Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

What Manhattan Institute for Policy Research does

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank founded in 1977 and headquartered at 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City. The organization produces independent policy research and commentary across eight defined verticals: Cities, Culture, Economics, Education, Governance, Health, Public Safety, and Tech. Its core product is the manhattan.institute digital platform, which distributes issue briefs, reports, commentary, polls, books, podcasts, multimedia content, and event programming. The flagship affiliated publication, City Journal, covers urban affairs and publishes the City Journal College Rankings. Additional wholly-owned projects include the Adam Smith Society (a business student and professional community), Proxy Monitor (shareholder proposal transparency), Trial Lawyers Inc. (litigation reform), and the American Public Higher Education Reform series.

The institute does not sell products or services; it distributes content free of charge and generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations, with a prominent 'Donate' call-to-action on its website. Its go-to-market is content-led: publications, events, podcasts, and direct outreach target four broad audience segments — policymakers and government officials (primary), business leaders, the general public and media consumers, and academics. Distribution channels include a self-serve website, newsletters, City Journal, and direct events. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees and led by a President, with a staff and fellow roster that includes named scholars such as Ilya Shapiro, Brian J.A. Boyd, John D. Sailer, and James B. Meigs.

Strategically, the institute has expanded topical coverage to include a Tech vertical, published prescriptive model legislation (e.g., faculty accountability, Feb 2026), and produced dedicated AI-governance research, signaling a shift toward more direct policy advocacy outputs alongside traditional scholarship. No AI/ML products, APIs, proprietary technology, or data assets are disclosed; the technology footprint is content publishing rather than software development.

Name

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research

Legal name

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc.

Website

https://manhattan-institute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank founded in 1977 that produces independent policy research, commentary, and events across cities, economics, education, governance, health, and tech, funded by donations and distributed free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank
• Economic policy
• Urban policy
• Governance reform

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank (EIN 13-2912529), Manhattan Institute generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The institute also relies on grants to fund research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank that produces independent policy research and analysis across eight policy areas: Cities, Culture, Economics, Education, Governance, Health, Public Safety, and Tech. The organization distributes its research through publications, articles, books, podcasts, multimedia, polls, and events to inform policymakers, business leaders, and the general public. Its flagship publication is City Journal, and it operates affiliated projects such as the Adam Smith Society, Proxy Monitor, and Trial Lawyers, Inc.

Product overview

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a policy research organization that operates primarily as a content and publication platform. Its core product is the manhattan.institute website, which serves as the central hub for distributing policy research across eight focus areas: Cities, Culture, Economics, Education, Governance, Health, Public Safety, and Tech. The organization produces various content offerings including Publications (issue briefs, reports, commentary), Polls, Books, Podcasts, and Multimedia content. Key sub-brands include City Journal (an urban affairs publication) and City Journal College Rankings. The organization also hosts Events and manages several Projects including the Adam Smith Society, Proxy Monitor, Trial Lawyers Inc., and American Public Higher Education Reform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• City Journal: Policy publication and magazine covering urban affairs, culture, economics, and politics
• Adam Smith Society
• Proxy Monitor
• Trial Lawyers, Inc.
• College Rankings

Products and services

• Publications Policy research content including issue briefs, reports, and commentary pieces authored by Manhattan Institute scholars covering topics in education, governance, economics, cities, health, and technology. Distributed free to policymakers, business leaders, and the public.
• City Journal A flagship publication of the Manhattan Institute covering urban affairs, culture, and policy, featuring articles, essays, and the City Journal College Rankings for higher education evaluation.
• Polls Polling data and survey research on public opinion regarding policy issues, providing insights into citizen attitudes on various governance and social topics.
• Books Published books by Manhattan Institute scholars exploring policy topics and reform ideas.
• Multimedia Video and visual content including interviews, documentaries, and presentations on policy issues.
• Podcasts Audio podcast series featuring discussions on policy topics, interviews with scholars, and analysis of current events.
• Events In-person and virtual policy conferences, lectures, and gatherings featuring Manhattan Institute scholars and guest speakers discussing pressing policy issues, including the Hayek Lecture.
• Adam Smith Society A community of business students and professionals discussing free market contributions to human flourishing and opportunity, operated as a project of Manhattan Institute.
• Proxy Monitor A project shedding light on the influence of shareholder proposals on corporations, providing transparency on corporate governance issues.
• Trial Lawyers, Inc. A project highlighting the ramifications of litigation practices and fostering a more transparent and effective legal system, part of MI's governance and public safety policy work.
• American Public Higher Education Reform A publication series dedicated to reforming and strengthening American public higher education institutions, addressing governance, accountability, and innovation in higher education.
• City Journal College Rankings A college evaluation and ranking resource published by City Journal to help prospective students and families make informed decisions about higher education.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Adam Smith SocietycoreOthersThe Adam Smith Society is a project of Manhattan Institute, creating a community of business students and professionals who discuss free market principles and human flourishing. The society operates independently but is supported by MI's research and intellectual framework.
• Proxy MonitorcoreOthersA project of Manhattan Institute that sheds light on the influence of shareholder proposals on corporations. Provides transparency on corporate governance issues.
• Trial Lawyers, Inc.coreOthersA project highlighting the ramifications of litigation practices and fostering a more transparent and effective legal system. Part of MI's governance and public safety policy work.
• American Public Higher Education ReformcoreOthersA publication series under MI's umbrella to reform and strengthen American public higher education institutions. Addresses governance, accountability, and innovation in higher ed.
• City JournalcoreOthersManhattan Institute's flagship publication covering cities, culture, and politics. Includes the City Journal College Rankings resource for prospective students and families.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Foundation: Larger, Washington-based conservative think tank producing policy research across economics, governance, and social issues. Directly comparable to Manhattan Institute in ideological orientation and policy-research mission, but at substantially greater scale and national footprint.
• American Enterprise Institute: Major center-right policy research organization in Washington producing scholarship on economics, education, and governance. Comparable to MI in focus on free-market policy analysis and scholar-driven publications, though AEI operates at a significantly larger scale.
• Hoover Institution: Stanford-affiliated policy research center covering economics, governance, and foreign policy. Comparable to MI as a center-right think tank with strong publication output, scholar network, and donor-supported model, but with university affiliation and larger endowment.
• Cato Institute: Libertarian-leaning policy research organization producing analysis across economics, civil liberties, and governance. Comparable to MI as a 501(c)(3) think tank with publications, events, and multi-area policy coverage, though with a distinctly libertarian ideological posture.
• Brookings Institution: One of the largest centrist-leaning think tanks producing research on economics, governance, education, and urban policy. Comparable to MI in the breadth of policy areas covered and use of publications, events, and multimedia, though Brookings is far larger and ideologically different.

Direct peers

• Hudson Institute: Center-right policy research organization with similar size and orientation to MI, covering economics, governance, and technology policy. Directly comparable in operating model, donor-supported funding, and policy commentary style.
• Claremont Institute: Conservative think tank focused on constitutional governance and American political philosophy. Comparable to MI as a 501(c)(3) policy research organization with publications, events, and a focus on free-market and traditional principles.
• Reason Foundation: Libertarian nonprofit publishing Reason magazine and policy research on economics, criminal justice, and urban issues. Comparable to MI in combining policy research with a flagship magazine, free content distribution, and donor-supported revenue model.
• R Street Institute: Center-right policy research organization covering economics, insurance, and governance issues. Comparable to MI in operating model as a multi-issue think tank with publications and policy briefs aimed at state and federal policymakers.

Emerging players

• American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): Organization producing model legislation and policy research for state legislators on free-market and conservative priorities. Comparable to MI's emerging model-legislation work (e.g., higher-ed accountability bills) and shared ideological orientation, though ALEC operates a state-legislator network model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 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

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Manhattan Institute for Policy Research