The Fund for American Studies

What The Fund for American Studies does

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit founded in 1967 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. (1706 New Hampshire Avenue NW). It operates more than 30 academic programs, fellowships, and seminars spanning high school leadership (Foundation for Teaching Economics, merged 2019), undergraduate D.C. Academic Internship Programs offering multiple tracks (International Affairs, Public Policy + Economics, Journalism + Communications, Business + Government Relations, Leadership + the American Presidency), international programs (Prague since 1993, Santiago since 2008; Hong Kong program paused post-2019), and professional development fellowships including the Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship, Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship, Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship at The Wall Street Journal, Summer Law Fellowship through the Antonin Scalia Law School, and the Center for Excellence in Journalism. Academic credit is provided through George Mason University and Charles University Prague partnerships.

TFAS does not operate proprietary technology; its core product is curriculum-based academic programming on the principles of individual liberty, free-market economics, and limited government, delivered through in-person residency programs, virtual formats adopted during COVID-19, weekend seminars (Capitol Hill Lecture Series, Curriculum of Liberty), and digital resources (Teaching Freedom library, Liberty + Leadership podcast). Distribution leverages 300+ Washington, D.C. internship host organizations, a 53,000+ alumni network spanning 140+ countries, and 30+ regional alumni chapters.

Revenue is generated through individual donations ($50 to $5,000+ tiers), corporate and foundation sponsorships (API, Comcast, PhrMA, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, BP America, Chevron, ExxonMobil among named sponsors), event ticket sales and gala sponsorships (Bronze $1,000 to Platinum $10,000+), and a $400 Summer Law Fellowship program fee; tuition and housing for most programs are scholarship-funded. Notable inputs include a multi-million-dollar Engalitcheff bequest (early 1990s), a $1 million Woodhouse endowment (2024), and ongoing support from the Einhorn Family Foundation for the Capitol Hill Lecture Series.

Name

The Fund for American Studies

Legal name

The Fund for American Studies

Website

https://tfas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TFAS is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit founded in 1967 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., running more than 30 academic programs, fellowships, and seminars for high school students, undergraduates, and early-career professionals on the principles of individual liberty and free-market economics, serving a 53,000+ alumni network across 140+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Services / Nonprofit Civic Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Third-Party Short-Term Academic Program Providers (Multi-Discipline) (EDAIAIAB), University/Institutional Scholarships & Tuition Waivers (EDAIAOAG)

Keywords

• Educational nonprofit programs
• Civic education fellowships
• Leadership development training
• Economic education seminars
• Journalism fellowship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: TFAS relies heavily on individual donations from supporters who believe in its mission. Donation tiers mentioned include $50, $100, $500, $1,000, and $5,000. Alumni giving day campaigns and major gift programs support revenue generation.
2. Corporate and Foundation Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (API, Comcast, PhRMA, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, BP America, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, etc.) and foundation support fund programs, fellowships, and events. Sponsorship tiers for events range from Bronze ($1,000) to Platinum ($10,000+).
3. Event Revenue: Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner, Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner, and regional conferences generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships. The 36th Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner features various sponsorship tiers from Bronze to Platinum.
4. Program Fees: Most TFAS programs offer full scholarships covering tuition and housing. The Summer Law Fellowship charges a $400 program fee upon enrollment, though provides full scholarships for tuition and housing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TFAS is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit that designs and delivers more than 30 academic programs, fellowships, and seminars teaching the principles of individual liberty, free-market economics, and limited government to high school students, college students, young professionals, and early-career journalists. Offerings include D.C. summer and semester internship programs accredited by George Mason University, international programs in Prague and Santiago, the Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship, the Summer Law Fellowship in partnership with the Antonin Scalia Law School, journalism fellowships under the Center for Excellence in Journalism (Robert Novak, Joseph Rago, Journalism Excellence, Media Accelerator), and high school programs through the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE). Programs are largely scholarship-funded and combine classroom instruction, internships, guest lectures, and professional development.

Product overview

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization offering a diverse portfolio of more than 30 academic programs, fellowships, and seminars collectively referred to as the 'TFAS Journey.' The organization operates across multiple educational segments: high school programs through the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE); undergraduate D.C. Academic Internship Programs offering multiple tracks (International Affairs, Public Policy + Economics, Journalism + Communications, Business + Government Relations); international programs in Prague, Santiago, and previously Asia; professional development fellowships including Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship and Summer Law Fellowship; and journalism programs through the Center for Excellence in Journalism (including Robert Novak Fellowship, Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship, Journalism Excellence Fellowship, and Media Accelerator Fellowship). Additional offerings include seminars (Capitol Hill Lecture Series, Donald Devine Seminars, Curriculum of Liberty), the TFAS Washington Fellowship semester program, online resource libraries (Freedom & Tradition Online Library, Teaching Freedom), and the Liberty + Leadership Podcast. Programs are accredited through partnerships with George Mason University, Charles University, and the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE): High school academic leadership programs that introduce young people to economic way of thinking and promote excellence in economic education
• Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship
• Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program
• Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism
• TFAS Washington Fellowship
• Center for Excellence in Journalism
• Capitol Hill Lecture Series
• TFAS Asia
• TFAS Prague
• TFAS Santiago

Products and services

• TFAS D.C. Academic Internship Programs Summer and semester academic internship programs in Washington, D.C. offering academic credit through George Mason University (12 credits per semester or 6+ in summer), internship placement with 300+ D.C. organizations, furnished housing, guest lectures, site briefings, and professional development. Tracks include International Affairs, Public Policy + Economics, Journalism + Communications, Business + Government Relations, and Leadership + the American Presidency. More than 400 student leaders participate annually.
• Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) High School Programs High school programs introducing students to free-market economic thinking and supporting high school economics teachers with professional development. Includes Economics for Leaders (EFL), Environment & the Economy (E&E), and Entrepreneurship in the Global Economy (EGE) for students, and teacher training accredited through the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. More than 15,000 high school teachers have participated and FTE-trained teachers reach more than 200,000 students annually.
• Woodhouse Public Policy Fellowship Year-long professional development fellowship for young professionals working in public policy in Washington, D.C. Includes monthly discussions, fall retreats at Russell Kirk Center, and spring retreats in Philadelphia, exploring philosophical underpinnings of American political life, fusionism, and conservative thought. 19 fellows participated in the 2025-26 cohort.
• TFAS Summer Law Fellowship Intensive nine-week summer program in Washington, D.C. for law students, providing two credit hours of coursework on Constitutional Originalism and Law & Economics through the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, legal internships, guest lectures, site briefings, and professional development. Highly selective with 25-30 students annually.
• TFAS Center for Excellence in Journalism Umbrella initiative for TFAS journalism training programs, including the Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship (nine-month WSJ internship), Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship ($35,000 grants), Journalism Excellence Fellowship at The Boston Globe and The Washington Post Opinion, Media Accelerator Fellowship, and Student Journalism Association.
• TFAS Asia International Program International program in Asia (formerly Hong Kong) bringing together young leaders from across Asia and the United States for three-week study of principles of free society. Currently paused following political changes in Hong Kong.
• TFAS Prague International Program International program in Prague, Czech Republic, launched in 1993, accredited through Charles University, bringing together approximately 100 students from North America, Europe, Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. Courses cover political and economic foundations of free society.
• TFAS Santiago International Program Latin America program in Santiago, Chile, established in 2008, for emerging leaders from Latin America and beyond to explore American founding principles and free society concepts in a global context.
• Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Year-long fellowship program supporting young journalists with $35,000 in grant money to pursue journalism projects supportive of principles of free society at outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Reason, National Review, and others. Nearly 200 fellowships have been awarded since merging into TFAS in 2013.
• Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism Nine-month internship with The Wall Street Journal editorial team providing $6,000 monthly salary. Up to three fellows selected annually in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joseph Rago. The Novak Program has supported more than 140 Rago Fellowship alumni.
• Journalism Excellence Fellowship Inaugural 9-12 month fellowship placing journalists at The Boston Globe Opinion and The Washington Post Opinion to develop writers who engage complex issues thoughtfully and contribute original reporting to national conversations. First cohort (2026-27) includes Daniel Idfresne and Ashley Dowdney.
• Media Accelerator Fellowship Nine-month program launched in 2024 to help young journalists identify and develop their beats and enhance reporting skills. Part of the Center for Excellence in Journalism.
• TFAS Washington Fellowship Spring and fall semester fellowship program launched in 2023, providing 12 credits from George Mason University, guaranteed internship placement, furnished housing in D.C., and $1,000 living stipend. Focus areas include International Affairs + Public Policy and Leadership + the American Presidency.
• TFAS Seminars and Lectures Weekend seminars and lecture series including the Capitol Hill Lecture Series (in partnership with Sen. Rand Paul, attracting 1,000+ interns annually), Donald Devine Seminars, Future of Freedom Luncheon Forum, Frank Meyer Society Dinners, Fusionist Roundtable, and Curriculum of Liberty Seminars (in partnership with Liberty Fund).

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% of TFAS Students strongly agreed that capitalism is the best way to ensure human well-being and individual empowerment, compared to just 20% at the start of the program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• The Wall Street Journal / Rago FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, the Rago family and The Wall Street Journal collaborated to create the Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism in tribute to Joe Rago's commitment to trustworthy reporting. Provides nine-month internship with WSJ editorial team.
• Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016In 2016, TFAS entered into partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute to launch Leadership and the American Presidency (LTAP) summer and semester program examining lessons from the American presidency.
• George Mason UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Academic partnership secured in 2013 allowing students to earn credit for TFAS courses through George Mason University. World-renowned economics department provides ideal fit for TFAS programs requiring every student to take free-market economics courses. TFAS Washington Fellowship students earn 12 credits from George Mason University. Summer programs also accredited through GMU.
• Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Strategic partnership established in 2013 and formal merger completed in 2019, bringing FTE's programs for high school teachers and students under TFAS umbrella. FTE introduces high school students to economic way of thinking. More than 15,000 high school teachers have participated in FTE training programs.
• Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The prestigious Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship Program was merged into TFAS in 2013. The program supports early-career journalists with $35,000 grants to pursue projects advancing constitutional principles and free society.
• Charles University (Prague)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993TFAS Prague's longtime academic partner, Charles University in Prague. Launched in 1993 following fall of Berlin Wall, bringing together students from former Soviet bloc countries.
• Liberty Fund, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Liberty Fund, Inc. for Curriculum of Liberty Seminars implementing Socratic-style discussion model based on works of Locke, Smith, Hayek and Bastiat.
• Sen. Rand PaulmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapitol Hill Lecture Series on 'Free Markets, Individual Liberty and Civil Society' held in partnership with Sen. Rand Paul, attracting 1,000+ interns annually.
• University of Colorado, Colorado SpringscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTE programs accredited through University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Graduate level credit available for teacher programs. Students can earn two semester hours of undergraduate credit for EFL and EHFL programs.
• Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw Fellowship provides two credit hours of coursework on Constitutional Originalism and Law & Economics through the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.
• Watergate HotelminorOthersVenue for 36th Annual TFAS Scholarship Awards Dinner on July 15, 2026 in Washington D.C.
• Metropolitan Club (NYC)minorOthersVenue for 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner on November 10, 2026 in New York City.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI): ISI is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes conservative principles among college students through reading programs, seminars, and publications. Like TFAS, ISI cultivates young leaders for careers in public policy, journalism, and academia, with a similar alumni-network-driven model.
• Young America's Foundation (YAF): YAF runs conservative student conferences, internship programs, and campus activism training. It is directly comparable to TFAS as a youth-focused ideological leadership pipeline offering scholarships, conferences, and networking to high school and college students.
• Leadership Institute: LI provides conservative political training, internships, and career placement in Washington, D.C. Its campaign, communications, and fundraising schools closely parallel TFAS's D.C. internship model and public policy fellowship offerings.
• Claremont Institute: Claremont runs the Publius Fellowship, American Mind programs, and constitutional studies seminars targeting college students and young professionals. Its emphasis on American founding principles and conservative intellectual training mirrors TFAS's curriculum and political philosophy.
• Institute for Humane Studies (IHS): IHS is a classical liberal educational nonprofit offering student fellowships, faculty support, and career programs. Its free-market orientation, student focus, and college-level programming make it a strong peer to TFAS's economics and liberty curriculum.
• Students For Liberty: SFL is a global student organization promoting libertarian ideas through campus groups, conferences, and online courses. Comparable to TFAS in mission, student focus, and international reach, though it operates with a more decentralized student-led model.
• National Journalism Center: NJC provides journalism training, internships, and fellowships in Washington, D.C. for conservative and libertarian students. It is a direct peer to TFAS's Novak and Rago journalism fellowship programs in both format and ideological focus.

Broad incumbents

• Acton Institute: Acton is a think tank and educational nonprofit that promotes liberty and free-market economics through publications, university partnerships, and student programs. It shares TFAS's intellectual mission but focuses more on scholarly output than student placement.
• Charles Koch Foundation / Stand Together: Stand Together supports a broad network of educational and policy nonprofits promoting free-market ideas, including student programs, faculty grants, and fellowship pipelines. Comparable to TFAS at a larger scale and broader programmatic scope.
• Hillsdale College: Hillsdale is a private liberal arts college whose commitment to American founding principles and free-market economics aligns with TFAS's curriculum. Featured on TFAS's own podcast (e.g., Bradley Birzer episodes), it serves a related student demographic in classical liberal education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tfasorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/tfasorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-fund-for-american-studies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Fund for American Studies