Common Sense Institute
Common Sense Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan research organization that uses REMI economic modeling and proprietary data to evaluate fiscal impacts of policies for state policymakers, business leaders, and the public across six U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersGreenwood Village, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Common Sense Institute does
Common Sense Institute (CSI) is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan research organization founded in 2010 that uses dynamic economic modeling and empirical analysis to evaluate the fiscal and societal impacts of public policies. Headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, the organization publishes state-specific policy research and an annual Free Enterprise Report competitiveness index across six U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, and Utah. Its research output spans ballot issues, crime and public safety, education, energy and environment, healthcare, housing, infrastructure, jobs and economy, state budget, taxes and fees, and workforce.
The organization's core analytical engine is the REMI (Regional Economic Models, Inc.) dynamic economic forecasting and simulation model, which it uses to project fiscal and economic impacts of proposed legislation on state economies and individual opportunity. CSI complements REMI with proprietary datasets — notably 2.8 million building permit records across 29 Arizona jurisdictions — and maintains three specialized Policy Centers covering Energy & Environment, Workforce & Education, and Public Safety & Criminal Justice. Distribution is conducted through state-specific research portals, an email newsletter, podcasts (including "Eggs & The Economy"), social media channels, events, and earned media coverage.
As a tax-exempt charitable organization (Tax-ID 27-4253618), CSI distributes its research free of charge and is funded entirely through tax-deductible donations and memberships. Its primary audiences are state and local policymakers, business leaders, and the general public in its operating states. The organization reports 1–10 employees and operates regional offices in Greenwood Village (CO), Phoenix (AZ), and Des Moines (IA), with no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or parent/subsidiary relationships.
Common Sense Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Common Sense Institute
- Legal name
- Common Sense Institute
- Website
- https://commonsenseinstituteus.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Common Sense Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan research organization that uses REMI economic modeling and proprietary data to evaluate fiscal impacts of policies for state policymakers, business leaders, and the public across six U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Common Sense Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Policy Research
- NAICS
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)
Keywords
Where Common Sense Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Greenwood Village
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Common Sense Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Common Sense Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) research organization that produces policy research reports and economic analysis evaluating the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws on state economies. It operates dedicated research portals across six U.S. states and uses the REMI dynamic economic forecasting model to quantify policy impacts on jobs, taxes, healthcare, education, housing, energy, and other fiscal areas.
Product overview
Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) research organization that operates as a single unified offering of policy research and economic analysis services across multiple U.S. states (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Oregon). The core product consists of research publications analyzing fiscal impacts of policies, complemented by the Free Enterprise Report/Index annual competitiveness rankings. Supporting offerings include state-specific research portals, the REMI Economic Model for impact forecasting, Policy Centers for specialized domains, Jobs & Labor Force Reports, newsletter subscriptions, and podcasts/events. There is no technology platform or software product — all value is delivered through research reports, indices, and expert analysis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Policy Research Publications
Quantifiable outcome
- Analyzed 2.8 million building permit records across 29 Arizona jurisdictions covering nearly three-quarters of the state's population
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Common Sense Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Common Sense Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Common Sense Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cedar Rapids Metro Economic AlliancecoreJuliet Abdel, CEO of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, joined CSI's board of directors. This partnership strengthens CSI Iowa's economic development research capabilities and policy efforts in Iowa.
- National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)minorMatt Everson, CSI Iowa's new executive director, previously served as state director for NFIB where he advocated for over 12,000 small business members across Iowa for nearly nine years.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Common Sense Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heartland Institute: National free-market think tank publishing policy research across fiscal, energy, and education topics. Comparable to CSI in donor base, state-level advocacy focus, and emphasis on free-enterprise competitiveness research.
- State Policy Network: Umbrella network of 60+ state-level free-market think tanks. Directly comparable as the broader ecosystem of state-focused policy research organizations that CSI both operates within and competes against for donor dollars and legislative influence.
- Manhattan Institute: National policy research organization focused on economic policy, state reform, and free-enterprise issues. Comparable to CSI in ideological orientation, donor base, and focus on state-level policy impact — but at significantly larger scale and national scope.
- RAND Corporation: Large nonprofit research institution producing rigorous policy analysis using quantitative and economic modeling. Comparable to CSI in the use of sophisticated modeling tools and emphasis on fiscal-impact research, though at vastly larger scale and broader topic coverage.
- American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC): Organization of state legislators producing model legislation and policy research. Comparable to CSI in target audience (state legislators), topic coverage (tax, regulatory, and economic policy), and influence model aimed at state-level policy outcomes.
- Pew Charitable Trusts: Major nonprofit that funds state-level policy research including fiscal, economic, and budget analyses. Comparable to CSI as a donor-funded research entity publishing state-by-state data-driven analyses used by policymakers and media.
- National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER): Premier nonprofit economic research organization producing working papers and policy analysis. Comparable to CSI at the methodological level — both employ economic modeling to evaluate policy impacts — though NBER operates at the academic/national level rather than state-level.
Direct peers
- Goldwater Institute: State-focused free-market public policy research and litigation organization based in Arizona. Highly comparable to CSI in regional footprint (Arizona), free-market orientation, and production of state-level policy analyses on tax, regulatory, and economic competitiveness topics.
- Tax Foundation: Nonpartisan tax and fiscal policy research organization producing state and federal fiscal-impact analyses. Highly comparable to CSI in that both produce nonpartisan quantitative fiscal-impact research used by policymakers, businesses, and media, with a similar donor-funded nonprofit model.
- Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: Nonpartisan fiscal-policy organization producing budget and tax-fiscal-impact analyses. Comparable to CSI in nonpartisan positioning, fiscal-impact research focus, and target audience of policymakers and business leaders.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Common Sense Institute social profiles
Digital presenceCommon Sense Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Common Sense Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Common Sense Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Common Sense Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Common Sense Institute
What does Common Sense Institute do?
Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) research organization that produces policy research reports and economic analysis evaluating the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws on state economies. It operates dedicated research portals across six U.S. states and uses the REMI dynamic economic forecasting model to quantify policy impacts on jobs, taxes, healthcare, education, housing, energy, and other fiscal areas.
Is Common Sense Institute a public or private company?
Common Sense Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Common Sense Institute founded?
Common Sense Institute was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Common Sense Institute based?
Common Sense Institute is headquartered in Greenwood Village, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Common Sense Institute's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heartland Institute, State Policy Network, Manhattan Institute, RAND Corporation, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Pew Charitable Trusts and National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Direct peers are Goldwater Institute, Tax Foundation and Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Does Common Sense Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Common Sense Institute.
What industry is Common Sense Institute in?
Common Sense Institute's product category is Public Policy Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes, with a secondary code of BPAHALAF, Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research. Its NAICS code is 54191 and its SIC code is 8700.