Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute is a Seattle-based nonprofit public policy think tank founded in 1991 that operates eight program centers covering intelligent design research, education reform, AI and human exceptionalism, free-enterprise economics, and religious liberty, serving policymakers, scholars, parents, and the general public through donor-funded memberships, books, podcasts, and research publications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Discovery Institute does
Discovery Institute is a Seattle-based nonprofit public policy think tank founded in 1991 by Bruce Chapman and George Gilder, organized around eight program centers spanning intelligent design research (Center for Science and Culture), education reform (American Center for Transforming Education), AI and human exceptionalism (Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence), bioethics and human dignity (Center on Human Exceptionalism), free-enterprise economics (Center on Wealth and Poverty), regional development (Cascadia Center), leadership development (Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership), technology policy (Technology and Democracy Project), and religious liberty (Program on Religion, Liberty, and Civic Life). It does not develop commercial technology products; its outputs are research publications, books, podcasts (ID the Future, Mind Matters, Humanize), multimedia content, online courses via DiscoveryU, conferences, and a theatrical documentary released through Fathom Entertainment in April–May 2026.
The institute's core technology and value creation rests on a global network of credentialed fellows and senior fellows (including Cambridge PhD Stephen C. Meyer, biochemist Michael Behe, and mathematician William Dembski) combined with a 30+ year content library. Distribution spans owned digital properties (discovery.org, scienceandculture.com, idthefuture.com, mindmatters.ai, humanexceptionalism.center), Amazon and Barnes & Noble retail, YouTube, email newsletters, and a Zazzle merchandise storefront. Operations are supported by 11–50 staff across Seattle (HQ) and a Dallas regional office.
Its revenue model is donor-funded rather than commercial, with a four-tier membership program (Contributor under $300/year, Discovery Society $300+/year, Director's Circle $1,500+/year, President's Circle $5,000+/year) tied to benefits such as event invitations, publications, and private briefings. Secondary commercial revenue comes from book sales through Discovery Institute Press and ticket revenue from the theatrical documentary. Customers are segmented into education stakeholders (policymakers, parents, educators), scientists and academics, and a general policy-minded public interested in free markets, limited government, and human dignity, with no disclosed enterprise customer concentration.
Discovery Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Discovery Institute
- Legal name
- Discovery Institute
- Website
- https://discovery.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Discovery Institute is a Seattle-based nonprofit public policy think tank founded in 1991 that operates eight program centers covering intelligent design research, education reform, AI and human exceptionalism, free-enterprise economics, and religious liberty, serving policymakers, scholars, parents, and the general public through donor-funded memberships, books, podcasts, and research publications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Discovery Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Research
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)
Keywords
Where Discovery Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Discovery Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donor Memberships: Discovery Institute relies on member donations to fund its operations. General membership contributions support all programs. Donors can direct gifts to specific programs including the Center for Science & Culture, Bradley Center for Natural & Artificial Intelligence, Center on Wealth & Poverty, Discovery Institute Press, Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership, American Center for Transforming Education, Center on Human Exceptionalism, Technology & Democracy Project, and ACES Northwest Network. Benefits scale with donation levels: Contributor (under $300/year), Discovery Society ($300+/year), Director's Circle ($1,500+/year), and President's Circle ($5,000+/year).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Contributor — less than $300 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Discovery Society — $300 or more per year |
| Subscription | Annual | Director's Circle — $1,500 or more per year |
| Subscription | Annual | President's Circle — $5,000 or more per year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels13 records
Discovery Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Discovery Institute is a nonprofit public policy think tank that sponsors research, publishes books and articles, produces podcasts and documentaries, and runs advocacy programs across intelligent design science, free-market economics, education reform, technology policy, and human exceptionalism. It operates multiple research centers and programs, publishes through Discovery Institute Press, distributes content via podcasts (ID the Future, Mind Matters, Humanize), and engages supporters through conferences, online courses (DiscoveryU), and donor memberships.
Product overview
Discovery Institute is a public policy think tank organized as a multi-program organization rather than a single product. It operates numerous research centers including the Center for Science and Culture (intelligent design research), American Center for Transforming Education, Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence, Center on Human Exceptionalism, Center on Wealth & Poverty, Cascadia Center, Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership, and Technology & Democracy Project. The institute produces publications including books through Discovery Institute Press, podcasts (ID the Future, Mind Matters), videos, and the Science & Culture Today online publication. It also offers educational programs through DiscoveryU, sponsors conferences and summer seminars, and publishes the Fix Homelessness initiative. These programs collectively advance the institute's mission of promoting purpose, creativity, and innovation through research, education, and cultural renewal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Center for Science and Culture: The institutional hub for scientists, educators, and scholars who support intelligent design theory. Runs research programs, educational initiatives, and produces multimedia content.
- Center on Wealth & Poverty
- American Center for Transforming Education (ACTE)
- Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence
- Technology and Democracy Project
- Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership
- Cascadia Center for Regional Development
- Center on Human Exceptionalism
- Program on Religion, Liberty, and Civic Life
Products and services
- Center for Science and Culture
Companies that use Discovery Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Discovery Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Discovery Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- American Center for Transforming EducationminorDiscovery Institute's American Center for Transforming Education co-branded content and appearances with the Futures Edge program, featuring Dr. Keri D. Ingraham discussing education freedom and Department of Education reform topics. This represents a media partnership for content distribution.
- Fathom EntertainmentcoreFathom Entertainment partnered with Sypher Studios and the Discovery Institute to release the documentary 'The Story of Everything' in U.S. theatres nationwide from April 30 to May 6, 2026. Fathom handled theatrical distribution for the five-year production effort, bringing the intelligent design documentary to mainstream audiences across the United States.
- Sypher StudioscoreSypher Studios produced the documentary 'The Story of Everything' in partnership with the Discovery Institute. The film, a five-year production effort, was executive produced by Lee Strobel and featured Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, Jay W. Richards, and other Discovery Institute fellows. Sypher Studios handled production while Discovery Institute served as the primary backer.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Discovery Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- First Things: Religion and public life publication and institute addressing faith, moral reasoning, and policy. Comparable through its integrated publishing/journal model and overlapping intellectual orientation with Discovery Institute's religion and human dignity programs.
- Russell Kirk Center: Conservative intellectual institution focused on moral and cultural renewal through publications, lectures, and fellowships. Smaller-scale but highly comparable in combining thought-leadership content, events, and donor cultivation around traditional/conservative ideas.
Broad incumbents
- American Enterprise Institute: Large center-right policy research institute covering economics, education, science, and technology policy. Comparable structure and book-publishing operation; serves similar donors and policymakers at larger scale.
- Heritage Foundation: Largest U.S. conservative public policy think tank. Directly comparable as a multi-program policy organization producing research, books, podcasts, events, and donor membership programs with a similar ideological orientation and operating model.
- Cato Institute: Libertarian public policy think tank with multiple centers producing scholarship, books, and multimedia content. Comparable as a donor-supported policy research organization with a strong content-publishing arm.
- Hudson Institute: Conservative-leaning think tank producing policy research across economics, national security, and technology. Comparable as a multi-center, donor-funded research operation producing books, op-eds, podcasts, and events.
- Hoover Institution: Stanford-affiliated policy research institution with multiple programs covering economics, political philosophy, and education reform. Comparable in producing books, podcasts, conferences, and a fellow-driven research model with overlapping policy themes.
Direct peers
- Acton Institute: Think tank connecting free-market economics with religious and moral traditions. Closely comparable to Discovery Institute's intersection of free enterprise advocacy (Center on Wealth & Poverty) and faith-based policy work.
- Ethics and Public Policy Center: Washington-based public policy research institute focused on bioethics, religion, American founding principles, and human dignity. Highly comparable program structure to Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism and Program on Religion, Liberty, and Civic Life.
- Claremont Institute: California-based institution centered on American founding principles, constitutional thought, and statesmanship. Direct overlap with Discovery Institute's recent publication Endowed by Our Creator and engagement with the Declaration's original meaning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Discovery Institute social profiles
Digital presenceDiscovery Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Discovery Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Discovery Institute subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Discovery Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Discovery 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 Discovery Institute
What does Discovery Institute do?
Discovery Institute is a nonprofit public policy think tank that sponsors research, publishes books and articles, produces podcasts and documentaries, and runs advocacy programs across intelligent design science, free-market economics, education reform, technology policy, and human exceptionalism. It operates multiple research centers and programs, publishes through Discovery Institute Press, distributes content via podcasts (ID the Future, Mind Matters, Humanize), and engages supporters through conferences, online courses (DiscoveryU), and donor memberships.
Is Discovery Institute a public or private company?
Discovery Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Discovery Institute founded?
Discovery Institute was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Discovery Institute based?
Discovery Institute is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Discovery Institute make money?
One revenue line is on record: donor Memberships.
Who are Discovery Institute's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are First Things and Russell Kirk Center. Broad incumbents are American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Hudson Institute and Hoover Institution. Direct peers are Acton Institute, Ethics and Public Policy Center and Claremont Institute.
Does Discovery Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Discovery Institute.
What industry is Discovery Institute in?
Discovery Institute's product category is Public Policy Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes, with a secondary code of EDADADAA, Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8731.