American-German Institute

What American-German Institute does

American-German Institute (AGI) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy research think tank founded in 1983 and dedicated exclusively to German-American relations. Its work is organized into three core program areas — Foreign & Security Policy, Geoeconomics, and Society, Culture & Politics — and is delivered through policy analysis, fellowships, convenings, publications, and 'The Zeitgeist' podcast. AGI serves policymakers, corporate executives, scholars, journalists, and the interested public in both the United States and Germany.

Since 1983 the institute has hosted more than 340 fellows and built recurring institutional partnerships with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the Halle Foundation. Its flagship public event is the annual Global Leadership Award Dinner, with corporate sponsorship tiers reaching $50,000+, and past honorees have included senior executives of major German and multinational firms.

AGI's revenue model rests on three pillars: corporate sponsorships (named sponsors include Schaeffler, Commerzbank, Daimler Truck, Siemens Energy, BASF, IBM, and Allianz), foundation and government grants, and individual donations. In January 2026 the institute became a fully independent organization after decades as part of Johns Hopkins University, concurrently rebranding from the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) to the American-German Institute. In October 2025 Georg F.W. Schaeffler was named Board Chairman.

Name

American-German Institute

Legal name

American Institute for Contemporary German Studies

Website

https://americangerman.institute

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American-German Institute is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit policy research think tank founded in 1983 that produces research, fellowships, events, and publications on German-American relations for policymakers, corporate leaders, and scholars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Think Tank

NAICS

International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank
• Transatlantic relations
• Foreign policy analysis
• International affairs

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Individual Sponsorships: AGI receives generous contributions from individuals and corporations in the United States, Germany, and throughout the world. Sponsorship tiers range from Global Leaders ($50,000+) to Individual ($3,000+) for events like the Global Leadership Award Dinner.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: AGI regularly receives grants from private foundations and governments to conduct its research agenda, including from DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
3. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting the German-American partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

American-German Institute is a nonpartisan policy research think tank that delivers in-depth analysis, publications, fellowship programs, and convening events focused exclusively on the German-American relationship across three program areas: Foreign & Security Policy, Geoeconomics, and Society, Culture & Politics. Its offerings include research reports, issue briefs, the weekly AGI Advisor newsletter, the Zeitgeist podcast, public forums, the annual Global Leadership Award Dinner, and grant-funded scholar exchange programs (notably the DAAD/AGI Research Fellowship). The Institute operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by individual and corporate donations, foundation and government grants, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

AGI operates as a policy research institute rather than a product company. Its offerings consist of programs and services including three core research programs (Foreign & Security Policy, Geoeconomics, and Society, Culture & Politics), fellowship opportunities (DAAD/AGI Research Fellowship and Visiting Fellows), publications (policy reports, issue briefs, The AGI Advisor), events (forums, conferences, the annual Global Leadership Award Dinner), a podcast (The Zeitgeist), and grant-funded exchange projects like the LGBTQ+ Communities program. These offerings work together to provide in-depth analysis, foster scholarly exchange, and build networks between Germany and the United States on political, economic, and security issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foreign & Security Policy Program
• Geoeconomics Program
• Society, Culture & Politics Program
• DAAD/AGI Research Fellowship Program
• Visiting Fellows Program

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983AGI was originally established as an institute at Johns Hopkins University in 1983 with the mission to help American policymakers, corporate executives, and media understand both German states. Became independent not-for-profit in January 2026.
• Konrad Adenauer StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Jointly convenes Transatlantic Trade Week annually for sixth consecutive year, engaging top policymakers on transatlantic security and trade issues.
• The German Marshall Fund of the United StatesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among supporters; collaborates on transatlantic policy initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank with global research programs. Comparable as a major Western policy research institute with convening power, although geographically distinct from AGI's U.S.-Germany focus.
• Atlantic Council: Large Washington think tank covering transatlantic and global policy with named programs on Europe and economics. Overlaps AGI's Foreign & Security Policy and Geoeconomics work but with a much broader geographic mandate.
• Brookings Institution: Premier U.S. think tank with established programs on Europe and the global economy. Overlaps AGI on transatlantic economic policy research and convening functions.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Major D.C. policy research organization with significant Europe, transatlantic, and geoeconomics programming. Competes for the same policymakers, corporate sponsors, and media attention as AGI.

Direct peers

• German Marshall Fund of the United States: Washington-based transatlantic policy institute that convenes U.S. and European leaders on political, economic, and security issues. Most direct comparable to AGI given shared transatlantic mission, fellowship programs, and D.C. base.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): German political foundation affiliated with the CDU that conducts transatlantic policy work and co-convenes AGI's Transatlantic Trade Week. Direct peer in mission, German-American policy focus, and convening role.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP): Berlin-based foreign policy think tank producing research and convening on German and European foreign policy. Closest German-side peer to AGI for policy research and transatlantic dialogue.

Regional players

• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): German Institute for International and Security Affairs providing policy advice to the Bundestag and federal government. Comparable as a German policy research institute, though primarily domestic-facing in advisory role.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): German political foundation affiliated with the SPD with offices in Washington and globally. Comparable on German-funded transatlantic policy engagement and convening, though broader in political scope.

Emerging players

• Körber-Stiftung: Hamburg-based foundation active in European foreign policy, transatlantic debate, and the Munich Security Conference ecosystem. Comparable on German-led transatlantic convening and policy programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amgerinst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American-German Institute