The Cato Institute
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
The Cato Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Cato Institute
- Legal name
- Cato Institute
- Website
- https://cato.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Cato Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Cato Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations and Grants: The Cato Institute operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through voluntary contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors who support its mission of advancing individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Cato Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Cato Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy research organization that produces independent, nonpartisan research, publications, and educational programming advancing individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. It sells no commercial products; its primary deliverables are policy studies, the annual Human Freedom Index (co-published with the Fraser Institute), Regulation Magazine, podcasts, and educational programs such as Cato University.
Product overview
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank offering a unified portfolio of policy research products and educational services rather than a technology platform. Its core offerings include publications (studies, commentary, books), the Human Freedom Index (an annual global freedom measurement), Regulation Magazine (quarterly academic journal), podcasts, and educational programs (Cato University, Cato Courses, internship/research associate programs). These products serve policymakers, researchers, students, and the general public interested in libertarian public policy analysis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cato University: Premier educational event series for college and graduate students exploring classical liberal philosophy
- Cato Podcast
- Unintended Consequences
- Regulation Magazine
- Human Freedom Index
- Libertarianism.org
- Cato Courses
Products and services
- Human Freedom Index An annual index co-published with the Fraser Institute that measures and ranks the level of personal, civil, and economic freedom across jurisdictions, used by policymakers, academics, and journalists worldwide.
- Regulation Magazine
Quantifiable outcome
- Human Freedom Index covers 165 jurisdictions representing 98% of world population
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Cato Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Cato Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Cato Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Fraser InstitutecoreCato Institute co-publishes the annual Human Freedom Index with the Fraser Institute. This partnership produces the world's most comprehensive freedom index covering 165 jurisdictions. The 2025 edition is the 11th annual report.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Cato Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Cato Institute social profiles
Digital presenceThe Cato Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Cato Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Cato Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Cato Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Cato Institute
What does The Cato Institute do?
The Cato Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy research organization that produces independent, nonpartisan research, publications, and educational programming advancing individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. It sells no commercial products; its primary deliverables are policy studies, the annual Human Freedom Index (co-published with the Fraser Institute), Regulation Magazine, podcasts, and educational programs such as Cato University.
Is The Cato Institute a public or private company?
The Cato Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Cato Institute founded?
The Cato Institute was founded in 1974. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Cato Institute based?
The Cato Institute is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Cato Institute make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Donations and Grants.
Does The Cato Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Cato Institute.