Major Think Tanks

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing… Read More

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. FDD conducts in-depth research, produces accurate and timely analyses, identifies illicit activities, and provides policy options – all with the aim of strengthening U.S. national security and reducing or eliminating threats posed by… Read More

The National Bureau of Economic Research has been committed to “undertaking and disseminating unbiased economic research among public policymakers, business professional, and the academic community.” In fact, NBER is best known for accurately providing start and end dates for recessions in the United States. Not surprisingly, considering its success, an amazing 22 Nobel Prize–winners for… Read More

Founded in 2003, Center for American Progress (CAP) is one of the youngest—yet most influential—think tanks on this list. With the motto “Progressive ideas for a strong, just, and free America,” CAP deals in major domestic issues such as Economic Policy, Education, Health, Security and International Affairs, and Social Policy. CAP’s influence climaxed during the… Read More

Open Society Foundations – Progressive   The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights. We provide thousands of grants every year through a network of national and regional foundations and offices, funding a vast array of projects—many of… Read More

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) was founded in 1981 by Robert Greenstein, a former political appointee in the Jimmy Carter administration. The Center analyzes the impact of federal and state government budget policies from a Progressive viewpoint, and as such, generally argues for more spending for social programs and fewer tax cuts. The… Read More

Top 100 Think Tanks – United States In rank order Brookings Center for Strategic and International Studies Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Heritage Foundation Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) Urban Institute Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Center for American Progress (CAP) Atlantic Council RAND Corporation Hudson Institute Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Belfer… Read More

Academic Influence – website This is a copy of Academic Influence’s website – click website for the actual website Top Influential Think Tanks 2021 Whether you’re aware of it or not, think tanks have influenced your life and worldview by advancing policy measures in government, by shaping the media you consume, and even by inventing… Read More