Steve Menzies Global Foundation

What Steve Menzies Global Foundation does

The Steve Menzies Global Foundation, operating under the DBA "Bold Thinkers," is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank with an action mission founded in 2020 by Steve Menzies, an international corporate and philanthropic leader who also founded Applied Underwriters in 1994. The Foundation organizes its work around five Critical Missions: Citizen Diplomacy Logistical Support and Advisory (rescuing Americans wrongfully detained abroad, including the James Frisvold release after 13 years of Mexican detention); Professional Training and Partnered Infrastructure (exporting US nursing curricula to developing nations such as Bangladesh in partnership with the Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh and Directorate General of Health Services Bangladesh); The Advancement of Critical Thinking (educational resources for preschool through adult learners globally); COVID-19 Vaccines (supply logistics for marginalized and refugee populations); and Aligning the Stars (grants for performing artists affected by COVID-19). The Foundation engages a worldwide network of independent thinkers, entrepreneurs, former government leaders, and influential individuals who contribute their own energy, intellect, resources, and experience.

The Foundation's operating model is donor-funded rather than revenue-generating: founding donors cover all administrative expenses, most Bold Thinkers personally fund their involvement, and 100% of additional funds raised are directed to designated causes. The organization maintains no proprietary technology, with core technology explicitly listed as not applicable, and relies on direct personal engagement, advocacy, and partnerships rather than traditional commercial distribution. In February 2024, Steve Menzies formed Global Reach, a separate entity consolidating professionals and resources for the hostage rescue mission, led by Mickey Bergman (former VP of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement). The Foundation holds a global operating footprint with a New York-based headquarters, and has received recognition including the 2018 St. Vincent de Paul Medal from the College of Mount St. Vincent, a Presidential Medal from John Cabot University of Rome, and the Free Enterprise Award from the Insurance Federation of New York.

Name

Steve Menzies Global Foundation

Legal name

Steve Menzies Global Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://boldthinkers.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Steve Menzies Global Foundation (Bold Thinkers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank founded in 2020 by Applied Underwriters' Steve Menzies that engages a global network of independent thinkers to address complex social problems through five Critical Missions: hostage rescue diplomacy, US college curriculum export to developing nations, critical thinking education, COVID-19 vaccine logistics, and performing arts grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropy and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Philanthropic think tank
• Citizen diplomacy services
• Hostage rescue support
• Professional education infrastructure
• Critical thinking education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Funding: The Foundation operates primarily through founder funding and donations. Founding donors cover all administrative expenses. Most Bold Thinkers personally provide their own funding. When other funds are raised, 100% are spent explicitly on the designated cause.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Steve Menzies Global Foundation operates as a nonprofit think tank with an action mission, delivering services across five Critical Missions: providing logistical and advisory support for Americans wrongfully detained abroad, exporting US college curricula to developing nations, creating global critical thinking educational resources, coordinating COVID-19 vaccine access for marginalized populations, and granting financial support to performing artists affected by COVID-19. The Foundation engages a worldwide network of independent thinkers, entrepreneurs, and former government leaders who personally contribute intellect, resources, and execution to address complex social problems.

Product overview

The Steve Menzies Global Foundation (Bold Thinkers) operates as a think tank with an action mission, organizing its work into Critical Missions rather than traditional product lines. The foundation engages in five distinct mission areas: Citizen Diplomacy Logistical Support and Advisory (providing support for Americans held captive abroad), Professional Training and Partnered Infrastructure (linking US colleges with developing nations for education exports), The Advancement of Critical Thinking (creating educational resources globally), COVID-19 Vaccines (securing vaccine supplies for marginalized populations), and Aligning the Stars (supporting performing artists). These missions share a common framework focused on measurable impact, addressing root causes, and taking on problems others find too difficult.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Citizen Diplomacy Logistical Support and Advisory The Foundation provides financial, operational, and technical advisory support for Americans unfairly held captive or trapped abroad, often victimized or exploited by foreign governments, criminal gangs, or terrorist organizations. Cases are considered upon bona fide request from families or the US Government. Notable outcomes include the release of James Frisvold after 13 years of wrongful detention in Mexico.
• Professional Training and Partnered Infrastructure Links US colleges and universities facing fixed cost challenges with developing nations needing quality higher education programs. Arranges for US institutions to export curricula (e.g., nursing education to Bangladesh), enabling students abroad to earn American degrees while helping US colleges offset rising costs. Active partners include College of Mount Saint Vincent, Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh, and Directorate General of Health Services Bangladesh.
• The Advancement of Critical Thinking

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of raised funds directed to designated causes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Global ReachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Newly formed organization created by Steve Menzies to consolidate professionals, nonprofit and commercial resources for rescuing US citizens held hostage or wrongfully detained. Led by Mickey Bergman, former VP of Richardson Center. Continues the work of late Governor Bill Richardson.
• Richardson Center for Global EngagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization that negotiates for release of American prisoners and hostages held in hostile regimes. Founded by late Governor Bill Richardson. Steve Menzies Foundation collaborated closely over four years on hostage release missions including James Frisvold case.
• Governor Bill Richardson (1947-2023)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer New Mexico Governor and humanitarian who worked for over 20 years for release of US citizens trapped abroad. Worked face-to-face with hostile parties. Redefined public diplomacy through direct intervention approach. Passed September 2023.
• College of Mount Saint VincentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in professional training infrastructure initiatives. Dr. Charles L. Flynn, Jr. served as President Emeritus and Mission Director. College doubled enrollment and increased endowment by 900% during his tenure. Collaborates on nursing education programs.
• Armed Forces Medical College BangladeshmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in Professional Training and Partnered Infrastructure mission. Receives US nursing curriculum to build credentialed educational infrastructure for nurses in Bangladesh.
• Directorate General of Health Services BangladeshmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health authority partnering on nursing education infrastructure. Collaborates with the Foundation and US colleges to establish professional training programs.
• Jonathan FranksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on hostage rescue missions. Worked successfully with Steve Menzies on multiple missions including James Frisvold case. Demonstrated determination in bringing cases forward and resolving them.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Clinton Foundation: Foundation established by a former US political leader operating international health, education, and humanitarian programs across multiple continents. Comparable to SMGF in being a globally focused foundation led by a high-profile individual pursuing bold international initiatives.
• Rockefeller Foundation: Historic US foundation active in global public health, education, and resilience initiatives with a Smart Power global operations footprint. Comparable to SMGF as a founder-driven international grantmaking foundation addressing root-cause social problems with global operating reach.
• Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaking network founded by George Soros funding human rights, education, and independent civil society worldwide. Comparable as a private international grantmaking operation with a politically independent stance and on-the-ground implementation across multiple continents.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: One of the world's largest private grantmaking foundations, funding global health, education, and development initiatives at unmatched scale. Comparable to SMGF as a high-net-worth founder-funded foundation pursuing international grantmaking with operational discipline and 100%-to-program funding philosophy.
• Ford Foundation: Large legacy endowment-based foundation funding social justice, education, and international development globally. Comparable to SMGF in operating as a privately endowed international grantmaker targeting complex social problems across multiple regions.

Emerging players

• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Policy organization founded by a former head of government advising governments on reform, development, and geopolitics. Comparable to SMGF's 'think tank with action mission' positioning, combining intellectual analysis with on-the-ground implementation in multiple countries.

Direct peers

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Established US think tank conducting policy research and engaging governments on international peace and security issues. Comparable to SMGF's self-described 'think tank with an action mission' framing, though with a research-led rather than direct-action delivery model.
• Berghof Foundation: European foundation supporting conflict transformation, peace policy research, and related field operations. Comparable to SMGF as a private foundation combining policy analysis with direct engagement on difficult geopolitical and humanitarian issues.
• Richardson Center for Global Engagement: Nonprofit founded by the late Governor Bill Richardson that negotiates for release of American prisoners and hostages held in hostile regimes. Directly comparable as a co-partner organization with SMGF on hostage rescue missions including the James Frisvold case, and the institutional precursor to the new Global Reach spin-off.
• Hostage US (formerly the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation): US nonprofit dedicated to supporting American families and hostages held abroad and advocating for policy reforms on hostage recovery. Directly comparable to SMGF and Global Reach on the hostage diplomacy and wrongful detention mission, with overlapping beneficiary constituencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/The_SMGF
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSMGF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-steve-menzies-global-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Steve Menzies Global Foundation