The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies

Name

The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies

Legal name

Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies, Inc.

Website

https://dfipolicy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, DFI relies on donations and grants from individuals, foundations, and organizations that support conservative education policy. The organization's 2025 Annual Report indicates it receives funding from various philanthropic sources including the Bradley Impact Fund and DonorsTrust (though these are noted as funding Defending Education, a partner organization).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DFI is an independent nonprofit policy institute that conducts policy research, files federal civil rights complaints and amicus briefs, submits FOIA requests and congressional testimony, publishes reports and model legislation (such as the RESPECT Title IX Act), produces the Freedom to Learn Podcast, and runs the Teacher Union Strike Tracker to advance conservative education, labor, and civil rights policy reform. Its work targets federal and state policymakers, educational institutions, and the public, with a focus on accountability for teacher unions, defense of constitutional rights, and reform of K-12 and higher education.

Product overview

The Defense of Freedom Institute is a nonprofit policy and legal advocacy organization, not a traditional software product company. DFI's offerings consist of knowledge products and advocacy services including: the Freedom to Learn Podcast (audio content); the Teacher Union Strike Tracker (an interactive database of strike data); the RESPECT Title IX Act (a model legislative proposal); policy research reports on education reform; and legal advocacy services including amicus briefs, civil rights complaints, FOIA requests, and congressional testimony. These offerings are disseminated through their website as resources for education policy advocacy rather than as commercial software products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freedom to Learn Podcast A weekly podcast hosted by Ginny Gentles that advocates for returning education to states, communities, and families, featuring interviews with policymakers and advocates about education reform. The podcast is aimed at the general public, policymakers, and education advocates, and is distributed free across major podcast platforms.
• Teacher Union Strike Tracker An interactive online map and database that tracks teacher union strikes conducted nationwide by the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) from 2010 to the present, documenting strike dates, locations, participating unions, and the number of striking workers. It is intended for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and members of the public tracking teacher union activity.
• RESPECT Title IX Act (Model Legislation) A model law — the Respect Equality in Sports, Privacy, and Education and Campus Transparency Act — designed to provide permanent legislative protection for women's sports, due process on campus, free speech, and parental rights under Title IX. It is distributed to Congressional lawmakers and state policymakers and is endorsed by partner organizations including Southeastern Legal Foundation and the Independent Women's Forum.
• Policy Research Reports and Publications A library of more than 25 policy research reports and publications on topics including foreign influence in higher education, antisemitism, teacher union radicalism, DEI practices in schools, and education accreditation reform. The reports are aimed at federal and state policymakers, journalists, and policy researchers and are available for free download from DFI's Resources page.
• Legal Advocacy Services (Amicus Briefs, Civil Rights Complaints, FOIA Requests, Congressional Testimony) Legal advocacy services for K-12 schools, school districts, colleges, universities, and policy stakeholders, consisting of amicus briefs filed in state and federal courts, federal civil rights complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, FOIA requests to federal agencies, public comments on regulatory proposals, and congressional testimony. These services are provided without charge as part of DFI's donor-funded nonprofit mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• DFI has filed civil rights complaints against multiple states and school districts that have led to enforcement actions by the U.S. Department of Justice
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 and minor.

• Legal Insurrection FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026DFI and the Legal Insurrection Foundation jointly issued a report arguing that President Trump's DEI executive orders are insufficient because they fail to target 'intersectionality.' The report describes intersectionality as a 'multi-billion-dollar industry' and calls on the administration to issue a new executive order specifically naming intersectionality.
• Defending EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefending Education is collaborating with DFI to push Congress for permanent protections against future Title IX policy shifts. Following the Trump administration's 2025 restoration of Title IX to its pre-2024 scope, Defending Education is working with DFI on legislative advocacy.
• Talent MarketminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTalent Market, described as 'the liberty movement's talent agency,' is managing DFI's recruitment process. They handle job postings and candidate management for DFI's hiring needs.
• Southeastern Legal FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoutheastern Legal Foundation endorsed the RESPECT Title IX Act model legislation and praised DFI's proposal to amend Title IX to ensure women and girls are protected.
• Independent Women's ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent Women's Forum, through its President Carrie Lukas, endorsed the RESPECT Title IX Act and expressed support for codifying protections for women and girls.

Scale indicators3 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Foundation: Largest U.S. conservative think tank with deep education, labor, and regulatory policy programs. Awarded DFI its 2022 Innovation Prize and shares multiple senior fellows/advisors with DFI; competes for the same donor pool and policymaker access.
• Manhattan Institute: Established conservative think tank with significant education reform and higher education policy programs. DFI Senior Fellow Jay P. Greene previously served as a Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow, indicating direct personnel and programmatic overlap.
• Federalist Society: Conservative legal organization producing model legislation, amicus briefs, and convening policymakers. DFI staff (e.g., Paul Zimmerman) have direct Federalist Society pedigrees, and the organizations co-host events like Federalist Society webinars.
• Claremont Institute: Conservative think tank engaged in constitutional and education policy advocacy. Comparable go-to-market motion combining policy research, litigation support, and engagement with state and federal policymakers.

Direct peers

• Defending Education: Conservative nonprofit focused on education policy advocacy and parental rights. Strategic partner co-pushing Congress for permanent Title IX protections alongside DFI, with overlapping donor base (Bradley Impact Fund, DonorsTrust) and issue portfolio.
• New Civil Liberties Alliance: Nonprofit civil liberties organization engaged in litigation against federal agency overreach. Shared donor/development leadership pipeline with DFI (e.g., Holly Pitt Young previously served as Director of Development at NCLA).
• Independent Women's Forum: Conservative policy organization advocating for women's rights, parental rights, and free speech. Endorsed DFI's RESPECT Title IX Act and overlaps on Title IX reform and parental rights advocacy.
• Legal Insurrection Foundation: Conservative legal/policy organization co-publishing reports with DFI on DEI and intersectionality. Operates a similar education-policy and civil-rights advocacy niche at the state and federal levels.
• Southeastern Legal Foundation: Conservative public interest law firm that has publicly endorsed DFI's RESPECT Title IX Act and engages in parallel federal litigation and regulatory advocacy on constitutional and civil rights issues.
• American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): Conservative organization producing and distributing model legislation to state lawmakers. Directly comparable function to DFI's model legislation work (e.g., RESPECT Title IX Act distribution to lawmakers).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dfipolicy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL_eVfCbt6MlAmexnYaarcvjulzSR5KrRq
• Facebookfacebook.com/DFIPolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/defense-of-freedom-institute-for-policy-studies
• Instagraminstagram.com/DFIPolicy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies