Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

What Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics does

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is a non-profit civic education center and political archive housed within the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. Founded in 2004 and named after Senator Bob Dole, the institute operates a free-admission museum and gallery featuring rotating exhibits, an architectural-scale stained-glass American flag, a September 11 memorial, and permanent displays on the lives of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole. Its core offerings include the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections — one of the largest Congressional archives in the country — a public programming series (Dole Forum, Dole Leadership Prize, Presidential Lecture Series, Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture), K-12 and university civic education programs, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, and rentable event facilities (Rhodes Conference Room, Simons Media Room, Hansen Hall).

The institute is structured as a hybrid museum, archive, and civic programming platform with no proprietary technology stack. Underlying delivery is built around a physical destination (open Tuesday–Sunday), an online archival search portal (dolearchivecollections.ku.edu), a self-serve Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall (kansasveterans.doleinstitute.org), and a YouTube archive of recorded programming under the "Doleman2007" channel. No AI/ML, software-as-a-service product, or commercial technology offering is present.

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: state funding allocated via the University of Kansas parent institution, individual and organizational donations (including a $20-suggested tier for veteran wall submissions), and facility rentals priced at $150–$1,000 per event plus overhead. Customer segments span KU students, K-12 students and teachers, Kansas veterans and military families, the general public, academic researchers, and institutional facility-rental clients. Go-to-market is event-driven, leveraging a public programming calendar, multi-channel digital marketing (email newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube), and partnerships with KU affiliates, the Lied Center, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.

Name

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

Legal name

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics

Website

https://doleinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is a University of Kansas-affiliated non-profit civic education center and Congressional archive. It operates a free public museum, archives, civic programming, veteran recognition initiatives, and event facility rentals serving students, veterans, researchers, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education and Political Archives

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Political Organizations (813940)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Civic education
• Political archives
• Museum exhibits
• Leadership programs
• Public policy forums

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The institute accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support its operations, educational programs, and initiatives like the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall ($20 suggested donation for veteran submissions).
2. Facility Rentals: The institute generates revenue by renting its facilities (Rhodes Conference Room, Simons Media Room, Hansen Hall) to KU academic departments, student organizations, government meetings, and non-profit events. Room rates range from $150-$1,000 plus additional fees.
3. KU State Support: As part of the University of Kansas, the institute receives institutional funding through state support allocated to the university.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics operates a public museum, gallery, and Congressional archive dedicated to the legacy of Senator Bob Dole, located on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas. It delivers civic education programming, leadership convenings (notably the Dole Forum and Dole Leadership Prize), K-12 civic learning initiatives, student fellowships and advisory programs (Youth Civic Leadership Institute, Student Advisory Board), and on-site facility rentals. Its primary holdings are described as one of the largest collections of Congressional papers in the United States.

Product overview

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is a university-affiliated museum and civic education center that operates as a unified offering combining physical visitor experiences with digital resources. Its core offerings include the Museum & Galleries featuring rotating special exhibits and the permanent Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall installation; public programming through the Dole Forum, Dole Leadership Prize, and Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture series; educational services encompassing K-12 programs, Youth Civic Leadership Institute, and civic engagement initiatives; The Robert & Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections providing research access to Congressional materials; and facility rental services for university and nonprofit events. The institute serves as both a museum honoring the legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole and as a living civic education center promoting bipartisan political participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall: Digital database and permanent installation honoring Kansas veterans from World War II to present, featuring thousands of veteran profiles.
• Dole Forum
• Dole Leadership Prize
• Elizabeth Dole Women in Leadership Lecture
• Presidential Lecture Series
• Student Advisory Board

Products and services

• Dole Institute Museum and Gallery Public museum and gallery space housing permanent and rotating exhibits on the life, career, and legacy of Senator Bob Dole and on U.S. political history; free admission for general public visitors, students, families, and researchers.
• Congressional Archives Research Access On-site and remote research access to one of the largest collections of Congressional papers in the United States, supporting historians, faculty, students, journalists, and members of the public conducting research on Senator Bob Dole and U.S. political history.
• Dole Forum Public Convening Series Recurring public forum and lecture series convening national civic, policy, and political leaders at the Institute for discussions open to students, faculty, and the general public.
• Dole Leadership Prize Annual leadership award and accompanying public program honoring individuals whose public service reflects Senator Bob Dole's bipartisan civic legacy.
• K-12 Civic Education Program Classroom and field-trip-aligned civic education programming for K-12 schools and districts, leveraging the Institute's archives and exhibits to teach American government and political history.
• Youth Civic Leadership Institute Student fellowship program providing structured civic leadership training, mentorship, and project-based experience for University of Kansas students and area high school participants.
• Student Advisory Board Student advisory body supporting the Institute's programming decisions, providing undergraduate input on events and initiatives, and offering student members structured leadership experience.
• Facility Rentals Rental of the Institute's event spaces for meetings, receptions, and external events, offered to organizations, sponsors, and private clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22 million children fed through McGovern-Dole program in 41 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

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

• Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States SenatemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Joint initiative partner for the Bolstering Elections Initiative, producing reports on election funding and practices for resilient elections at state and local levels.
• Presidential Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded WarriorscoreOthers · 1 January 2001Senator Dole was appointed to investigate challenges faced by returning veterans and recommend improvements to veteran care.
• International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)minorOthers · 1 January 2001Senator Dole served as chairperson from 1997-2001, helping locate missing persons from armed conflicts and natural disasters.
• University of KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dole Institute is a constituent part of the University of Kansas, located on the KU campus. The university provides institutional support, academic affiliation, student access, and administrative services.
• Lied Center of KansasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for the Sunday Jayhawk Jukebox music series, bringing live performances to the Dole Institute in partnership with KU School of Music.
• KU School of MusicmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for music programming, contributing to the Sunday Jayhawk Jukebox series and cultural events at the institute.
• Gilder Lehrman Institute of American HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of the 'Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy' special exhibit commemorating America at 250.
• Humanities KansasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloper of the 'Kansas in 1776' special exhibit providing insight into the Kansas landscape during the founding of the nation.
• U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort LeavenworthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Ft. Leavenworth Series of lectures on military history presented by CGSC faculty, bringing military history programming to the Dole Institute.
• Honor Flight NetworkcoreOthersSenator Dole serves as Honorary Advisor, supporting the program that flies veterans to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.
• Bipartisan Policy CenterminorOthersSenator Dole served on the advisory board of the Bipartisan Policy Center, dedicated to creating bipartisan solutions to national problems.
• World War II Memorial CommissioncoreOthersSenator Dole served as National Chairman of the WWII Memorial Commission, leading fundraising and construction efforts for the memorial.
• University Press of KansasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for author events, providing book sales and author signings at Dole Institute programming.
• KU CateringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive catering provider for facility rental events at the Dole Institute, required for all events serving food.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bipartisan Policy Center: Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on bipartisan policy solutions. Senator Dole served on its advisory board; the mission of fostering civil dialogue and policy research overlaps closely with the Dole Institute's bipartisan civic engagement focus.
• Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: National nonprofit offering K-12 American history programs, teacher training, and traveling exhibitions. Directly comparable as the co-developer of the 'Declaration 1776' exhibit and as a peer in history-based civic education programming.
• Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum: Kansas-based presidential archive and museum, providing a particularly close regional and topical comparison to the Dole Institute given the Kansas shared heritage and military service narrative.
• George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum: Texas A&M-affiliated presidential archive and museum focused on U.S. political history and civic programming. Comparable in mission, archive depth, and university/government partnership structure.
• National Constitution Center: Independence Mall-based nonprofit civic education museum interpreting American political history and constitutional principles. Directly comparable as a free-admission civic education destination serving students, families, and scholars.
• Truman Library Institute: Presidential library and museum in Independence, Missouri, operated in partnership with the National Archives. Closely comparable as a senator/president-focused archive, museum, and civic education institution in the Midwest.
• Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate: University-affiliated Senate archive and civic education institute in Boston. It mirrors the Dole Institute's bipartisan mission, museum/education programming, and Congressional archive focus, and is already a direct collaboration partner on the Bolstering Elections Initiative.
• Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Nationally prominent presidential archive, museum, and public programming venue. Comparable in combining a Congressional/presidential archive with a museum, events programming, and donor-supported operations.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Washington, D.C.-based public policy research organization operating at much larger scale. Comparable as a major civic-facing institution producing substantive research and convenings, but operates a portfolio far broader than the Dole Institute's niche.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Federally operated national museum with significant holdings of American political, social, and cultural artifacts. Comparable as an institution serving the public interest in American political history, but at vastly larger scale and federal funding base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DoleInstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Doleman2007
• Facebookfacebook.com/DoleInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-dole-institute-of-politics
• Instagraminstagram.com/doleinstituteofpolitics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics