[11] Sen. Whitehouse (RI-D), who led the effort to expose "the web of denial" said in his remarks on the floor that the purpose was to,

"shine a little light on the web of climate denial and spotlight the bad actors in the web, who are polluting our American discourse with phony climate denial. This web of denial, formed over decades, has been built and provisioned by the deep-pocketed Koch brothers, by ExxonMobil, by Peabody coal, and by other fossil fuel interests. It is a grim shadow over our democracy in that it includes an electioneering effort that spends hundreds of millions of dollars in a single election cycle and threatens any Republican who steps up to address the global threat of climate change. . . . [I]t is long past time we shed some light on the perpetrators of this web of denial and expose their filthy grip on our political process. It is a disgrace, and our grandchildren will look back at this as a dirty time in America’s political history because of their work.”[11]

Cutting Ties over Pension Plans

Cliff Asness, Henry Kravis, and Thomas McWilliams said they would cut ties with the Manhattan Institute in 2013 over the organization's calls to abolish defined benefit public pension plans. According to the New York Post, "The moves come after the American Federation of Teachers in April (2013) called out 33 top money managers for backing efforts to eliminate public pensions -- while soliciting their investment dollars."[12]

Asness, who is the founder of AQR, said he would not renew his term on Manhattan's board of trustees when it expires in 2014, and McWilliams, who is a managing partner at Court Square, resigned from the Institute's board.[12]

Meanwhile, one hedge-fund manager and Institute board member, Dan Loeb, refused to back down or give in to calls from the AFT to resolve his apparent conflict of interest -- that is, his position at Third Point, which wants access to pension fund investments, and his position at Manhattan, which supports privatization of pension funds and government services.[12]

Immigration: Covering All the Bases

In 2007, the New York Times reported, "In the think-tank world, a leading advocate of a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is Tamar Jacoby..., an expert at the conservative Manhattan Institute. One of the most implacable voices against any such 'amnesty' is Heather Mac Donald -- also of the Manhattan Institute."[13]

While many of the Institute's fellows do not hold an anti-immigration stance, they do oppose "government programs intended to accommodate immigrant concerns, such as bi-lingual education."[14]

"The organization has attacked . . . immigrant support programs as obstacles to full social integration and to the benefits of the market system."[14] However, the Institute is in favor of reforming the U.S. immigration system and has written of the economic benefits of migration.[15]

Financiers of Neo-conservatism

The "financing of neo-conservatism doesn't come from D.C.", Mark Gerson is quoted as saying in the April 27, 2003, New York Observer. "Instead, said Mr. Gerson, it comes from New York moneymen like Bruce Kovner, chairman of the Caxton Corporation, and Roger Hertog, the vice chairman of Alliance Capital Management. Last year, both financiers helped fund a new newspaper, The New York Sun, now fighting its anti-liberal battle with its New York Times –counterprogrammed slogan, 'A Different Point of View.' Both Mr. Kovner and Mr. Hertog also chipped in to join neoliberal Martin Peretz as co-owners of The New Republic. Mr. Kovner and Mr. Hertog, as enlightened neoconservative businessmen-intellectuals, are also on the board [of trustees] of the Manhattan Institute, where Mr. Gerson and William Kristol are also trustees, as well as the Washington, D.C.–based American Enterprise Institute."[16]

War on Terrorism: "Axis of Evil"

In 2001, David Frum left the Manhattan Institute "to join the Bush administration as a speechwriter. It was there that he coined the term "axis of evil" to describe Iraq, Iran and North Korea. This became the signature phrase of President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union speech and shorthand for Bush's war on terrorism."[17]

Activities

Think Tank

According to the Manhattan Institute's website, their public policy think tank hosts "leading experts across a range of policy areas, including policing and public safety, housing, education, law and economics."[1] The think tank regularly publishes issue briefs, reports, and public filings on issues pertaining to domestic policy and urban affairs.

City Journal

First published in 1990, City Journal is the Manhattan Institute's quarterly magazine on urban-policy. According to the publication's website, articles include "everything from school financing, policing strategy, and welfare policy to urban architecture, family policy, and the latest theorizing emanating from the law schools, the charitable foundations, even the schools of public health."[18]

In an Atlantic interview with City Journal editor Brian Anderson in 2010, Anderson describes the magazine's genesis as an "intellectual and journalistic response" to the problems of "crime, disorder, a massive and costly municipal welfare state, and horrendous schools" that were impacting New York City. Anderson also highlights in this interview how City Journal's "celebration" of urbanism is an anomaly among conservatives, who are typically critical of urban centers.[19]

City Journal's website publishes original articles and content, such as short op-eds and book reviews, in addition to including all articles published in the print magazine issues. City Journal also produces several podcasts, including 10 Blocks, the Christopher Rufo Show, and Risk Talking.[20]

Adam Smith Society

The Adam Smith Society was founded in 2011 with the express goal "to do for free-market principles what the Federalist Society has done for constitutionalism," according to the organization's website. The organization's website also claims that the society "brings together students and professionals to discuss and debate the contributions of the free market to advancing human flourishing and opportunity to all."[21]

As of January 2024, there are 35 student chapters of the Adam Smith Society.[21]

Ties to the Koch Brothers

The Manhattan Institute has received significant funding from various foundations associated with the Koch network. This includes $790,305 from the Charles Koch Foundation (2013-2021), $66,720 from the Charles Koch Institute (2014-2018), $2,075,000 from the Claude R. Lambe Foundation (2001-2012), and $445,520 from Stand Together Fellowships (2015 and 2020).

Koch Wiki

Charles Koch is the right-wing billionaire owner of Koch Industries. As one of the richest people in the world, he is a key funder of the right-wing infrastructure, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the State Policy Network (SPN). In SourceWatch, key articles on Charles Koch and his late brother David include: Koch Brothers, Americans for Prosperity, Stand Together Chamber of Commerce, Stand Together, Koch Family Foundations, Koch Universities, and I360.

Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

The Manhattan Institute's Senior Fellow and Director of its Center for Medical Progress, Paul Howard, spoke at the 2011 American Legislative Exchange Council Annual Conference in a Workshop titled "Rationing By Any Other Name: Medicare's Independent Payment Advisory Board." He co-led the panel with the Pacific Research Institute's Director of Health Care Studies, John Graham (the Pacific Research Institute is also a State Policy Network member).[22]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

Ties to Big Tobacco

MANHATTAN DOCUMENTS
Documents from the tobacco archives,
Also documents on junk-science
Manhattan (Doc Index)

Tobacco industry documents reveal relationships between the Manhattan Institute and tobacco companies. The Institute sought funding from tobacco companies, including:

In August 1992 The Manhattan Institute ran a conference on "The Litigation Explosion" in support of a book being produced by their Senior Fellow, Walter K Olson. [2] for the tobacco industry. [3] They have already held a workshop on product liability in Chicago. [4]

A 1997 R.J. Reynolds memo reveals RJR's intent to use the Manhattan Institute as a third party to help the company reduce the public's perception of danger from exposure to secondhand smoke:

"Devise ways to educate the public about epidemiology and put risk in perspective. For example, work with Steven J. Milloy, Michael Fumento, CEI Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Manhattan Institute and others to put together a 1/2-hour or 1-hour TV show explaining epi[demiology] and risk. Create an epi/risk website to educate the general public, maybe working with the Harvard School of Public Health. Do the same for journalists."[28]

Junk Science

Peter W Huber one of the key 'scholars' at the Manhattan Institute wrote "Galileo's Revenge: Junk Science in the Courtroom" which was part of Philip Morris's on-going program to attack some aspects of health and environmental science in general. This was in support of their program centered on two of APCO]'s creations, The Advancement for Sound Science Coalition (TASSC) now run by Steve Milloy and Science & Environmental Policy Project run by S. Fred Singer and his wife Candace Crandall

A Manhattan Institute Conference held in Washington DC in June 1995 brought together many of the tobacco industry lobbyists who were promoting the junk-science message. [5] [6]

Funding

The Manhattan Institute is not required to disclose its funders. Its major foundation funders, however, can be found through a search of IRS filings. Here are some of the major funders of the Manhattan Institute:

  • Achelis and Bodman Foundation: $454,000 (2020-2021)
  • Acrocorinth: $300,000 (2019)
  • Adolph Coors Foundation: $120,000 (2013-2020)
  • Allison Maher Stern Foundation: $8,000 (2020)
  • Ambrose Monell Foundation: $100,000 (2020)
  • American Endowment Foundation: $37,250 (2019-2021)
  • Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation: $15,000 (2019)
  • Andrew Cader Foundation: $175,000 (2015-2021)
  • Annenberg Foundation: $25,000 (2018)
  • Armstrong Foundation: $75,000 (2015-2019)
  • Arthur L Loeb Foundation: $10,000 (2018)
  • Association of Charles Evans Housing Foundation: $20,000 (2018-2020)
  • Atlas Economic Research Foundation: $10,000 (2016)
  • Ayco Charitable Foundation: $535,500 (2019-2022)
  • Bader Family Foundation: $873,000 (2014-2021)
  • Bailey Family Foundation: $6,350 (2013-2020)
  • Barnes Family Foundation: $7,500 (2013-2020)
  • Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation: $1,446,963 (2017)
  • Bill and Susan Oberndorf Foundation: $25,000 (2020)
  • Blake Family Foundation: $100,000 (2021)
  • Bradley Foundation: $8,612,500 (1998-2021)
  • Bradley Impact Fund: $241,550 (2014-2021)
  • Brewster West Foundation: $75,000 (2014-2017)
  • Brigham Family Foundation: $45,000 (2016-2019)
  • Buhl Foundation: $20,000 (2014-2017)
  • Burch Family Foundation: $20,000 (2017-2019)
  • California Community Foundation: $100,000 (2017-2019)
  • Carl C Icahn Foundation: $80,000 (2014-2021)
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York: $100,000 (2014-2019)
  • Challenge Foundation: $225,000 (2018-2021)
  • Charities Aid Foundation America: $224,750 (2020-2021)
  • Charles Koch Foundation: $790,305 (2013-2021)
  • Charles Koch Institute: $66,720 (2014-2018)
  • Chase Foundation of Virginia: $45,000 (2013-2019)
  • Claude R. Lambe Foundation: $2,075,000 (2001-2012)
  • Columbus Jewish Foundation: $489,740 (2012-2019)
  • Conard-Davis Family Foundation: $25,000 (2016)
  • Cornelia T Bailey Charitable Trust: $50,000 (2013-2017)
  • Creigh Family Foundation: $6,000 (2015-2019)
  • Critelli Family Foundation: $8,000 (2013-2020)
  • Dallas Foundation: $10,000 (2019)
  • Dalton Foundation: $75,000 (2020)
  • Dave H and Reba Williams Foundation: $100,000 (2013-2017)
  • David Family Foundation: $110,000 (2013-2020)
  • Diana Davis Spencer Foundation: $3,500,000 (2014-2015)
  • Donna and Marvin Schwartz Foundation: $187,000 (2013-2017)
  • Donors Capital Fund: $225,000 (2010-2013)
  • DonorsTrust: $2,125,865 (2010-2021)
  • Dunn Family Foundation: $120,000 (2013-2022)
  • Dunn Foundation: $375,000 (2018-2019)
  • Dupage Community Foundation: $109,500 (2015-2021)
  • Ed Uihlein Family Foundation: $625,000 (2015-2021)
  • Edelman Fam Foundation: $725,000 (2021-2022)
  • Edward A & Catherine L Lozick Foundation: $25,000 (2021)
  • Ehlers Family Foundation: $6,000 (2015-2016)
  • EL Craig Foundation: $50,000 (2020)
  • Eleanor and Henry Hitchcock Charitable Foundation: $55,000 (2018-2019)
  • EMC Insurance Foundation: $12,500 (2020)
  • Eveillard Family Charitable Trust: $6,954 (2013-2018)
  • Evelyn Olin Charitable Trust: $30,000 (2019)
  • Everylife Foundation for Rare Diseases: $20,000 (2015)
  • Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: $170,000 (2015-2017)
  • Farrell Family Foundation: $67,500 (2020-2021)
  • Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund: $2,863,500 (2016-2021)
  • Fleur Harlan Foundation: $130,000 (2014-2017)
  • F M Kirby Foundation: $235,000 (2020-2022)
  • Ford Foundation: $100,000 (2016-2017)
  • Foundation for Individual Liberty: $25,000 (2016-2019)
  • Frankel Family Charitable Trust: $6,000 (2017-2019)
  • Fred Maytag Family Foundation: $475,000 (2015-2021)
  • Gale Foundation: $50,000 (2019)
  • George Edward Durell Foundation: $10,000 (2015)
  • George M Yeager Foundation: $1,000,000 (2013-2020)
  • Gleason Family Foundation: $250,000 (2016-2019)
  • Goergen Foundation: $5,000 (2019)
  • Goldhill Family Foundation: $10,000 (2020)
  • Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund: $77,000 (2019-2021)
  • Goyanes Family Foundation: $125,000 (2020-2022)
  • Greater Horizons: $20,000 (2015-2017)
  • Greater Houston Community Foundation: $27,000 (2017)
  • Greater Kansas City Community Foundation: $18,750 (2015)
  • Hamlin Family Foundation: $10,750 (2014-2019)
  • Henry E Haller Jr Foundation: $100,000 (2020-2021)
  • Hickory Foundation: $130,000 (2014-2022)
  • Hilibrand Foundation: $20,000 (2019-2020)
  • Hintz Family Fund: $206,000 (2016-2019)
  • Holman Foundation: $130,000 (2014-2020)
  • Hubbard Family Foundation: $5,000 (2018)
  • Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation: $100,000 (2014-2022)
  • J Aron Charitable Foundation: $10,000 (2015-2020)
  • James and Virginia Welch Foundation: $1,150 (2013-2017)
  • Jaye Penny Gould Foundation: $5,000 (2016)
  • Jeffrey Foundation: $5,000 (2019)
  • Jewish Communal Fund: $502,730 (2014-2021)
  • Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: $40,000 (2014-2017)
  • John and Barbara Vogelstein Foundation: $25,000 (2019)
  • John and Christine Fitzgibbons Foundation: $10,000 (2014)
  • John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: $401,441 (2017-2020)
  • John Templeton Foundation: $1,325,000 (2013-2020)
  • John William Pope Foundation: $557,000 (1997-2021)
  • JM Foundation: $260,000 (2010-2018)
  • JP Morgan Chase Foundation: $970 (2016-2017)
  • Karakin Foundation: $300,000 (2013-2021)
  • Karp Foundation: $20,000 (2016-2019)
  • Kleinschmidt Family Foundation: $294,374 (2013-2020)
  • Kovner Foundation: $50,000 (2018)
  • Lazy L Foundation: $26,000 (2016-2018)
  • Leah and Alain Lebec Foundation: $5,000 (2014-2018)
  • Leon Levy Foundation: $2,500 (2018)
  • LFF Foundation: $250 (2020)
  • Linville Family Foundation: $40,000 (2015-2019)
  • MacDougal Family Foundation: $10,000 (2014-2020)
  • Mailman Foundation: $10,000 (2019)
  • Malcolm Fraser Foundation: $5,000 (2019)
  • Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation: $565,000 (2014-2021)
  • Marin Community Foundation: $195,000 (2014-2021)
  • Mark and Anla Cheng Kingdon Fund: $70,000 (2021-2022)
  • Martin J Gross Family Foundation: $189,225 (2015-2020)
  • Mercer Family Foundation: $1,050,000 (2015-2017)
  • Mill Park Foundation: $50,000 (2019)
  • Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust: $106,500 (2016-2022)
  • Morse Charitable Foundation: $24,000 (2017-2021)
  • National Christian Charitable Foundation: $66,800 (2015-2021)
  • National Philanthropic Trust: $2,352,000 (2014-2021)
  • Neal and Marlene Goldman Foundation: $55,000 (2014-2020)
  • New York State Health Foundation: $17,924 (2019)
  • Newman Family Foundation: $20,000 (2019)
  • Norma Pace Foundation: $20,000 (2018-2019)
  • Ohnell Family Foundation: $616,000 (2013-2019)
  • Old Stones Foundation: $40,000 (2015-2017)
  • Paul and Patricia Gioia Foundation: $4,500 (2013-2018)
  • Paul E Singer Foundation: $3,500,000 (2013-2018)
  • Paula Del Nunzio Balser and Paul F Balser Sr Family Foundation: $2,000 (2017-2018)
  • Paulson Family Foundation: $700,000 (2014-2021)
  • Peckham Family Foundation: $50,000 (2013-2021)
  • Peter and Ann Lambertus Family Foundation: $15,000 (2019)
  • Peter G Peterson Foundation: $258,500 (2019-2021)
  • Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: $480,000 (2014-2019)
  • Pharos Foundation: $25,000 (2020)
  • Pierre F and Enid Goodrich Foundation: $160,000 (2013-2022)
  • Pinkerton Foundation: $150,000 (2020-2021)
  • Priscilla and Richard J Schmeelk Foundation: $72,500 (2013-2020)
  • Randolph Foundation: $297,000 (2007-2021)
  • Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund: $25,000 (2021)
  • Richard E Fox Charitable Foundation: $5,000 (2018)
  • Richard Grinold Fund: $90,000 (2017-2019)
  • Richardson Foundation: $29,865 (2015-2020)
  • Robert and Ardis James Foundation: $1,152,000 (2016-2021)
  • Robert and Janice McNair Foundation: $75,000 (2015-2018)
  • Rosenkranz Foundation: $200,000 (2016-2018)
  • Sarah Scaife Foundation: $3,980,000 (2012-2021)
  • Searle Freedom Trust: $9,033,465 (2006-2022)
  • Schulman Foundation: $26,000 (2014-2020)
  • Schwab Charitable Fund: $2,211,375 (2014-2021)
  • Sherrill Family Foundation: $50,000 (2018-2019)
  • Shuchman Lesser Foundation: $25,000 (2019)
  • Shuchman Philanthropies: $10,000 (2018)
  • Sidney A Swensrud Foundation: $120,000 (2013-2021)
  • Snider Foundation: $28,000 (2019-2020)
  • Stand Together Fellowships: $445,520 (2015-2020)
  • Starr Foundation: $150,000 (2019-2021)
  • State Policy Network: $30,000 (2012)
  • Story Garshina Foundation: $320,000 (2015-2020)
  • Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr Foundation: $5,000 (2015-2019)
  • Sutton Family Foundation: $5,000 (2020)
  • The 85 Fund: $450,000 (2022)
  • The Alta and John Franks Foundation: $200,000 (2018-2022)
  • The Chicago Community Trust: $30,000 (2021)
  • Thomas D Klingenstein Fund: $37,976 (2013-2019)
  • Thomas W Smith Foundation: $5,786,440 (2016-2022)
  • US Chamber of Commerce Foundation: $25,000 (2017)
  • Vanguard Charitable Endowment: $928,500 (2020-2021)
  • VBS Foundation: $20,000 (2013-2019)
  • Veltri Family Foundation Trust: $120,000 (2016-2021)
  • Walton Family Foundation: $834,800 (2019-2021)
  • Wiegers Family Foundation: $10,000 (2020)
  • William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: $205,000 (2020)
  • William and Mary Greve Foundation: $50,000 (2015-2016)
  • William C and Cindy L Scott Foundation: $7,000 (2013-2019)
  • William H Donner Foundation: $153,907 (2018-2021)
  • William Stamps Farish Fund: $45,000 (2019)
  • Winiarski Family Foundation: $30,000 (2018-2020)
  • Woodford Foundation for Limited Government: $94,300 (2013-2020)
  • WR Berkley Corporation Charitable Foundation: $87,500 (2013-2020)
  • Zegarac-Pollock Family Foundation: $675,000 (2013-2021)

Core Financials

2021[29]

  • Total Revenue: $20,278,898
  • Total Expenses: $17,079,202
  • Net Assets: $24,684,756

2020[30]

  • Total Revenue: $16,694,868
  • Total Expenses: $15,701,917
  • Net Assets: $21,125,765

2019[31]

  • Total Revenue: $18,531,014
  • Total Expenses: $17,381,125
  • Net Assets: $18,642,638

2018[32]

  • Total Revenue: $15,565,468
  • Total Expenses: $20,159,557
  • Net Assets: $17,565,230

2017[33]

  • Total Revenue: $20,277,506
  • Total Expenses: $19,691,658
  • Net Assets: $21,907,626

2016[34]

  • Total Revenue: $2,711,476
  • Total Expenses: $2,475,962
  • Net Assets: $2,316,057

2015[34]

  • Total Revenue: $4,180,433
  • Total Expenses: $4,357,518
  • Net Assets: $2,020,543

2014[35]

  • Total Revenue: $17,408,881
  • Total Expenses: $15,638,756
  • Net Assets: $19,337,202

2013[36]

  • Total Revenue: $17,210,753
  • Total Expenses: $13,949,343
  • Net Assets: $18,671,181

2012[37]

  • Total Revenue: $13,559,374
  • Total Expenses: $14,284,045
  • Net Assets: $15,317,383

2011[37]

  • Total Revenue: $14,873,971
  • Total Expenses: $13,417,313
  • Net Assets: $14,754,647

Personnel

Staff

As of January 2024:[38]

Senior Staff

  • Reihan Salam, President
  • Ilana Golant, Executive Vice President
  • Brian C. Anderson, Editor, City Journal
  • Benjamin Birney, Vice President, Operations/In-House Counsel
  • Brandon Fuller, Vice President, Research & Policy
  • Michele Jacob, Vice President, Strategy & Communications
  • Andrew Law, Vice President, Development

Adam Smith Society

  • Yael Levin Hungerford, Executive Director
  • Lydia Pitea, Deputy Director
  • Sean-Michael Pigeon, Senior Program Officer
  • Peter Conroy, Program Officer
  • Gregory Fitton, Marketing Communications Manager

Administration

  • Beatriz Peña, Assistant Director
  • Madeline Reed, Grants and Operations Manager

Books & Research

  • Bernadette Serton, Book Director
  • Kelsey Bloom, Managing Editor
  • Nick Saffran, Senior Editor

City Journal

  • Paul Beston, Managing Editor
  • Steven Malanga, Senior Fellow/Senior Editor
  • John Hirschauer, Associate Editor
  • Daniel Kennelly, Associate Editor
  • Jordan McGillis, Economics Editor
  • Madeleine Miller, Assistant Editor
  • Lisa Webb, Web Administrator

Communications

  • Nora Kenney, Director, Media Relations
  • Leah Thomas, Senior Press Officer
  • Nic Abouchedid, Press Officer
  • Grace Twehous, Press Officer

Design & Marketing

  • Aaron Ricks, Director, Marketing
  • Jamie Meggas, Creative Director
  • Patrick Thomas, Associate Director, Marketing
  • Isabella Redjai, Senior Multimedia Producer
  • Sophia Izzo, Digital Marketing Associate

Development

  • Emily Daniels, Assistant Director, Development & Strategic Partnerships
  • Saga Lisslo, Associate Director, Special Events & Major Gifts
  • Paul Shakeshaft, Associate Director, Policy Initiatives, Grants, & Foundation Relations
  • Susanna Ragusa, Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships & Donor Communications
  • Ashley Schultz, Audience Development Manager

External Affairs

  • Jesse Arm, Director
  • Tom Mulkeen, Manager
  • Patrick Pulis, Associate

Events

  • Pat Burke, Director
  • Olivia Byun, Deputy Director
  • Eli Hixon, Events Coordinator

Policy Directors

  • James R. Copland, Senior Fellow and Director, Legal Policy
  • Ray Domanico, Senior Fellow and Director, Education Policy
  • Judge Glock, Contributing Editor, City Journal; Senior Fellow; Director, Research
  • John Ketcham, Fellow and Director, Cities
  • Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow and Director, Constitutional Studies
  • Christopher F. Rufo, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal

Project Managers

  • Jordan Duecker, Director, Strategic Initiatives
  • Walter Pope, Director of Programs, Research & Policy
  • Derek Lux, Project Manager, PPSI & Legal

Technology Department

  • Peter Pappas, Director, IT
  • Tatyana Kustas, Director, Web Services
  • Luis Gil Martinez, Technology Coordinator
  • Antonio Rivera, Equipment Manager

Former Staff

  • Michael Allegretti, Vice President of Programs
  • Michael Barreiro, Vice President of Operations
  • James Copland, Director, Center for Legal Policy
  • George Gilder, Program Director
  • William Hammett, President
  • Leigh Harrington, Vice President, Communications & Marketing
  • Molly M. Harsh, Director of Programs, Adam Smith Society
  • Timothy Hoefer, Director, Empire Center for New York State Policy
  • Paul Howard, Director, Center for Medical Progress
  • Howard Husock, Vice President, Research & Publications
  • Vanessa Mendoza, Executive Vice President
  • Lawrence J. Mone, President
  • Jessica Perry, Director of Development
  • Judyth Pendell, Executive Director, 1999
  • Troy Senik, Vice President, Policy & Programs
  • Donna Thompson, Special Projects Director, 1999

Board of Trustees

As of January 2024:[39]

  • Paul E. Singer, Chairman of the Board
  • Ann J. Charters, Vice Chair
  • Roger Hertog, Chairman Emeritus
  • Reihan Salam, President
  • William P. Barr
  • Francis Blake
  • Anthony P. Coles
  • Ravenel Curry
  • Kathy Crow
  • Betsy DeVos
  • Michael J. Fedak
  • Kenneth B. Gilman
  • Harvey Golub
  • Maurice R. Greenberg
  • Fleur Harlan
  • Michael A. Kaufman
  • Roger Kimball
  • Joseph Kristol
  • Susan Lebovitz-Edelman
  • Jay Lefkowitz
  • Jay H. Newman
  • Nick Ohnell
  • John Paulson
  • Russel Pennoyer
  • Robert Rosenkranz
  • Nathan E. Saint-Amand
  • Thomas W. Smith
  • Warren Stephens
  • Kathryn S. Wylde

Former Trustees

Scholars

As of January 2024:[40]

  • Brian C. Anderson, Editor, City Journal
  • Reade Ben, Policy Analyst
  • George J. Borjas, Senior Fellow
  • Charles W. Calomiris, Book Fellow
  • Wai Wah Chin, Adjunct Fellow
  • James R. Copland, Senior Fellow and Director, Legal Policy
  • Theodore Dalrymple, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Daniel Di Martino, Graduate Fellow
  • Daniel DiSalvo, Senior Fellow
  • Ray Domanico, Senior Fellow and Director, Education Policy
  • Stephen D. Eide, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Richard A. Epstein, Visiting Scholar
  • Joseph Figliolia, Policy Analyst
  • Tal Fortgang, Adjunct Fellow
  • Roland G. Fryer, Jr., John A. Paulson Fellow
  • Brandon Fuller, Vice President, Research & Policy
  • Nicole Stelle Garnett, Senior Fellow
  • Nicole Gelinas, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Judge Glock, Contributing Editor, City Journal, Senior Fellow, and Director, Research
  • Zach Goldberg, Paulson Policy Analyst
  • Carolyn D. Gorman, Adjunct Fellow
  • Arpit Gupta, Adjunct Fellow
  • Victor Davis Hanson, Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Michael Hartney, Senior Fellow
  • Gail Heriot, Book Fellow
  • Stephanie Hessler, Adjunct Fellow
  • Kay S. Hymowitz, William E. Simon Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, Fellow
  • Eric Kaufmann, Adjunct Fellow
  • John Ketcham, Fellow and Director, Cities
  • Eric Kober, Senior Fellow
  • Charles Fain Lehman, Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Jonathan A. Lesser, Adjunct Fellow and President, Continental Economics
  • Glenn C. Loury, John A. Paulson Fellow
  • Randall Lutter, Senior Fellow
  • Heather Mac Donald, Thomas W. Smith Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Steven Malanga, Senior Fellow and Senior Editor, City Journal
  • Rafael A. Mangual, Nick Ohnell Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Jim Manzi, Senior Fellow
  • Jordan McGillis, Economics Editor, City Journal
  • E.J. McMahon, Adjunct Fellow
  • James B. Meigs, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Theo Merkel, Senior Fellow
  • Hannah E. Meyers, Fellow and Director, Policing & Public Safety
  • Judith Miller, Adjunct Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Stephen Miran, Adjunct Fellow
  • Dan Morenoff, Adjunct Fellow
  • Renu Mukherjee, Paulson Policy Analyst
  • James Piereson, Senior Fellow
  • Chris Pope, Senior Fellow
  • Kathleen Porter-Magee, Adjunct Fellow
  • Brian Riedl, Senior Fellow
  • Jason L. Riley, Senior Fellow
  • Tim Rosenberger, Fellow
  • Christopher F. Rufo, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Reihan Salam, President
  • Peter D. Salins, Senior Fellow
  • Leor Sapir, Fellow
  • Allison Schrager, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Dorothy Moses Schulz, Adjunct Fellow
  • Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow and Director, Constitutional Studies
  • Andy Smarick, Senior Fellow
  • John Tierney, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Robert VerBruggen, Fellow
  • Noah Williams, Adjunct Fellow
  • Marcus A. Winters, Senior Fellow
  • Colin Wright, Fellow

Former Scholars

  • Rick Baker, Adjunct Fellow, Center for State and Local Leadership (St. Petersburg, Florida)
  • Michael Knox Beran, Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Claire Berlinski, Contributing Editor, City Journal (Istanbul, Turkey)
  • Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor, City Journal
  • Lester Brickman, Visiting Scholar, Center for Legal Policy (New York City)
  • Robert Bryce, Senior Fellow, Center for Energy Policy and the Environment
  • Oren Cass, Senior Fellow
  • Dr. Tom Coburn, Advisor, Project FDA
  • Richard C. Dreyfuss, Senior Fellow, Center for State and Local Leadership (Pennsylvania)
  • Max Eden, Senior Fellow
  • Yevgeniy Feyman, Adjunct Fellow
  • Ted Frank, Adjunct Fellow
  • Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Senior Fellow and Director, Economics21
  • Edward Glaeser, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Isaac Gorodetski, Director, State and Local Policy
  • Richard Greenwald, Adjunct Fellow, Center for State and Local Leadership (Newark, NJ)
  • Thomas Hogan, Adjunct Fellow
  • Paul Howard, Senior Fellow and Director, Health Policy
  • Peter W. Huber, Senior Fellow
  • Howard Husock, Vice President, Research & Publications and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Stefan Kanfer, Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • George L. Kelling, Senior Fellow
  • Andrew Klavan, Contributing Editor, City Journal (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Joel Kotkin, Contributing Editor, City Journal (California)
  • John Leo, Senior Fellow, Center for the American University (New York City)
  • Herbert London, Senior Fellow, Center for the American University (New York City)
  • FJ Macchiarola
  • Myron Magnet, Editor-at-large, City Journal - became Newt Gingrich adviser
  • Josh B. McGee, Senior Fellow
  • John H. McWhorter, Contributing Editor, City Journal (New York City)
  • Jared Meyer, Senior Fellow
  • Mark P. Mills, Senior Fellow
  • Lawrence J. Mone, President
  • Charles Murray
  • Walter Olson, Legal critic
  • Avik Roy, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute (New York City)
  • Aaron M. Renn, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Charles Upton Sahm, Director, Education Policy
  • Fred Siegel, Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Harry Stein, Contributing Editor, City Journal (New York City)
  • William J. Stern, Contributing Editor, City Journal (New York City)
  • Guy Sorman, Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Sol Stern, Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Jacob Vigdor, Adjunct Fellow
  • Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Advisor & Former Chairman, Project FDA
  • Adam White, Adjunct Fellow and Contributing Editor, City Journal
  • Scott Winship, Walter B. Wriston FellowLeadership (New York City)
  • Diane Yap, Economics Policy Analyst
  • Luigi Zingales, Contributing Editor, City Journal (Chicago, IL)

Contact Information

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc.
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10017

Employer Identification Number (EIN): 13-2912529

Manhattan Institute Websites

Other Affiliations

Articles and Resources

IRS Filings

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Related SourceWatch Articles

External Resources

External Articles

2013

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1990s

References

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  2. Media Transparency, Recipient Profile: Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc., organizational website, accessed August 7, 2007.
  3. Kurt Nimmo, "What She Really Said. Condoleezza Rice at the Waldorf Astoria," CounterPunch, October 10, 2002.
  4. State Policy Network, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, organizational website, accessed January 26, 2024.
  5. Jan Mayer, "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right," 2016.
  6. The Manhattan Institute: Launch Pad for Conservative Authors, "Institute for Public Accuracy," March 1, 1998.
  7. Fred Kaplan, "Think Tank Helps Giuliani Set His Agenda", Boston Globe, February 22, 1998.
  8. Nicholas Confessore, "'America is Under Attack': Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade", New York Times, January 20, 2024.
  9. Christopher F. Rufo, Failure Factory, "City Journal", February 23, 2021.
  10. Zachary Goldberg and Eric Kaufmann, Yes, Critical Race Theory Is Being Taught in Schools, "City Journal", October 20, 2022.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Sheldon Whitehouse, "Senators Call Out Web of Denial Blocking Action On Climate Change," Office of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, July 15, 2016.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Michelle Celarier, "Hedgies cut ties with think tank," New York Post, June 10, 2013.
  13. Jeff Jacoby, "The fight is on the right," New York Times, June 20, 2007.
  14. 14.0 14.1 People for the American Way, "Manhattan Institute for Policy Research", Right Wing Watch organizational website, accessed June 2013.
  15. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, "The Economic Benefits of Immigration", organizational article, February 18, 2013.
  16. Joe Hagan, "President Bush's Neoconservatives Were Spawned Right Here in N.Y.C., New Home of the Right-Wing Gloat," The New York Observer, April 27, 2003.
  17. Joshua Brustein, "Think Tanks," Gotham Gazette, March 29, 2003.
  18. City Journal, About City Journal, organizational website, accessed January 28, 2024.
  19. Conor Friedersdorf, "Saving the City: An Interview with Brian Anderson", Atlantic, June 1, 2010.
  20. City Journal, Podcasts, organizational website, accessed January 28, 2024.
  21. 21.0 21.1 Adam Smith Society, "Who We Are", organizational website, accessed January 26, 2024.
  22. [American Legislative Exchange Council, 2011 Conference Workshops, conference brochure on file with CMD, August 11, 2011]
  23. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library: Hammett W., Manhattan Institute, Letter to Prichard R., B&W, August 20, 1986.
  24. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library: Stevens AJ, Lorillard, "Budget", October 19, 1990.
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  27. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library: RJ Reynolds, "Corporate Contribution to the Manhattan Institute", Letter to Haver DG, August 19, 1998.
  28. Legacy Tobacco Documents Library: Moskowitz SW, "Here's a summary of the ideas we discussed yesterday at the first legal/legislative/science brainstorming session", January 15, 1997.
  29. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, IRS 990 2021, "Manhattan Institute", June 16, 2023.
  30. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, IRS 990 2020, "Manhattan Institute", June 27, 2022.
  31. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, IRS 990 2019, "Manhattan Institute", July 21, 2021.
  32. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, IRS 990 2018, "Manhattan Institute", May 27, 2020.
  33. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, IRS 990 2017, "Manhattan Institute", May 16, 2019.
  34. 34.0 34.1 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, [paper copy on file with CMD, 2016 IRS Form 990], organizational tax filing, May 24, 2017, p. 1.
  35. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, 2014 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, May 23, 2016, p. 1.
  36. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, 2013 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, July 17, 2015, p. 1.
  37. 37.0 37.1 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, 2012 IRS Form 990, organizational tax filing, July 23, 2014, p. 1.
  38. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Manhattan Institute Staff Directory, organizational website, accessed January 8, 2024.
  39. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Manhattan Institute Board of Trustees, organizational website, accessed January 8, 2024.
  40. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Manhattan Institute Scholars, organizational website, accessed January 8, 2024.
  41. Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future, ITFIAF, organizational website.
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  43. Marcy Wheeler (emptywheel), "Judy Finally Gets Her Wingnut Welfare!!" The Next Hurrah Blog, July 22, 2007: Miller is "a contributing editor to the Manhattan Institute's City Journal".

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