Fund for American Studies

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) "offers transformational programs that teach the principles of limited government, free-market economics and honorable leadership to students and young professionals in America and around the world." TFAS is an associate member of the right-wing State Policy Network (SPN) and was featured in SPN's Associate Member Updates in July/August 2017. Additional information regarding awards, academic programs, fellowships, curricular principles, academic conferences, and a film promoted by TFAS are featured in SPN's Associate Member Updates.

State Policy Network

SPN is a web of right-wing “think tanks” and tax-exempt organizations in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. As of June 2024, SPN's membership totals 167. Today's SPN is the tip of the spear of far-right, nationally funded policy agenda in the states that undergirds extremists in the Republican Party. SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told the Wall Street Journal in 2017 that the revenue of the combined groups was some $80 million, but a 2022 analysis of SPN's main members IRS filings by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that the combined revenue is over $152 million. Although SPN's member organizations claim to be nonpartisan and independent, the Center for Media and Democracy's in-depth investigation, "EXPOSED: The State Policy Network -- The Powerful Right-Wing Network Helping to Hijack State Politics and Government," reveals that SPN and its member think tanks are major drivers of the right-wing, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)-backed corporate agenda in state houses nationwide, with deep ties to the Koch brothers and the national right-wing network of funders.

In response to CMD's report, SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told national and statehouse reporters that SPN affiliates are "fiercely independent." Later the same week, however, The New Yorker's Jane Mayer caught Sharp in a contradiction. In her article, "Is IKEA the New Model for the Conservative Movement?," the Pulitzer-nominated reporter revealed that, in a recent meeting behind closed doors with the heads of SPN affiliates around the country, Sharp "compared the organization’s model to that of the giant global chain IKEA." She reportedly said that SPN "would provide 'the raw materials,' along with the 'services' needed to assemble the products. Rather than acting like passive customers who buy finished products, she wanted each state group to show the enterprise and creativity needed to assemble the parts in their home states. 'Pick what you need,' she said, 'and customize it for what works best for you.'" Not only that, but Sharp "also acknowledged privately to the members that the organization's often anonymous donors frequently shape the agenda. 'The grants are driven by donor intent,' she told the gathered think-tank heads. She added that, often, 'the donors have a very specific idea of what they want to happen.'"

A set of coordinated fundraising proposals obtained and released by The Guardian in early December 2013 confirm many of these SPN members' intent to change state laws and policies, referring to "advancing model legislation" and "candidate briefings." These activities "arguably cross the line into lobbying," The Guardian notes.

News

On July 3, 2017, TFAS President Roger Ream reported that TFAS was commissioning a nationwide Freedom Index survey in order to investigate the following questions: "Where is America going? Will America remain a bastion of freedom? Are we becoming more free or are we gradually losing our freedom?"

Ties to the Koch Brothers

The Charles Koch Institute lists TFAS as a partner organization of its Professional Education programs. Several TFAS members have professional and academic affiliations with the various Koch educational initiatives.

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 Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation

Several academic fellowships and grants aimed at students and young professionals have been featured in the Bradley Foundation's monthly newsletters. The Bradley Foundation is a longtime funder of FAS, see Contributions of the Bradley Foundation for more.

Bradley Files

In 2017, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), publishers of SourceWatch, launched a series of articles on the Milwaukee-based Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, exposing the inner-workings of one of America's largest right-wing foundations. 56,000 previously undisclosed documents laid bare the Bradley Foundation's highly politicized agenda. CMD detailed Bradley's efforts to map and measure right wing infrastructure nationwide, including by dismantling and defunding unions to impact state elections; bankrolling discredited spin doctor Richard Berman and his many front groups; and more. Find the series here at ExposedbyCMD.org.

Publications

TFAS publication include general summaries of educational studies, TFAS speeches and lectures, Alumni News, and TFAS Annual Reports.

Funding

Between 2010 and 2015 FAS received $1,053,574 combined from DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund. The twin Donors organizations are advertised as a way for very wealthy people and corporations to remain hidden when "funding sensitive or controversial issues," creating a lack of accountability. (See DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients for more).

Between 2001 and 2015 FAS received $378,799 from the Charles G. Koch Foundation.

Other top donors, per Conservative Transparency:

• The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation - $1,315,000
• Stuart Family Foundation - $695,000
• Earhart Foundation - $475,000
• The Shelby Cullom Davis Foundation -$367,000
• F.M. Kirby Foundation - $360,000
• Pierre F. and Enid Goodrich Foundation - $310,000
• Howard Charitable Foundation - $300,000
• John William Pope Foundation - $230,000
• Same Line Foundation - $212,000
• JM Foundation - $185,000
• Bochnowski Family Foundation - $145,000
• John M. Olin Foundation - $129,570
• Armstrong Foundation - $119,590
• Chase Foundation of Virginia - $106,000
• Castle Rock Foundation - $100,000

Core Financials

2015

• Total Revenue: $10,177,108
• Total Expenses: $10,000,192
• Net Assets: $15,726,065

2014

• Total Revenue: $8,542,443
• Total Expenses: $10,052,183
• Net Assets: $16,970,355

2013

• Total Revenue: $8,950,629
• Total Expenses: $9,467,861
• Net Assets: $18,285,010

2012

• Total Revenue: $9,230,922
• Total Expenses: $9,759,907
• Net Assets: $17,887,460

2011

• Total Revenue: $9,758,544
• Total Expenses: $10,357,218
• Net Assets: $16,933,383

Personnel

Staff

• Randal C. Teague, Chairman
• Roger Ream, President
• Steve Slattery, Executive Vice President
• Robert J. Callahan, CPA, CFO & Vice President of Finance and Administration
• Michelle Jeffress Le, Vice President, International and Alumni Programs
• Shane Goldsmith Mazzella, Vice President of U.S. Programs
• Edward J. Turner, Vice President of Development
• Donald Devine, TFAS Senior Scholar
• Matthew Kwasiborski, Director of European Institutes
• Joseph Starrs, Director of the Institute on Political Journalism and U.S. Programs
• Mary C. Stankus, Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Program Operations
• Brigit Moore, Director of Asia Programs
• Colin Parks, Director of the Institute on Economics & International Affairs and Legal Studies Institute
• Dana Faught, Associate Director of Recruitment, Admissions and Operations
• Mallie Woodfin, Manager of Recruitment, Admissions and Operations
• Laura Cusack, Program Manager of the Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems
• Joel Troutman, Manager of the Institute on Business & Government Affairs
• Pat DiFrancesco, Coordinator of Capital Semester and Leadership and the American Presidency
• Kayla Anderson, Manager of the Institute on Philanthropy and Voluntary Service
• Neal B. Freeman, Chairman of the Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program
• Maria Gullo, Executive Director of Development
• Jeff Hollingsworth, Director of Foundation Relations
• Daniel McCarthy, Director of the Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program
• Vanessa Henderson, PHR, EA, Executive Assistant of the Robert Novak Fellowship Program
• Matt Bagnoli, Director of Institutional Advancement
• Jane Mack, Director of Special Events
• Kerri DiNarda Shimko, Director of Communications
• Lee Cannon, Manager of Digital Communications
• Kristin Underwood, Coordinator of Communications
• Brenda Hafera, Coordinator of Alumni Programs and Continuing Education
• Jackie Montegut, Executive Assistant & Office Manager
• Brenda Diaz, Senior Staff Accountant
• Lynn Calderwood, Receptionist
• Daniel Farley, Receptionist

Board of Trustees

• Chairman Randal C. Teague, Officer
• Vice Chairman Michael W. Thompson, Officer
• Vice Chairman-International William J. Hybl, Officer
• Secretary Dan Branch (ICPES 77), Officer
• Treasurer Frank Lauinger, Officer
• President Roger R. Ream (ICPES 76), Officer
• Fred Barnes, Member
• Charles R. Black, Jr., Member
• Jeff Carneal, Member
• James B. Culbertson, Member
• Louis DeJoy, Member
• Paula J. Dobriansky, Member
• Frank J. Donatelli (ICPES 70), Member
• Juanita Duggan, Member
• Stephen F. Hayes (AIPES 94, Novak 00), Member
• Colene Johnson, Member
• Theresa Kostrzewa (ICPES 84), Member
• Derek McClain, Member
• M. Peter McPherson, Member
• Eric Tanenblatt (ICPES 87), Member
• Don Cogman, Trustee Emeriti
• Chapman Cox, Trustee Emeriti
• Mitch Daniels, Trustee Emeriti
• Neal Freeman, Trustee Emeriti
• George Lawrence, Trustee Emeriti
• Thomas L. Phillips, Trustee Emeriti
• Don Sundquist, Trustee Emeriti
• Robert S. Understein, Trustee Emeriti

Board of Regents

• The Honorable Julia Chang Bloch, Member
• Karen Czarnecki (ICPES 88), Member
• Caroline Decker (IBGA 92), Member
• Eric Fox (ICPES 86), Member
• Brian Hail (ICPES 86), Member
• Lindsey Rose King (IBGA 06), Member
• Dr. I. Raymond Kirk, III, Member
• Kenneth A. Klatt (ICPES 70), Member
• Deborah Lawrence, Member
• John Lee (ICPES 85), Member
• John Lettieri (ICPES 03), Member
• Aaron Lewis (IPJ 93, IIPES 96), Member
• Dr. Anthony P. Maresca, Member
• Daniel McConchie (IPJ 93, AIPES 95), Member
• Paul McDonough (ICPES 84), Member
• Bob Meissner, Member
• Thomas Morrison, Member
• Lindsey Parke (IBGA 05), Member
• Robert Pruger, Member
• Kathleen Rothschild, Member
• Gerald Sullivan, Member
• Michael Thompson, Jr. (ICPES 89, AIPES 93), Member
• Chris Ullman, Member
• Brad Vynalek (ICPES 94, AIPES 97), Member
• Chris S. Wilson (ICPES 90), Member
• Lee Edwards, Regent Emeriti
• Milton Masson, Regent Emeriti

Alumni Council: Steering Committee

• Kenneth Klatt (ICPES 70), Alumni Council Chairman
• Alissa Swango (IPJ 00, IIPES 02), Communications Vice Chairwoman
• Traci Leonardo (IPJ 93), Development Vice Chairwoman
• Andrea Huels (ICPES 86), Alumni Activities Vice Chairwoman
• Neil Vigdor (IPJ 98), Awards Vice Chairman
• Peter Feldman (IPVS 04, LSI 07), Membership and Governance Vice Chairman

Alumni Council: Members At-Large

• Shant Boyajian (LSI 08)
• Jessica Ching (IBGA 10)
• Andrew Christianson (IBGA 05, AIPE 06)
• Joaquin Gallardo (ILA 09)
• Craig Goolsby (IBGA 97)
• Danielle Hamel (IBGA 12)
• Jeremy Harrell (ICPES 07)
• Panagiota Kaltsa (IIPES 05, EJI 06, CSF 06)
• Johnathan Lozier (IBGA 08)
• Joey Maxwell (IPVS 11)
• Patricia Mora (IPVS 05)
• Michael Moroney (IBGA 08)
• Richard Oakley (ICPES 84)
• Andrew Powaleny (IPJ 08)
• David Satterfield (IBGA 05)
• John Sweda (ICPES 97)
• Will Tomlinson (IPJ 97)
• Adam Vicks (IPJ 05)

Alumni Council: Chapter Presidents

• Diana Rabeh (ICPES 03)
• Courtney Rohrbach (IPVS 05)
• Kathryn Stanko (ICPES 72)

Faculty

• Ibrahim Al-Marashi, Professor, Conflict Management
• Gary T. Armstrong, Professor, American Foreign Policy
• Richard Benedetto, Professor, Journalism Internship Seminar
• Donald J. Boudreaux, Professor, Economics for the Citizen
• Richard Boyd, Professor, American Political Thought
• Anne Bradley, Professor, International Economic Policy
• Juan Ignacio Brito, Professor, Economics
• Henry N. Butler, Lead Professor of the Economic Foundations of Legal Studies course
• Frank A. Ciatto, Professor of Ethics and Leadership
• Michael J. Collins, Professor, Ethics and Leadership
• Christopher Coyne, Professor, Economic Problems and Public Policies
• Karen M. Czarnecki, Professor, Public Policy and International Affairs Internship Seminar
• Donald Devine, TFAS Senior Scholar
• Steven F. Hayward, Professor, The American Presidency
• Christopher Koopman, Professor, Economics of Regulation
• Ricardo Leiva, Professor, Economics
• Adam Martin, Professor, Political Economy
• Joshua Mitchell, Professor, Political Philosophy
• Matthew Mitchell, Professor, Economics of Regulation
• C. Bradley Thompson, Professor, Political Theory and American Studies
• Joshua Walker, Professor, The American Presidency
• Nikolai G. Wenzel, Professor, Political Economy

Former Trustees:

• Chairman Randal C. Teague - Partner, Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease, LLP, Washington, D.C.
• Vice Chairman Michael W. Thompson - President, Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Springfield, Va.
• Secretary Daniel H. Branch - Shareholder/Attorney at Law, Winstead Sechrest & Minick P.C., Dallas, Texas
• Treasurer James B. Culbertson]] - Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Fred Barnes - Executive Edito, The Weekly Standard, Washington, D.C.
• Charles R. Black, Jr. - Chairman, BKSH & Associates, Washington, D.C.
• Patrick F. Daly - CEO, The Daly Group, Chicago, Ill.
• Louis DeJoy - CEO, New Breed, Greensboro, N.C.
• Frank J. Donatelli - Senior Vice President, McGuireWoods Consulting, Washington, D.C.
• Juanita Duggan - President & CEO, American Forest & Paper Association, Washington, D.C.
• John W. Farley - Corporate Vice President, Eagle Publishing, Inc., Washington, D.C.
• William J. Hybl - Chairman and CEO, El Pomar Foundation, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• T. Timothy Ryan, Jr. - Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase, New York, N.Y.
• W. Bruce Weinrod - Woodrow Wilson Center Public Policy Scholar, Washington, D.C.
• Catherine Windels - Senior Director for Worldwide Policy Mobilization, Pfizer, Inc., New York, N.Y.
• Ex Officio Member - Roger R. Ream, President, The Fund for American Studies, Washington, D.C.

Trustee Emeriti:

• Hon. Robin Beard - Former Member of Congress, Isle of Palms, S.C.
• Hon. Don Cogman - Chairman, CC Investments, Scottsdale, Ariz
• Hon. Philip M. Crane - Former Member of Congress, Leesburg, Va.
• Hon. Mitch Daniels - Governor, State of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Hon. Paula J. Dobriansky - Under Secretary of State for Democracy & Global Affairs, U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
• Neal Freeman - Chairman, Blackwell Corporation, York, Maine
• George Lawrence - President, Lawrence Properties, Former President, The Fund for American Studies, Vero Beach, Fla.
• Hon. Peter McPherson - President, National Association of State, Universities & Land Grant Colleges, Washington, D.C.
• Thomas L. Phillips - Eagle Publishing, Inc., Washington, D.C.
• Hon. Don Sundquist - Former Governor, State of Tennessee, Former Member of Congress, Townsend, Tenn.

Former Academic Council:

• Hisham Awartani - Trustee, Center for Palestine Research and Studies, Nablus, Palestine
• Professor George Carey - Professor of Government, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
• William C. Dennis - Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Fairfax, Va.
• Lee Edwards - Department of Politics, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
• Roy H. Ginsberg - Professor of Government, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
• Steven Hayward - American Enterprise Institute, F. K. Weyerhaeuser Fellow, San Fransisco, Calif.
• Jack C. High - Professor of Economics, The Institute for Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
• Charles Kesler - Associate Professor of Government, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, Calif.
• Leonard Liggio - Distinguished Senior Scholar, Institute for Humane Studies, George Mason University Law School, Arlington, Va.; Atlas, Pelerin
• James C. Miller III - Center for the Study of Public Choice, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
• B. Nelson Ong - Professional Development International, New Rochelle, N.Y.
• Edward W. Ryan - Professor of Economics, Director Economic Freedom, Institute Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y.
• Larry J. Sabato - Robert Kent Gooch Professor, The Center for Government Affairs, The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
• Antony Sullivan - Associate, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• George J. Viksnins - Professor of Economics, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
• J. David Woodard - Professor, Department of Political Science, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
• Bruce Yandle - Alumni Distinguished Professor, College of Business and Public Affairs, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.

Contact

EIN: 13-6223604

Fund for American Studies
1706 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone:202-986-0384
Fax:202-986-0390
Email: info@TFAS.org

Website: http://www.tfas.org
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