Middle East Policy Council

What Middle East Policy Council does

The Middle East Policy Council (MEPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Washington, DC, with approximately 21 employees and an annual budget of approximately $1,000,000. The organization's core mission is to contribute to the understanding of political, economic, and cultural issues affecting U.S. interests in the Middle East, delivered through three programmatic pillars: the flagship quarterly journal Middle East Policy (published since 1982 and described as the #1 most cited publication on the region globally), the Policy Products and Programming Series (including quarterly Capitol Hill Forums and Contributor Dialogues), and the TeachMideast international educational outreach initiative.

MEPC's content portfolio extends to a Breaking Analysis series, policy briefs, expert opinion commentaries, podcasts, newsletter subscriptions (MENA Roundup and journal updates), and the annual 40 Under 40 Awards. The journal is distributed through a partnership with Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, enabling global academic and library access. MEPC is structurally affiliated with the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, sharing office space at 1660 L St. NW, Ste. 450, and overlapping leadership including President Ahmed Alwani and Interim Executive Director Nicholas A. Heras.

MEPC's revenue model is primarily donation-based, funded by contributions from individuals, corporations, and organizations aligned with its educational mission, supplemented by a secondary stream from journal subscriptions. All programmatic offerings including Capitol Hill Forums, Contributor Dialogues, and TeachMideast are provided free of charge. The organization targets three primary audience segments: U.S. policymakers and government officials (primary), students/educators/academic institutions (secondary), and the general public and opinion leaders (secondary).

Name

Middle East Policy Council

Legal name

Middle East Policy Council

Website

https://mepc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Middle East Policy Council is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1981 that publishes the quarterly Middle East Policy journal and runs Capitol Hill forums, policy briefings, and the TeachMideast educational initiative, serving U.S. policymakers, educators, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN), Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK)

Keywords

• Policy research analysis
• Middle East affairs
• Foreign policy advisory
• Educational outreach programs
• Think tank 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, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the primary revenue stream is donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations aligned with the mission. The annual budget is approximately $1,000,000.
2. Journal subscriptions: Revenue from subscriptions to the quarterly Middle East Policy journal published through Wiley-Blackwell. Subscriptions available through http://ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/subs.asp?ref=1061-1924&site=1

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Middle East Policy Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank that produces authoritative nonpartisan policy analysis and educational content on U.S.-Middle East relations. Its core offerings include the flagship quarterly Middle East Policy journal (the #1 most cited publication on the region), the Breaking Analysis series, policy briefs, quarterly Capitol Hill Forums for policymakers, and the TeachMideast educational outreach initiative for students and educators.

Product overview

The Middle East Policy Council operates a unified policy analysis and educational platform centered on its flagship quarterly journal Middle East Policy, recognized as the #1 most cited publication on the region. The organization delivers content through multiple interconnected channels: the Breaking Analysis series extends journal-quality analysis to a broader audience; the Policy Products & Programming Series provides tailored events and resources for policymakers including Capitol Hill Forums; and TeachMideast serves educational outreach needs for students and educators. Additional offerings include the MEPC Podcast featuring expert conversations, Expert Opinion commentary, Policy Briefs, Newsletter subscriptions (MENA Roundup and Journal updates), and the 40 Under 40 Awards program recognizing emerging leaders in U.S.-Middle East relations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Middle East Policy: The organization's flagship quarterly journal, published through Wiley-Blackwell, recognized as one of the world's most cited publications on the Middle East.
• TeachMideast
• Breaking Analysis
• 40 Under 40 Awards

Products and services

• Middle East Policy Journal World-renowned quarterly journal providing high-quality, diverse analysis on political, economic, and cultural issues affecting U.S. interests in the Middle East, distributed through Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
• Breaking Analysis Expert commentary and essays series covering current events and policy developments in the Middle East, extending journal-quality analysis to a broader audience.
• Policy Briefs Concise analytical briefs providing timely analysis on key issues in the Middle East and North Africa region, designed for senior policymakers and stakeholders.
• Policy Products & Programming Series Tailored events and resources designed for senior policymakers and their staff, including Capitol Hill Forums and Contributor Dialogues that facilitate debate on issues affecting U.S. national interests in the Middle East.
• TeachMideast International educational and cultural outreach initiative for students, educators, and civic leaders, serving the specific needs of educators with resources for teaching about the Middle East.
• Capitol Hill Forums Quarterly forums organized on Capitol Hill to discuss and debate issues affecting U.S. national interests in the Middle East, bringing together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders.
• MEPC Podcast Expert analysis on Middle East policy delivered through in-depth conversations with leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers shaping U.S. engagement in the region.
• Newsletter Subscriptions Email newsletter offerings including MENA Roundup (monthly timely analysis of events across the Middle East) and Middle East Policy Journal weekly updates covering vital issues affecting the region.
• 40 Under 40 Awards Annual recognition program honoring individuals who demonstrate breadth of cultural, economic, and political relationships between the United States and Middle Eastern countries, with awardees from academia, business, culture, and diplomacy.
• Expert Opinion Expert opinions from MEPC scholars on Middle East politics, U.S. policy, security, diplomacy, economics, and regional developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Middle East Policy journal is the #1 most cited publication on the region

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Newlines Institute for Strategy and PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy shares office space with the Middle East Policy Council at 1660 L St. NW, Ste. 450, Washington, DC 20036. Many MEPC board members and staff hold leadership positions at New Lines Institute, and the organizations appear to operate as affiliated entities with shared leadership including Dr. Ahmed Alwani (MEPC President and founder of New Lines Institute) and Nicholas A. Heras (MEPC Interim Executive Director and Senior Director at New Lines Institute).
• Wiley-Blackwell PublishingcoreOthersThe Middle East Policy journal is published through Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. Journal subscriptions are available through Wiley's online platform at ordering.onlinelibrary.wiley.com. Subscriptions can also be managed at the Wiley site with ISSN 1061-1924.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• AMIDEAST: An American nonprofit focused on education and workforce development in the Middle East and North Africa, formerly led by MEPC board member Amb. William Rugh. Comparable as a U.S.-based nonprofit advancing Middle East engagement, though more focused on education than policy research.

Broad incumbents

• Wilson Center: A congressionally chartered think tank with a Middle East Program that hosts scholars and convenes policymakers. Comparable in nonpartisan analysis mission and Washington-based convening role; MEPC board member Jamal Nusseibeh is affiliated with Wilson Center's Middle East Program.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): A premier U.S. foreign policy institution producing analysis and convening senior experts. Multiple MEPC board members are CFR members (e.g., Combiz Abdolrahimi, Perry Cammack, Amb. William Rugh, Amb. Patrick Theros), making it a close comparable in elite policy network standing.
• Brookings Institution: A major U.S. policy research institution with a Center for Middle East Policy. Comparable in producing authoritative analysis, hosting events, and convening senior experts, but operates at significantly greater scale and broader topical coverage.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A major international affairs think tank with a longstanding Middle East program. Comparable in producing rigorous, nonpartisan analysis and convening senior experts, but operates at substantially larger scale than MEPC.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): A bipartisan policy research organization with a longstanding Middle East Program. Comparable in publishing analysis, briefing policymakers, and fielding senior experts, and is led/directed by individuals with similar foreign policy credentials to MEPC's board.
• Atlantic Council: A foreign policy think tank with multiple Middle East-focused programs and a track record of producing senior fellows (e.g., Faysal Itani previously served as Senior Fellow there before joining MEPC). Comparable in advisory style and policy-event programming.
• RAND Corporation: A large research institution producing policy analysis on Middle East security, governance, and society. Comparable in producing high-quality policy work for U.S. government clients but with a much larger budget and broader methodology.

Direct peers

• The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: A U.S.-based think tank focused on Middle East policy that produces research, commentary, and convenings for policymakers. It is the most direct competitor to MEPC in mission, audience (U.S. policymakers), and product mix (publications, events, expert commentary).
• New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy: An affiliated think tank sharing offices, leadership, and senior staff with MEPC, focused on strategy and policy including Middle East analysis. The two organizations operate as a de facto combined platform with shared president and overlapping programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MidEastPolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/middle-east-policy-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Middle East Policy Council