What Stimson Center does

The Stimson Center is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank founded in 1989 and headquartered at 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The organization conducts policy research and analysis on international security, governance, trade and technology, and climate and natural resources, serving U.S. federal, foreign, and multilateral government policymakers as its primary audience. As of December 2025, Stimson employed 76 staff alongside 66 affiliates and 24 board members, organized into 12 named programs including 38 North (North Korea analysis), China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Cyber, Energy Water & Sustainability, and the Strategic Foresight Hub, with featured platforms South Asian Voices, New Security Beat, Strategic Learning, and the Global Governance Innovation Network.

Stimson's core products are research publications (policy memos, commentary, explainers, reports), data tools (the Mekong Dam Monitor covering 60 dams across the Mekong Basin and the Mining in Mainland Southeast Asia River Basins Dashboard, which uses satellite imagery to identify over 2,400 unregulated mining sites across 43 rivers), podcasts (Trialogue, Net Assessment), online courses via the Strategic Learning platform, and hosted events and convenings. The underlying technology stack combines policy research workflows with satellite imagery processing and interactive dashboard publishing; the organization explicitly studies AI applications (large language models, real-time ML classification, satellite data pipelines) through programs such as the Converging Technology and Global Security Program and the Microsoft-supported Responsible AI Fellowship.

Stimson's revenue model is grant- and donation-funded rather than commercial: the organization receives research contracts and grants from charitable foundations, governments, and multilateral organizations, supplemented by corporate and individual donations and revenue from hosted events and training. All publications, data tools, and online courses are provided free of charge. Distribution occurs through digital self-serve publishing on stimson.org, direct engagement with government and international organization clients, and earned media coverage in outlets including Associated Press, Foreign Policy, Deutsche Welle, Forbes, and National Geographic.

Name

Stimson Center

Legal name

The Henry L. Stimson Center

Website

https://stimson.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Stimson Center is a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan nonprofit think tank founded in 1989 that produces policy research, data tools, and expert analysis on international security, governance, trade and technology, and climate, serving U.S. and foreign government policymakers, multilateral organizations, and media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Policy research
• International security
• Think tank services
• Foreign policy analysis
• Security strategy

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. Research Contracts and Grants: Funded by charitable foundations, governments, multilateral organizations for research projects
2. Corporate and Individual Donations: Support from corporations and individuals to sustain independent research work
3. Event and Training Revenue: Revenue from hosting expert discussions, webinars, and training programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Stimson Center is a nonpartisan think tank that produces independent policy research, analysis, expert commentary, and convening/dialogue services on international security, governance, trade and technology, and climate and natural resources. It sells no commercial products, instead delivering its output through free publications, online courses, data dashboards, podcasts, and direct engagement with policymakers and international partners.

Product overview

The Stimson Center is a nonpartisan think tank offering research publications, policy analysis, online learning platforms, data tools, and expert dialogue programs. Its core products include research reports, policy memos, and commentary across security, trade, climate, and governance topics. Notable platforms include the Strategic Learning online course platform, the 38 North program focused on North Korea, the Strategic Foresight Hub for global risk analysis, the Cyber Program for cybersecurity research, and the Converging Technology and Global Security Program exploring AI and emerging technologies. Data tools include the Mekong Dam Monitor and Mining in Mainland Southeast Asia River Basins Dashboard. The organization also produces podcasts (Trialogue, Net Assessment) and hosts events and expert dialogues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 38 North: A program illuminating North Korea's strategic drivers to support smarter policymaking and reduce regional conflict risk.
• South Asian Voices
• New Security Beat
• Strategic Learning
• Strategic Foresight Hub
• Global Governance Innovation Network

Products and services

• 38 North Analytical program delivering strategic analysis and intelligence on the Korean Peninsula to inform Indo-Pacific policy and regional security decisions.
• Strategic Learning Platform Free online learning platform offering interactive courses, expert video lectures, multimedia explainer articles, and university partnerships focused on strategic concepts in Southern Asia.
• Strategic Foresight Hub Program providing actionable foresight and global risk analysis to policymakers, business leaders, and citizens through a network of strategic thinkers.
• Cyber Program Program developing tools and mechanisms to deter malicious cyber activity and address cyber harms through research, collaboration, and dialogue.
• Converging Technology and Global Security Program Program assessing rapidly evolving technologies such as AI, blockchain, and nuclear technology and their influence on global security challenges.
• Mekong Dam Monitor Annual satellite imagery-based monitoring system that documents how 60 dams across the Mekong Basin impacted river flow during wet and dry seasons, providing data-driven analysis of upstream dam restrictions.
• Mining in Mainland Southeast Asia River Basins Dashboard Interactive dashboard using satellite imagery to identify over 2,400 unregulated mining sites across 43 rivers in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, with environmental testing data including arsenic levels.
• Trialogue Podcast Stimson's flagship podcast featuring expert discussions on global policy, international security, and strategic studies.
• Net Assessment Podcast Podcast hosted by Chris Preble, Melanie Marlowe, and Zack Cooper debating hard choices facing America's national security.
• Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Initiative (CORVI) Initiative assessing climate and ocean risks to provide actionable insights for ocean conservation and blue economy resilience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,600 ocean commitments totaling $160 billion generated through Our Ocean Conference participation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• CAF (Development Bank of Latin America)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Collaboration on AI-driven energy transformation report for Latin America and the Caribbean, evaluating AI applications in renewable forecasting, grid modernization, and infrastructure planning. CAF and UNESCO established a Regional Council for AI ethics implementation collaborating with seven countries.
• Sasakawa Peace FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Co-hosting discussions on maritime security and blue economy resilience at the 10th Our Ocean Conference in Busan, Republic of Korea.
• World Resources InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Co-hosted presentation and discussion on critical areas of action ahead of the tenth Our Ocean Conference (OOC10), examining ocean action commitments.
• Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Action AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2025Stimson Center serves as Secretariat of the IUU Fishing Action Alliance, working to combat illegal fishing globally.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership with Microsoft's Office of Responsible AI for the Responsible AI Fellowship program. The fellowship brings together AI experts from the Global Majority to inform how AI should be developed and diffused across different regions. Fellows from Thailand, India, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries contribute perspectives on AI adoption challenges.
• Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help accelerate democratic governance, security, and sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean through the Stimson Center's Latin America Program.
• Maseno Centre for Applied Artificial IntelligenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert contributor to Stimson Center webinar on AI and the Future of Open-Source Intelligence, providing perspectives on AI-driven systems transformation.
• Global Cyber StrategiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert contributor to Stimson Center webinar on AI and the Future of Open-Source Intelligence, addressing challenges including disinformation risks and algorithmic bias.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Center for a New American Security (CNAS): Bipartisan national security think tank focused on defense, technology, and Indo-Pacific strategy. Highly comparable in mission and product mix to Stimson's security programs and Converging Technology program, with overlapping donor and policy audiences.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Nonpartisan foreign policy think tank headquartered in Washington with global centers. Mirrors Stimson's nonpartisan, field-research-driven model and its emphasis on regional programs, nonproliferation, and policy innovation. Comparable scale and similar mix of grants, publications, and convening.
• Institute for the Study of War (ISW): Nonpartisan defense and security policy research organization producing open-source analysis and maps for policymakers and media. Comparable to Stimson on open-source intelligence, field research, and direct engagement with defense and security stakeholders.
• Atlantic Council: Nonpartisan foreign policy think tank in Washington with strong programs on Indo-Pacific, Korea, cyber, and emerging technology. Closely comparable to Stimson in mission, programmatic structure, and target audience, while operating at somewhat larger scale.
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: Nonpartisan policy research center in Washington addressing global issues through scholarship, events, and fellowships. Similar nonpartisan, convener-driven model with comparable scope on international affairs, though with stronger academic-convening identity.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan think tank focused on defense, security, and foreign policy. Directly comparable to Stimson in mission (international peace and security), target audience (policymakers), and product mix (research reports, expert convening, data tools). Operates at larger scale but with overlapping programmatic focus on Indo-Pacific, cyber, and conventional defense.

Emerging players

• Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability: Smaller, niche policy research institute focused on Northeast Asian security, nonproliferation, and energy/climate issues. Comparable to Stimson's 38 North and East Asia programs but at smaller scale; competes for similar regional-security grant funding.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Larger D.C.-based policy research organization covering foreign policy, economics, and governance. Overlaps with Stimson on security, governance, and emerging technology programs. Much broader scope and budget; functions as a top-tier incumbent in the same grant and donor pool.
• RAND Corporation: Global policy research institution with deep focus on national security, defense, and Korea policy that overlaps directly with Stimson's 38 North and Conventional Defense programs. Larger, federally funded, and a direct competitor for defense and security grant dollars.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Premier U.S. foreign policy think tank with broader scope, larger membership base, and stronger media footprint than Stimson. Overlaps heavily on international security, Indo-Pacific, and Korea policy. Serves as an aspirational incumbent on the policy-influence curve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheStimsonCenter
• Xx.com/StimsonCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/stimsoncenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-henry-l.-stimson-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Stimson Center