The Atlantic Council

What The Atlantic Council does

The Atlantic Council is a Washington, D.C.-based, nonpartisan international affairs think tank founded in 1961. Its mission is to renew the Atlantic community for global challenges by promoting US cooperation with allies on security, economic, energy, and technology policy. The organization operates as a platform-and-portfolio model rather than a unified software product, with offerings spanning flagship events (the annual Global Energy Forum, galas, and the inaugural Europe Gulf Forum), in-depth research publications (Issue Briefs, Strategy Papers from the Scowcroft Center's GeoStrategy Initiative), rapid expert analysis products (Fast Thinking, Dispatches, the Inflection Points column by CEO Frederick Kempe), digital content (AC Intel newsletter, podcast portfolio, ACTV video platform), interactive data tools (Trump Tariff Tracker, Econographics), and specialized programs covering NATO, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.

The Council serves US and allied government policymakers (heads of state, ministers, diplomats), corporate C-suite executives, the think tank and academic community, and media. Its go-to-market is event-driven and content-driven: it convenes stakeholders at high-profile gatherings, distributes research freely through online publication platforms, and amplifies expert commentary through earned media (Fox News, Bloomberg, CNBC). The revenue model relies on foundation grants (including a recent $10 million Hewlett Foundation initiative for AI, biotech, and quantum security), corporate partnerships and sponsorships, event and conference revenue, and individual donations, with no commercial product pricing. Geographic reach spans Africa, the Americas, Europe and Eurasia, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Northern Europe (Stockholm office), and Romania (Bucharest office launched June 2025), supported by 650+ staff and fellows worldwide.

Name

The Atlantic Council

Legal name

Atlantic Council

Website

https://atlanticcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Atlantic Council is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit international affairs think tank founded in 1961 that serves allied governments, corporate leaders, and policymakers through research publications, flagship events, and convenings on global security, energy, and technology policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and International Affairs

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (9211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• International affairs analysis
• Policy research publications
• Geopolitical strategy research
• Global security studies
• Energy policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundations and Grants: The Atlantic Council receives funding from foundations, including grants such as $10 million from Hewlett Foundation to support security of emerging technologies including AI, biotechnology, and quantum computing.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: The organization partners with corporations and receives support for events and programs.
3. Events and Conferences: The Atlantic Council generates revenue through hosting galas, flagship events, and conference registrations.
4. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals to support its work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Atlantic Council is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that delivers in-depth policy analysis, research reports, strategy papers, and high-level convenings on international affairs. Its core work spans geopolitics, energy security, transatlantic cooperation, technology policy, and global security, distributed free of charge to governments, corporations, and the public.

Product overview

The Atlantic Council is a Washington, D.C.-based international affairs think tank that provides a platform-and-portfolio model rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include flagship events (Global Energy Forum), research publications (Issue Briefs, Strategy Papers), rapid analysis products (Fast Thinking, Dispatches), digital content (AC Intel newsletter, Podcasts), interactive data tools (Trump Tariff Tracker), and specialized programs/centers (GeoStrategy Initiative, GeoTech Center) addressing geopolitics, energy, technology, and security policy. The organization functions as a convening and thought leadership platform, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACTV: Atlantic Council's video platform featuring interviews, event coverage, and documentary content
• AC Intel
• Global Energy Forum
• Distinguished Leadership Awards

Products and services

• Global Energy Forum An annual high-level convening bringing together government ministers, private sector leaders, and policy experts to discuss global energy security, geopolitical dynamics, and technological innovation.
• Issue Briefs and Reports In-depth research publications from the Atlantic Council's programs and centers that break new ground, shift opinions, and set agendas on public policy, integrating foundational research with concrete policy solutions.
• Fast Thinking Rapid expert insight and forward-looking analysis delivered direct to subscribers when major global news breaks.
• AC Intel Newsletter A daily newsletter providing exclusive insight on breaking news, in-depth research on the world's defining challenges, and top moments from high-level events.
• Atlantic Council Podcasts Podcasts covering biodefense, security, and geoeconomics, featuring unfiltered insights from experts on forces shaping the global future.
• Trump Tariff Tracker An interactive tracker monitoring the evolution of Trump administration tariffs with expert context on economic conditions driving their creation and real-world impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 Global Energy Forum drew over 1,500 participants from 90 countries, making it the largest convening in the organization's 65-year history

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Antenna GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2026The inaugural Europe Gulf Forum was hosted by Antenna Group in partnership with the Atlantic Council, bringing together prime ministers, heads of state, and senior policymakers from European and Gulf nations. Participants agreed to establish the Forum as a permanent platform.
• Swedish Ministry for Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026The Atlantic Council's Northern Europe Office and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs jointly hosted a workshop in Stockholm on strengthening Europe's role within NATO, producing a published report by the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences.
• GitHubminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026GitHub joined as a new partner in Atlantic Council's expanded Secure Open Source Fund and ecosystem partnerships, which also include Datadog, Open WebUI, and OWASP. The partnership supports open source security initiatives.
• SATShow Week 2026minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center will host a panel discussion at SATShow Week 2026 focusing on international space collaboration and commercial space innovation.
• US Caribbean Maritime and Ports ForumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026The Atlantic Council's Caribbean Initiative hosted the inaugural US-Caribbean Maritime and Ports Forum in Miami to strengthen US-Caribbean cooperation across ports, shipping, and the broader maritime sector.
• E-INFRA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2025E-INFRA Group announced its status as founding member and strategic partner of Atlantic Council Romania, an initiative launched in Bucharest on June 30, 2025, aimed at promoting transatlantic cooperation, infrastructure development, and technological innovation. CEO Teofil Mureșan was appointed to the Atlantic Council International Advisory Board.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): A bipartisan DC-based policy research organization focused on defense, security, and international affairs. CSIS closely matches the Atlantic Council in mandate, programming structure, and target audience of government and corporate leaders.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A global think tank with offices across major regions producing research on international affairs, economics, and security. Carnegie shares the Atlantic Council's international policy orientation and diversified global footprint.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): The UK-based equivalent of CFR, addressing international affairs with a similar combination of research, convenings, and elite membership. Comparable in audience and convening-driven model to the Atlantic Council's work.
• German Marshall Fund (GMF): Founded in 1972 to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, GMF's mandate closely mirrors the Atlantic Council's founding mission. Both organizations produce policy research and convenings targeted at US-European policy audiences.
• Wilson Center: The Wilson Center, chartered by Congress as a living memorial to Woodrow Wilson, is a nonpartisan policy forum addressing global issues through research and convenings. It directly competes with the Atlantic Council for policymakers, fellows, and funder attention.
• Brookings Institution: One of the largest and most influential US think tanks covering foreign policy, economics, and governance. Like the Atlantic Council, Brookings combines rigorous research with high-level convenings and serves both government and corporate audiences.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): The preeminent US foreign-policy think tank, also based in New York/DC. CFR and the Atlantic Council serve overlapping audiences of policymakers, corporate leaders, and media on international affairs and have comparable memberships, publications, and convening models.

Emerging players

• Center for a New American Security (CNAS): A newer, more focused national security think tank founded in 2007. CNAS competes with the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center and GeoTech Center on defense, technology, and security policy, particularly for next-generation policy talent.

Broad incumbents

• Hudson Institute: A US policy research organization with a more conservative orientation, addressing foreign policy, national security, and economics. Hudson overlaps with the Atlantic Council on security and international affairs but with a distinct ideological posture.
• RAND Corporation: A much larger and broader policy research institution covering security, health, education, and beyond. While RAND's international affairs work competes with the Atlantic Council, its scale and government-contract orientation make it a broader incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AtlanticCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/AtlanticCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atlantic-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Atlantic Council