Federation of American Scientists

What Federation of American Scientists does

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization founded in 1945 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It provides evidence-based analysis and policy recommendations on science, technology, and innovation issues to federal, state, and local government stakeholders. The organization operates eight core program areas: Publications and Reports, the Day One Project (a policy entrepreneurship training platform), MetroLab (state and local innovation partnerships), the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity (environmental regulatory reform), the Nuclear Information Project (open-source tracking of global nuclear arsenals), the AI x Global Risk Nexus Project, the Talent Hub fellowship program, and a Fiscal Sponsorship Program supporting science and technology policy entrepreneurs.

FAS's underlying capabilities combine policy research, open-source intelligence, and convening infrastructure. The Nuclear Information Project tracks global nuclear arsenals across nine nuclear-armed states and applies satellite imagery analysis to monitor hyperscale AI data center development. The Day One Project operates as a platform connecting policy entrepreneurs with training through accelerators, memos, ideation campaigns, and idea challenges. The Center for Regulatory Ingenuity develops practical regulatory frameworks targeting energy, housing, and transportation sectors that collectively account for two-thirds of U.S. emissions.

The organization's business model relies on philanthropic grants and donations from foundations and mission-aligned partners, supplemented by administrative fees from its Fiscal Sponsorship Program. All research outputs — publications, policy memos, and analysis — are distributed freely through fas.org, email newsletters (FAS Roundup and Secrecy News), social media, and direct congressional briefings. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, reaching policymakers through thought leadership, research publications, convenings, and advocacy rather than paid product sales.

Name

Federation of American Scientists

Legal name

Federation of American Scientists

Website

https://fas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Federation of American Scientists is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy organization founded in 1945 that delivers evidence-based science and technology policy research to federal, state, and local governments. Its programs span nuclear security, AI governance, clean energy, regulatory reform, and government modernization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science and Technology Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Science policy research
• Nuclear weapons tracking
• AI governance analysis
• Government modernization
• Nonprofit policy analysis

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grants and Donations: FAS operates as a nonprofit organization funded through philanthropic grants, donations, and partnerships with foundations and mission-aligned organizations.
2. Fiscal Sponsorship Program: The Fiscal Sponsorship Program supports burgeoning entrepreneurs in science and technology policy, providing administrative infrastructure in exchange for program support.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that conducts evidence-based analysis and research on science and technology policy issues affecting national and international security. Founded in 1945 in Washington, DC, FAS translates complex scientific findings into actionable policy recommendations for government decision-makers and produces publications, briefings, and program initiatives on topics including nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, energy, climate, and government effectiveness.

Product overview

The Federation of American Scientists is a policy research organization (not a technology product company) that operates a portfolio of programs including publications and research reports, the Day One Project policy entrepreneurship platform, MetroLab for state and local innovation, the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity for environmental policy, the Nuclear Information Project, the AI x Global Risk Nexus Project, fellowship programs, and a fiscal sponsorship program. These programs are organizational initiatives focused on science and technology policy research, advocacy, and workforce development rather than software products or technical offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MetroLab: FAS initiative focused on state and local innovation, enabling partnerships between cities and universities to translate research into deployed solutions.
• AI x Global Risk Nexus Project
• Nuclear Information Project
• Center for Regulatory Ingenuity
• Day One Project

Products and services

• Day One Project A policy accelerator program that partners with leading thinkers to develop actionable federal science and technology policy memos for incoming administrations. Targets policymakers, academics, and policy professionals.
• MetroLab Network A national network of city and county governments partnering with universities and researchers to develop data-driven, evidence-based approaches to local challenges including infrastructure, public safety, and civic services.
• Nuclear Information Project An open-source research project tracking global nuclear weapons stockpiles, deployments, fissile material production, and proliferation risks using open data and satellite imagery analysis. Produces authoritative databases and reports for journalists, researchers, and policymakers.
• Center for Regulatory Ingenuity A program dedicated to reforming and modernizing federal regulatory processes to accelerate the responsible deployment of emerging technologies such as AI, biotechnology, and energy systems.
• AI x Global Risk Nexus Project A research initiative examining how artificial intelligence capabilities intersect with global catastrophic and existential risks, including nuclear command-and-control, biosecurity, and critical infrastructure.
• Talent Hub / Fellowship Programs Fellowship and talent placement programs that match scientists, engineers, and policy professionals with government service opportunities to strengthen technical capacity across federal agencies.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Program Fiscal sponsorship services enabling aligned science and policy projects to operate under FAS's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, providing back-office infrastructure so projects can focus on mission delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,269 public comments received on OMB grantmaking rule change, demonstrating policy influence
• +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

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Future of Life InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Joint report 'Converging Risks: AI and the Future of Global Security' examining how frontier AI systems are becoming embedded in security-critical domains. Partnership includes AI Impact Awards at gala event.
• Environmental Law InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Partner organization in the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity network, collaborating to develop creative regulatory approaches for deploying clean technologies.
• Climate Group North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Partner in the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity network working on regulatory solutions for climate and clean energy challenges.
• ICLEI USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Partner organization collaborating with FAS Center for Regulatory Ingenuity to develop regulatory approaches for state and local leaders.
• INRIXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Public-private partnership announced at TRB Annual Meeting providing university and local government teams with free access to INRIX mobility data APIs for one year to address real-world transportation challenges.
• National Science FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025NSF representatives participated in the Philanthropy Partnerships Summit hosted by FAS. Existing NSF-philanthropy partnerships include the FIRE program with Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation demonstrating collaborative funding models.
• Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Foundation involved in existing NSF-philanthropy partnerships such as the FIRE program, which demonstrated how simple structures and shared review processes enable rapid collaboration.
• Climate GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025FAS collaborated with Climate Group on the white paper 'De-Risking the Clean Energy Transition' exploring subnational climate finance strategies. Climate Group is a mission-aligned organization working to accelerate climate action.
• Center for Public Enterprise (CPE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Collaborated with CPE on the De-Risking the Clean Energy Transition report, bringing together expertise in public finance and clean energy policy implementation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Government Accountability Office (GAO): Congressional watchdog producing nonpartisan analysis of federal programs, including R&D and emerging technology. Comparable to FAS as a producer of evidence-based government effectiveness and S&T policy analysis aimed at federal decision-makers, though GAO is itself a government institution.
• MITRE Corporation: Federally funded R&D center operating multiple national FFRDCs for defense and civilian agencies. Comparable to FAS as a larger nonprofit operator of science and engineering programs in service of government, though much broader in technical scope and contract-based rather than grant-funded.

Direct peers

• Brookings Institution: Premier Washington-based think tank producing policy research across economics, foreign policy, and technology. Directly comparable to FAS as a DC-based nonprofit generating influential reports and convenings for federal policymakers across overlapping topic areas including AI, climate, and governance.
• RAND Corporation: Federally funded R&D organization producing policy research across national security, technology, and government effectiveness. Directly comparable to FAS as a nonprofit delivering evidence-based analysis to federal decision-makers, with a similar mix of defense, emerging tech, and government capacity work.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science advocacy nonprofit combining technical analysis with policy advocacy on security, climate, and emerging technology. Closely comparable to FAS in mission (independent science in service of public-interest policy), funding model (philanthropic), and use of expert-authored publications to influence federal action.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Nonprofit think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. Directly comparable to FAS in addressing international security, nuclear governance, and emerging technology risks from a policy research and convening standpoint.
• Center for American Progress (CAP): Progressive policy research and advocacy organization producing reports and policy memos across science, climate, and technology. Comparable to FAS through DC-based nonprofit research output aimed at shaping federal legislation and executive action.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: International affairs think tank producing research on nuclear policy, technology, and global governance. Directly comparable to FAS given overlapping focus on nuclear weapons tracking, AI security, and international policy analysis delivered through publications and expert engagement.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Bipartisan DC policy research organization covering defense, security, and emerging technology. Comparable to FAS through shared focus on national security, nuclear policy, AI governance, and direct engagement with federal policymakers via reports and convenings.

Emerging players

• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Environmental advocacy nonprofit combining science, economics, and policy to drive climate and clean energy outcomes. Comparable to FAS through shared work on clean energy deployment, regulatory reform, and partnerships with state/local governments; intersects on FAS's climate and regulatory ingenuity portfolios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FAScientists
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/federation-of-american-scientists
• Facebookfacebook.com/fascientists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Federation of American Scientists