Center for Strategic and International Studies

What Center for Strategic and International Studies does

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a private, nonpartisan nonprofit think tank founded in 1962 and headquartered at 1616 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. CSIS conducts policy research and produces analysis, reports, podcasts, and executive education across four departments — Defense and Security; Economic Security and Technology; Geopolitics and Foreign Policy; and Global Development — serving U.S. government and congressional decisionmakers, defense and national security professionals, the international affairs community, academia, and corporate leaders. Its research portfolio spans defense strategy, the defense industrial base, irregular warfare, China and great-power competition, critical minerals, energy security, artificial-intelligence policy, global health, humanitarian issues, and regional security dynamics across the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

CSIS operates with an annual operating budget exceeding $65 million, funded through a diversified mix of foundation grants (e.g., Smith Richardson Foundation), corporate sponsorships (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Elara Nova), government-adjacent contracts, individual donors, membership groups, and paid executive education programs. The organization employs 251–500 staff and engages over 150 resident and non-resident scholars, drawing heavily on retired senior military leaders, ambassadors, intelligence officials, and former executive-branch policymakers. Core "products" are not commercial software but rather policy publications, eight named podcast series, interactive digital microsites (Hidden Reach, Beyond Parallel, China Power, Missile Threat, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative), events such as the annual Global Security Forum, and standing commissions including the Commission on Cyber Force Generation and the Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security. Most research outputs are provided free of charge; executive education and membership groups are the primary fee-bearing revenue lines. The organization is led by retired General Joseph F. Dunford (CEO since May 7, 2026), succeeding John Hamre, who served for 26 years.

Name

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Legal name

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Website

https://csis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CSIS is a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan nonprofit think tank founded in 1962 that produces policy research, podcasts, and executive education on defense, geopolitics, economic security, technology, and global development for U.S. government, defense, academic, and business audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Strategic Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), National Security and International Affairs (9281), National Security (928110)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Investigative & Journalism Documentaries (MPADADAD)

Keywords

• National security research
• Defense policy analysis
• Geopolitical strategy
• Think tank policy
• Foreign policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual operating budget: CSIS operates with an annual operating budget exceeding $65 million, funded through diverse sources including memberships, sponsorships, foundations, and executive education programs.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CSIS conducts nonpartisan policy research, strategic analysis, and advisory work across defense and security, economic security and technology, geopolitics and foreign policy, and global development. Its sellable offerings include in-depth research publications and reports, podcast series, paid executive education courses, hosted events and forums, and interactive digital features/microsites on specialized topics, delivered to U.S. and international policymakers, defense professionals, scholars, and corporate leaders.

Product overview

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a premier national security think tank that offers a portfolio of policy research services rather than a traditional technology product. Its core offerings include in-depth policy publications and reports, podcast series covering defense and international affairs, executive education courses, public events and forums, and interactive digital features/microsites on specialized topics. The organization integrates these offerings through its department structure covering Defense and Security, Economic Security and Technology, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy, and Global Development. CSIS also houses specialized initiatives like the Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security and the Hidden Reach satellite imagery analysis project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• On China: A leading resource for policymakers confronting great power competition, featuring research and multimedia on China.
• Hess Center for New Frontiers
• Dracopoulos iDeas Lab
• CSIS Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security
• Beyond Parallel

Products and services

• Policy Research and Analysis Publications In-depth policy reports, analyses, commentaries, and briefs on defense, geopolitics, economic security, technology, and global development topics, authored by CSIS resident and non-resident experts and made available for free download from csis.org.
• Podcasts Multiple podcast series including The Last Line of Defense (hosted by Seth G. Jones), CSIS The Trade Guys, The Impossible State, State Play, ChinaPower, AI Policy Podcast, Russian Roulette, and The CommonHealth, featuring expert discussions on national security and policy topics for general and professional audiences.
• Executive Education Courses Paid professional education programs including the CSIS Accelerator Series, Driving Critical Minerals Security, Global Foresight: Geopolitical Risk and Scenario Planning, and other global policy courses, designed for business leaders, government officials, and policy professionals.
• Events and Forums Conferences, briefings, press events, and public forums including the annual Global Security Forum and the Defense and Security Forum, bringing together government, industry, and academic leaders on national security and policy issues.
• Digital Features and Microsites Interactive digital features and dedicated microsites including Hidden Reach (satellite imagery analysis), Beyond Parallel (Korea-focused), China Power, Missile Threat, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, and Aerospace Security, providing ongoing topic-specific intelligence and tracking.
• Bipartisan Alliance for Global Health Security A CSIS-led initiative bringing together senior experts from government, industry, and academia to generate concrete recommendations for strengthening U.S. and global pandemic preparedness and response policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 years of shaping national security debates through nonpartisan analysis
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) / Cyber Solarium Commission 2.0coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2025CSIS partnered with FDD's Cyber Solarium Commission 2.0 to launch the Commission on Cyber Force Generation on August 4, 2025. The commission develops implementation recommendations for a potential dedicated U.S. military Cyber Force, addressing organizational structure, core functions, and necessary authorities as directed by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The initiative is co-chaired by former House Armed Services Committee staff member Josh Stiefel and retired Lieutenant General Ed Cardon, with a formal launch scheduled for September 16, 2025.
• Lockheed Martin CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLockheed Martin Corporation sponsored a CSIS event celebrating the 5th anniversary of the U.S. Space Force on December 17, 2024, held at CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
• Elara NovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElara Nova sponsored a CSIS event celebrating the 5th anniversary of the U.S. Space Force on December 17, 2024, held at CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hoover Institution: Stanford-based policy research center covering national security, economics, and foreign policy. Comparable scholar-led model and direct competition for elite media citations and senior policymaker audiences.
• Council on Foreign Relations: Elite foreign policy think tank with comparable nonpartisan analysis model, prestigious membership network, and focus on U.S. foreign policy and international security. Competes directly for policymaker mindshare.
• Brookings Institution: Premier nonpartisan policy research organization covering foreign policy, economics, and national security. Direct competitor for foundation funding, media citations, and policymaker engagement across CSIS's portfolio.
• Atlantic Council: International affairs think tank with strong focus on geopolitics, Indo-Pacific policy, and economic security—directly overlapping CSIS's Geopolitics and Foreign Policy and Economic Security departments.
• Stimson Center: Security and sustainability think tank with overlapping portfolio in defense policy, cyber, and great-power competition. Direct competitor in defense analytical work targeting policymakers and media.
• RAND Corporation: Largest U.S. national security and policy research think tank with a comparable scholar-driven model, defense analysis portfolio, and government/policymaker customer base. Directly competes for defense budget analysis and irregular warfare research.
• American Enterprise Institute: Public policy think tank covering defense, foreign policy, and economic policy. Comparable scholar-driven research model and direct competition for media citations and congressional engagement.
• Heritage Foundation: Major Washington think tank with substantial defense and foreign policy research portfolio. Competes for foundation funding, congressional citations, and media attention—particularly on defense and economic security topics.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global network think tank with similar focus on international peace, foreign policy, and economic security. Directly comparable scholar-driven research model targeting policymakers and engaged public.
• Hudson Institute: Policy research organization focused on national security, foreign policy, and economic growth. Overlapping scholar profile and direct competition for defense industry sponsorships and conservative-leaning foundation support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CSIS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/csisdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSIS.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/csis
• Instagraminstagram.com/csis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Strategic and International Studies