Truman Center

What Truman Center does

The Truman Center for National Policy (TCNP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and research institution headquartered at 600 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C., founded in 1974 and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. The organization employs 11–50 staff and is dedicated to advancing national security solutions that bridge foreign and domestic policy. It operates alongside its sister organization, the Truman National Security Project (TNSP, founded 2005), with shared executive leadership — Tony Johnson was appointed President & CEO of both organizations in June 2024. The Truman Center serves federal, state, and local government officials, national security professionals, and the American public through policy research, convening, and direct advocacy.

The organization's product portfolio centers on policy research, public convening, and interactive tools. Core offerings include the annual TruCon conference, the Award for Exceptional Moral Courage in Public Service, and a steady cadence of policy reports addressing nuclear risk, U.S.-China relations, immigration, crisis preparedness, and climate. Notable technology assets include the Multilevel Diplomacy Map — a first-of-its-kind interactive tool visualizing more than 3,000 engagements by U.S. cities and states with foreign partners — and the City & State Diplomacy Toolkit. Recent programmatic additions include the Cities' Democracy Project (May 2024), collaborating with 10 cities across five continents to address authoritarian threats at the local level, and a Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy co-hosted with the U.S. Department of State in January 2025.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Truman Center does not generate commercial revenue. Funding comes from individual donations, foundation grants (a Carnegie Corporation of New York grant is documented as supporting the Multilevel Diplomacy Map), and corporate support, all governed by intellectual independence policies. The organization employs an event-driven go-to-market motion — its flagship TruCon conference, published research, media engagement, sign-on letters, and direct advocacy to government officials at federal, state, and local levels — to reach policymakers and the public. Distribution is supported by a membership network through the Truman National Security Project and partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Meridian International Center, and Melbourne Centre for Cities.

Name

Truman Center

Legal name

Truman Center for National Policy

Website

https://trumancenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Truman Center for National Policy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institution founded in 1974 that conducts national security policy research, publishes reports, and operates programs including the TruCon conference and Multilevel Diplomacy Map, serving policymakers, city and state officials, and national security professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH), Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

Keywords

• National security policy
• Policy research
• Subnational diplomacy
• Nonprofit think tank
• Policy publications

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, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals committed to advancing national security policy for the 21st century.
2. Foundation and Corporate Support: The organization receives support from foundations and corporations, operated with intellectual independence policies.
3. Grant Funding: The interactive map was made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Truman Center is a nonprofit policy research and education institution that produces policy research reports, convenes thought leaders at its annual TruCon conference, and develops interactive tools such as the Multilevel Diplomacy Map to advance principled national security solutions. It bridges foreign and domestic policy with a focus on subnational diplomacy, climate, immigration, and nuclear nonproliferation, engaging city and state government officials alongside national security professionals.

Product overview

The Truman Center is a policy research institution offering research reports, interactive tools, and convening programs. Its core offerings include the annual TruCon conference, the Moral Courage Award, and various published reports on national security topics. The organization provides the Multilevel Diplomacy Map interactive tool and the City & State Diplomacy Toolkit as specific products. Programs include the Cities' Democracy Project which engages cities globally. The organization operates at the intersection of foreign and domestic policy, focusing on subnational diplomacy, climate and national security, immigration, and nuclear nonproliferation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multilevel Diplomacy Map First-of-its-kind interactive mapping tool that visualizes more than 3,000 unique engagements by U.S. cities and states with foreign partners, capturing formal and informal international engagements developed by local government leaders. Available to the public and updated on a rolling basis.
• City & State Diplomacy Toolkit Comprehensive resource toolkit for U.S. city and state governments designed to enhance their international engagement and diplomatic capabilities, providing frameworks and resources for subnational diplomacy initiatives.
• Cities' Democracy Project Initiative that leverages city diplomacy and city-to-city cooperation to craft solutions and tools that increase local democratic resilience against authoritarian threats. Collaborates with 10 cities across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ unique international engagements documented through the Multilevel Diplomacy Map
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Meridian International CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024Collaboration with Meridian International Center, U.S. Department of State, and Melbourne Centre for Cities to host the Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy in January 2025, a landmark two-day gathering focused on empowering city, state, and regional leaders to navigate complex global challenges.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024Partner in hosting the Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy, with the Subnational Diplomacy Unit overseeing and coordinating the State Department's engagement with mayors, governors, and local officials.
• Melbourne Centre for CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024Partner in the Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy, focusing on urban governance and amplifying urban research with international perspective.
• U.S. Conference of MayorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2024Joint survey collaboration to understand the international activities of U.S. cities, with results debuted at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atlantic Council: Nonpartisan foreign-policy think tank shaping U.S. and global policy through research, convening, and programming. Comparable as a peer institution on international-affairs research, subnational/city diplomacy programming, and federal-level engagement.
• Council on Foreign Relations: Nonpartisan think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. Directly comparable to Truman's national-security and international-affairs research, convening model, and membership-based structure.
• Stimson Center: Nonpartisan think tank working on security, defense, and international policy issues. Comparable as a mid-sized D.C. think tank publishing reports on nuclear security, climate-security, and governance.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global network of policy research centers on international peace and security. Directly comparable in substantive domain (arms control, security, diplomacy) and as a research-and-publication model, and a current funder of Truman's Multilevel Diplomacy Map via Carnegie Corporation of New York.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Bipartisan policy research organization focused on defense, security, and geopolitical issues. Closely comparable in substantive focus area (national security policy), publication cadence, and Washington-based convening.
• Meridian International Center: Nonpartisan nonprofit diplomacy and international-engagement organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Directly comparable as a peer in subnational and city-to-city diplomacy, and an active co-hosting partner of Truman's Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy.
• Brookings Institution: Major Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank conducting research across foreign policy, defense, and domestic issues. Directly comparable as a peer institution publishing policy research, convening senior officials, and operating a fellowship ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large, established policy research institution producing analysis on national security, defense, and international affairs. Comparable in substantive focus area, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader portfolio than Truman.
• Aspen Institute: Nonpartisan policy and leadership studies organization running programs on foreign policy, security, and public-policy dialogue. Comparable in convening model and nonpartisan research posture, with a broader thematic footprint than Truman.

Emerging players

• New America: Nonpartisan think tank producing policy research across domestic and international issues. Comparable as a peer research-and-convening institution; broader in domestic policy focus but with overlapping international-affairs and security programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trumancenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TrumanProjectTrumanCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/trumancenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/truman-center-for-national-policy
• Instagraminstagram.com/trumancenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Truman Center