What Manhattan Institute does

The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank founded in 1977 and headquartered at 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City. It operates a policy research and content-publication model: scholars produce issue briefs, commentary, books, and reports distributed primarily through its owned digital platforms, with City Journal as the flagship publication and a College Rankings research tool aimed at prospective students. The organization runs an in-house events program that includes the annual Hayek Lecture and the $100,000 Hayek Book Prize (funded by trustee Thomas W. Smith), alongside targeted policy projects such as Trial Lawyers, Inc., Proxy Monitor, and the American Public Higher Education Reform series. Its go-to-market combines thought-leadership publishing, model legislation distributed directly to state and federal policymakers (notably in higher education and criminal justice), podcasts, email newsletters, and social media amplifiers including senior fellows Christopher Rufo and James R. Copland.

Commercially, the Manhattan Institute relies on recurring donations and charitable contributions (EIN #13-2912529) augmented by tiered membership programs: the Metropolitan Society ($1,000 Member, $5,000 Council Member, $10,000+ Chairman's Circle, billed annually) and the invitation-only Empire Society for high-level engagement, with a separate Adam Smith Society community for business students and professionals. Pricing is publicly disclosed on membership tiers, while donations are solicited openly. Customer segments split between policymakers and legislators (the audience for model legislation and policy research), donors and supporters (the paying constituency for memberships and contributions), and a broader public audience reached through City Journal, podcasts, and events. Reported scale includes 101–250 employees, a lean six-person higher-education team, a dedicated ten-person California-focused team led by Christopher Rufo, and demonstrated legislative reach — model legislation on higher education was introduced in 12 states in 2023 and contributed to a wave of anti-DEI bills, 32 of which were signed into law.

Name

Manhattan Institute

Legal name

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc.

Website

https://manhattan.institute

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Manhattan Institute is a New York-based, 501(c)(3) free-market policy research think tank founded in 1977 that produces policy analysis, the City Journal publication, books, podcasts, and model legislation for state and federal policymakers, journalists, and donor members via the Metropolitan Society and Empire Society programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education Governance & Quality Policy Research (EDADADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Conservative think tank
• Public policy analysis
• Model legislation
• Political commentary

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the Manhattan Institute relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and supporters who share its mission of advancing free-market ideas and policy reform. EIN #13-2912529.
2. Membership Programs: The organization generates revenue through membership programs including Metropolitan Society (starting at $1,000 for Member level, $5,000 for Metropolitan Council Member, $10,000 for Chairman's Circle) and Empire Society (invitation-only). Members receive publications, event access, and networking opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Manhattan Institute is a nonprofit policy research organization that produces and disseminates conservative policy analysis, commentary, and model legislation. Its flagship product is City Journal, supported by policy briefs, books, podcasts, events (including the $100,000 Hayek Book Prize), and member societies, all aimed at influencing U.S. policy in cities, culture, economics, education, governance, health, public safety, and technology.

Product overview

Manhattan Institute is a conservative policy research organization founded in 1977 that operates primarily as a content publication and events platform. Its core products include City Journal (its flagship publication), policy publications and reports, authored books, podcasts, and events including the annual Hayek Book Prize and Lecture. The organization also operates member societies (Empire Society and Metropolitan Society), research projects (Trial Lawyers Inc., American Public Higher Education Reform, Proxy Monitor), and the Adam Smith Society. The College Rankings tool helps prospective students evaluate educational institutions. These offerings work together to advance the institute's mission of promoting economic freedom, fiscal responsibility, and entrepreneurial innovation through policy research and public engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City Journal: A publication of the Manhattan Institute covering urban affairs, culture, politics, and public policy.
• Adam Smith Society
• Proxy Monitor
• Trial Lawyers, Inc.
• American Public Higher Education Reform
• Empire Society
• Metropolitan Society

Products and services

• City Journal City Journal is the Manhattan Institute's flagship publication platform featuring policy analysis, commentary, and investigative journalism across areas including cities, culture, economics, education, governance, health, and public safety.
• City Journal College Rankings City Journal College Rankings helps prospective students and families evaluate colleges with analysis and rankings to inform educational decisions.
• Policy Publications Policy publications include issue briefs, reports, and commentary articles authored by Manhattan Institute scholars covering policy areas such as cities, culture, economics, education, governance, health, public safety, and technology.
• Books Books authored or published by Manhattan Institute scholars and fellows, covering topics related to policy, economics, culture, and governance.
• Podcasts Podcast content featuring interviews, discussions, and analysis by Manhattan Institute scholars on policy topics.
• Hayek Book Prize and Lecture An annual award program honoring the book published within the past two years that best reflects Friedrich Hayek's vision of economic and individual liberty, featuring a $100,000 prize and annual lecture.
• Events and Conferences Events including the annual Hayek Lecture and Book Prize, policy conferences, and other gatherings featuring scholars and thought leaders.
• Metropolitan Society Membership An exclusive network of individuals committed to safer and more prosperous cities, providing access to thought-provoking events and like-minded connections, with membership levels starting at $1,000.
• Empire Society Membership An invitation-only community of exceptional rising leaders who convene for high-level discussions with distinguished scholars, policy experts, and business executives on principles essential to human flourishing, economic dynamism, and individual liberty.
• Adam Smith Society A community of business students and professionals who discuss and debate contributions of free market toward advancing human flourishing and opportunity.
• Proxy Monitor A project shedding light on the influence of shareholder proposals on corporations.
• Trial Lawyers, Inc. A research initiative analyzing the influence of trial lawyers on various industries and public policy, aiming to highlight litigation practice ramifications and foster a more transparent legal system.
• American Public Higher Education Reform A publication series designed to inform and assist those working to improve public institutions of higher education, primarily targeting governing board members, campus administrators, legislators, and governors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Model legislation introduced in 12 states in 2023, contributing to over 150 anti-DEI bills nationally with 32 signed into law
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heritage Foundation: Largest U.S. conservative think tank with comparable policy research, model legislation, and direct engagement with federal policymakers. Operates at significantly larger scale but in the same ideological and operational space.
• American Enterprise Institute: Centrist-to-conservative think tank producing scholarly policy research on economics, education, and governance. Competes directly for media attention, donor dollars, and policy influence in overlapping topic areas.
• Claremont Institute: Conservative think tank focused on constitutional principles with strong influence in higher education reform debates — directly overlapping with MI's higher education accountability agenda.
• Hoover Institution: Stanford-based conservative-leaning policy research organization publishing books, policy briefs, and commentary. Comparable in scholarly output and donor-funded research model.
• Hudson Institute: Conservative policy research organization focused on national security, economics, and domestic policy. Similar publication cadence, event programming, and model legislation efforts.

Others

• City Journal: Technically an MI sub-brand, but as a flagship publication it competes with long-form policy magazines like The Atlantic, National Review, and Commentary for readership and author talent.
• National Review: Conservative opinion magazine and online publisher competing for the same readership and ideological voice as City Journal. Not a think tank but a peer for commentary talent and donor attention.

Regional players

• Pioneer Institute: Boston-based free-market state-level think tank producing comparable policy research on education, healthcare, and urban policy. Smaller scope but similar operational model and Massachusetts/regional focus analogous to MI's New York orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Centrist/center-left think tank that competes with MI for media coverage, policy citations, and donor mindshare in urban policy, economics, and governance — though ideologically opposite.
• Cato Institute: Libertarian think tank with broader policy portfolio and larger endowment. Overlaps with MI on free-market economics, criminal justice reform, and libertarian-leaning policy positions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ManhattanInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/ManhattanInst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manhattan-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Manhattan Institute