Skip to content
R Street Institute at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

R Street Institute

The R STREET INSTITUTE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-policy research organization ("think tank").

$285k
Granted FY2024still arriving
3
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$255k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Public Benefit$1.1MEducation$290kEnvironment$160kCrime & Legal$85kArts & Culture$78kSocial Science$70kHealth$34kCivil Rights$34kOther$0
02FY2024 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k2 grants · $30k
  • $250k+1 grant · $255k
$20,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$8.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SNF AGORA INSTITUTE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY$255,240
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE$20,000
CONSERVATIVE COALITION FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS$10,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 84% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%COPIA INSTITUTE: $78k → 7%IMPACT JUSTICE: $20k → 10%NATIONAL HARM REDUCTION COALITION: $10k → 17%TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION: $117k → 10%CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY & TECHNOLOGY: $70k → 14%JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE: $72k → 19%JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION: $15k → 8%SUTHERLAND INSTITUTE: $33k → 8%NCSL FOUNDATION: $10k → 12%CARDINAL INSTITUTE FOR WEST VIRGINIA POLICY: $19k → 18%PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES: $65k → 4%CONSERVATIVE COALITION FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS: $10k → 4%ADVANCE ARKANSAS INSTITUTE: $20k → 9%THE INFLUENCE FOUNDATION LLC: $14k → 9%SNF AGORA INSTITUTE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $255k → 19%MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC: $27k → 17%TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY: $50k → 10%TECH FREEDOM: $30k → 14%JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE: $52k → 19%JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION: $15k → 8%SUTHERLAND INSTITUTE: $21k → 8%INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE: $30k → 12%CARDINAL INSTITUTE: $9k → 18%THE INFLUENCE FOUNDATION LLC: $10k → 9%SNF AGORA INSTITUTE JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $48k → 19%TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION: $25k → 10%CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY & TECHNOLOGY: $34k → 14%JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE: $52k → 19%JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION: $15k → 8%CARDINAL INSTITUTE: $9k → 18%TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION: $25k → 10%AMERICAN CONSUMER INSTITUTE: $65k → 14%JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE: $52k → 19%JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION: $15k → 8%NATIONAL AFFAIRS: $20k → 14%JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE: $52k → 19%AMERICAN CONSUMER INSTITUTE: $65k → 14%FLORIDA TAXWATCH INC: $38k → 19%TALENT MARKET LLC: $10k → 14%FLORIDA TAXWATCH INC: $38k → 19%WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE: $20k → 14%AMERICAN CONSUMER INSTITUTE: $65k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

VT
WI
NY
CA
UT
CO
WV
VA
MD
NC
DC
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 13% of R Street Institute’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 20% of the giving stays in DC; by stated purpose, 10%.

R Street Institutelessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

81%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.5M · 11 repeat orgs$350k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +50% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

11 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2024, 10 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
11

Total granted

$1.5M
$320k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+50%
+14%

Still filing today

100%
82%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $30k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Public BenefitEducationCivil RightsHealthYouth DevelopmentEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    2× · 2023–2024 · $303k · revenue +4%
  • AC
    American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research
    5× · 2017–2021 · $290k · revenue +210%
  • TJ
    THE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES INC
    5× · 2017–2021 · $243k · revenue +104%

Funded once

  • FI
    Floor64 Inc
    one grant, 2017 · $78k
  • PF
    PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES
    one grant, 2021 · $65k · revenue +13%
  • II
    INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE
    one grant, 2021 · $30k · revenue -25%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

The american enterprise institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. aei pursues these ideals through independent thinking and the…

Social Science
2
Frontiers of Freedom Institute

To educate the public on constitutional issues and public policy matters. We are dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, peace through strength, limited government, free enterprise, and the values embodied in the Declaration of…

Public Benefit
3
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
4
Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies Inc

To provide thoughtful, conservative solutions to the challenges presented by education, workforce, labor and employment issues.

Education
5
Competitive Enterprise Institute

Competitive enterprise institute (cei) is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government. we believe that consumers are best helped not by government regulation but by being…

—
6
Technology Policy Institute
International
7
Institute for Policy Innovation

It is the mission of the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) to provide education, research, analysis and recommendations to policy makers, opinion leaders and the American people designed to help solve public policy problems through…

—
8
Institute for Public Accuracy

To teach and disseminate educational materials to the public.

Arts & Culture
9
The Libertarian Institute

Disseminate information and education about pertinent economic, social and governmental topics, via print, web and other media to educate the public about the principles of LIbertarianism.

Education
10
The International Institute for Strategic Studies - Us

To provide accurate, objective information and analysis on international strategic issues for legislators, diplomats, foreign affairs analysts, international business leaders, economists, the military, defense commentators, journalists,…

International
11
Future Tech Insights Inc

The organization provides public education on artificial intelligence.

Public Benefit
12
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Texas Public Policy Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Advance Arkansas Institute. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 24 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/23
Grantees still filing
18/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $303,240 · EducationJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYAmerican Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research: $290,000 · EducationAmerican Consumer Institute Center for …Sutherland Institute: $53,500 · EducationSutherland InstituteTHE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES INC: $243,000 · OtherTHE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLI…THE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION INC: $97,000 · OtherTHE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION INCFloor64 Inc: $78,000 · OtherFloor64 IncFLORIDA TAXWATCH RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC: $75,000 · OtherFLORIDA TAXWATCH RESEARCH INSTITUTE I…INFLUENCE FOUNDATION INC: $24,000 · OtherTECHFREEDOM: $30,000 · Other+5 more: $70,000 · Other+5 moreTEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION: $217,000 · Public BenefitTEXAS PUBLIC POLIC…INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE: $30,000 · Public BenefitINDEPENDENCE INSTI…MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC: $27,447 · Public BenefitMANHATTAN INSTITUT…ADVANCE ARKANSAS INSTITUTE: $20,000 · Public BenefitADVANCE ARKANSAS I…+1 more: $10,000 · Public BenefitCENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY: $103,500 · Civil RightsIMPACT JUSTICE: $20,000 · Civil RightsAMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION INC: $75,000 · EnvironmentPRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES: $65,000 · Crime & LegalCardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Inc: $37,000 · Social Science
Education$646,740Other$617,000Public Benefit$304,447Civil Rights$123,500Environment$75,000Crime & Legal$65,000Social Science$37,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $303,240 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research: $290,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetTHE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES INC: $243,000 over 5y, 3.4% of budgetTEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION: $217,000 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetCENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY: $103,500 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetTHE JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION INC: $97,000 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetAMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION INC: $75,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetFLORIDA TAXWATCH RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC: $75,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetPRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES: $65,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSutherland Institute: $53,500 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetCardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy Inc: $37,000 over 3y, 2.4% of budgetINDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE: $30,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTECHFREEDOM: $30,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetMANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC: $27,447 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetINFLUENCE FOUNDATION INC: $24,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetIMPACT JUSTICE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNational Affairs Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetAmerica's Future Foundation: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetThe Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetNCSL FOUNDATION FOR STATE LEGISLATURES: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL HARM REDUCTION COALITION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Seminar Network I…Donors Trust IncCharles Koch InstituteCharles Koch Foundati…Atlas Economic Resear…The Lynde and Harry B…NetChoiceThe Roe FoundationState Policy NetworkAdolph Coors Foundati…The Chase Foundation …The Pew Charitable Tr…
The Seminar Network IncVA21.9× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Seminar Network Inc · Donors Trust Inc · Charles Koch Institute · Charles Koch Foundation · Atlas Economic Research Foundation · The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc · NetChoice · The Roe Foundation · State Policy Network · Adolph Coors Foundation · The Chase Foundation of Virginia · The Pew Charitable Trusts

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization R Street Institute funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from R Street Institute. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 12%
  • Johns Hopkins University: 12% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 24 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on R Street Institute’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home