Follow the Money: The Think Tank Funding Tracker w/ Ben Freeman & Nick Cleveland-Stout
Apr 25, 2025
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Join Ben Freeman, an expert at the Quincy Institute, and researcher Nick Cleveland-Stout as they unravel the hidden web of funding behind influential think tanks. They discuss the Think Tank Funding Tracker, revealing how U.S. and foreign government contributions, plus defense contractor money, shape policy. Learn about conflicts of interest, the troubling lack of transparency, and how some think tanks influence U.S. foreign policy narratives. Their insights expose the implications of 'dark money' and advocate for accountability in policy-making.
Think tanks heavily rely on funding from the U.S. government, foreign governments, and defense contractors, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The lack of transparency in funding sources for think tanks contributes to declining public trust, leading many to question their objectivity and motivations.
Initiatives like the Think Tank Funding Tracker aim to improve accountability and transparency, encouraging think tanks to disclose their financial backers and biases.
Deep dives
Understanding Think Tanks and Their Funding
Think tanks are defined as nonprofits that engage in policy research and advocacy, aiming to influence decision-making within the political sphere. They rely heavily on donations, with significant funding coming from foreign governments, defense contractors, and the U.S. government. Over the past five years, approximately $1.5 billion was allocated to the top 50 think tanks, with the most substantial portion stemming from the U.S. government, particularly targeting the RAND Corporation. The lack of transparency around their funding sources raises concerns, as many think tanks do not disclose their financial backers, making it difficult to assess potential conflicts of interest.
The Transparency Crisis in Think Tank Funding
A notable issue in the think tank community is the decreasing public trust in these organizations, primarily due to their lack of transparency. Surveys indicate that a significant portion of the public questions the objectivity of think tank experts, often suspecting hidden agendas. To address this, a rating system for transparency has been developed, encouraging think tanks to improve their disclosure practices. By providing a publicly accessible database, individuals can investigate funding sources and scrutinize the potential biases at play in the recommendations made by these organizations.
The Role of Foreign Governments in Funding
Foreign governments, especially from the Middle East, significantly influence U.S. think tanks by providing substantial funding in exchange for favorable policy advocacy. Notable contributors include the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which seek to sway U.S. policy decisions to align with their interests. These governments often leverage think tanks as part of their public relations strategies, employing them to propagate favorable narratives. Such funding arrangements raise major concerns, as the motives behind these contributions are rarely transparent, leading to questions about the authenticity and independence of the research produced.
Defense Contractors and their Influence
Defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman constitute a substantial source of funding for think tanks, establishing an intricate relationship between policy recommendations and corporate interests. These firms benefit significantly from taxpayer money that is allocated to military contracts and use their influence to shape policy debates in their favor. Their funding allows them to maintain close ties to think tanks, where experts often hold simultaneous roles in both the defense industry and the think tank community. This duality creates an environment ripe for conflicts of interest, reinforcing the case for greater scrutiny over the connections between funding and policymaking.
The Interconnectedness of Funding and Policy Recommendations
The funding ecosystem surrounding think tanks often results in a feedback loop that drives certain policy outcomes beneficial to their financial backers. Think tanks receiving substantial funding from specific defense contractors tend to produce analyses and policy recommendations that align with the interests of these donors. This relationship is particularly evident when think tank experts advocate for military spending on specific technologies produced by their funders. By understanding this interconnectedness, the public can better assess the motivations behind the policy discussions generated in Washington and advocate for greater transparency and accountability within this influential sector.
On this edition of Parallax Views with J.G. Michael, we explore the powerful financial forces behind Washington D.C.’s most influential think tanks—and how those funding streams may shape U.S. foreign policy and defense strategy. Joining us are Ben Freeman and Nick Cleveland-Stout of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to discuss their eye-opening project: the Think Tank Funding Tracker (TTFT).
The TTFT is designed to bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the world of policy influence, exposing the financial ties between think tanks and their funders. Specifically, we look at three major sources of funding:
U.S. government funding, led by the Department of Defense
Foreign government contributions, including major donors like Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Defense contractor money, with Northrop Grumman leading the charge
Think tanks play a vital role in shaping public policy through research, analysis, and recommendations. But as Ben and Nick explain, financial backing can create conflicts of interest and biases that may influence the narratives and policy prescriptions these institutions offer. Some think tanks rank high in transparency—others, particularly those with more hawkish foreign policy stances, score a troubling zero.
We also address the issue of “dark money” think tanks, declining public trust, and how the TTFT includes concrete policy recommendations to encourage better disclosure practices. The conversation highlights the need for vigilance in understanding who is funding the experts shaping public debate and decision-making.
One key case study we explore is the Atlantic Council, a major D.C. think tank whose funding sources exemplify the complex web of influence at play in the policy space.
If you’re interested in U.S. foreign policy, military-industrial complex dynamics, Middle East geopolitics, or political influence in Washington, this is a must-listen episode that breaks down the often unseen forces shaping global affairs.
