American Foreign Policy Council

What American Foreign Policy Council does

The American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit think tank founded in 1982 that conducts research, analysis, and programming on U.S. foreign policy and national security. It serves primarily U.S. government policymakers — members of Congress, Congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials — as well as the broader foreign policy community. AFPC is organized around 10 active regional and thematic programs, including the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, China Program, Indo-Pacific Security Program, Middle East Program, Russia and Ukraine Program, Space Policy Initiative, Defense Technology Program, Countering Islamic Extremism Project, Future of Public Diplomacy Project, and U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Program.

Its core "products" are research outputs and convening activities rather than technology: policy papers, op-eds placed in external outlets (Forbes, Newsweek, The Hill, Space News, The National Interest), topical bulletins (e.g., Resource Security Watch, Africa Political Monitor), four podcast series (AFPC Insights, Space Strategy, Great Power, Disinformation Wars), closed-door Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional testimony (including before the Helsinki Commission), and major summits (e.g., the US-Ukraine Security Dialogue, Yerevan Dialogue). AFPC does not operate a software platform, API, or proprietary technology stack; its distribution channels are direct engagement with policymakers, public-facing digital media, and events.

AFPC's revenue model is donation- and charitable support-based, with no paid products, pricing tiers, or earned commercial revenue streams. It maintains strategic partnerships with international foundations (e.g., Konrad Adenauer Foundation), peer organizations (American Councils for International Education, Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations), and publishers (Praeger) to co-host events and co-produce research. The organization is led by President Herman Pirchner, Jr. and staffed by 18+ named senior fellows and program leaders specializing across regions and national security disciplines.

Name

American Foreign Policy Council

Legal name

American Foreign Policy Council

Website

https://afpc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFPC is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit think tank founded in 1982 that produces foreign policy research, publications, podcasts, and convening events primarily for U.S. Congressional and Executive Branch policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foreign Policy Research and Analysis

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (9281), National Security (928110)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

Keywords

• Foreign policy research
• National security analysis
• Policy publications
• Congressional briefings
• Geopolitical analysis

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 Support: AFPC relies on donations and charitable support, with a 'Donate Now' option available on their website for public contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

AFPC is a nonprofit foreign policy think tank that produces expert research, analysis, and policy recommendations on U.S. foreign policy and national security issues. Its deliverables include 10 regional and topical research programs, four podcast series, recurring bulletins (e.g., Resource Security Watch, Africa Political Monitor), op-eds, policy papers, and special reports, delivered to U.S. government policymakers through Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional testimony, and conferences, with public access via the afpc.org website and digital channels.

Product overview

The American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) is a think tank organization offering a portfolio of research products and programs focused on foreign policy and national security. The organization operates a platform of 10 research programs (including Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, China Program, Defense Technology Program, Indo-Pacific Security Program, Space Policy Initiative, and U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Program) alongside multiple media offerings including four podcast series (AFPC Insights Podcast, Space Strategy Podcast, Great Power Podcast, Disinformation Wars Podcast). AFPC produces various publication types including bulletins (Resource Security Watch, Africa Political Monitor), policy papers, special reports, and articles. The organization hosts events including the Ukraine's Wartime Report Card summit and US-Ukraine Security Dialogue conferences. AFPC does not offer a technology product or software platform—the offering is exclusively research, analysis, and policy content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Central Asia-Caucasus Institute: A program providing cutting edge insights into Central Eurasia, from Turkey to western China
• China Program
• Countering Islamic Extremism Project
• Defense Technology Program
• Future of Public Diplomacy Project
• Indo-Pacific Security Program
• Middle East Program
• Russia and Ukraine Program
• Space Policy Initiative
• U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Program
• AFPC Insights Podcast
• Great Power Podcast
• Space Strategy Podcast
• Disinformation Wars Podcast

Products and services

• Central Asia-Caucasus Institute An AFPC research program providing cutting-edge insights into Central Eurasia, spanning Turkey to western China, for policymakers and the policy-interested public.
• China Program An AFPC research program providing critical analysis on political, military, and social developments in and around the People's Republic of China.
• Countering Islamic Extremism Project An AFPC research program focused on crafting informed, bipartisan policy toward Islamic extremism in the post-9/11 era.
• Defense Technology Program An AFPC research program examining how emerging technologies impact U.S. national security and the future of warfare.
• Future of Public Diplomacy Project An AFPC research project focused on elevating America's voice in the new Information Age through public diplomacy analysis.
• Indo-Pacific Security Program An AFPC research program mapping security and strategy developments in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
• Middle East Program An AFPC research program analyzing regional security and emerging threats in the greater Middle East.
• Russia and Ukraine Program An AFPC research program exploring the politics and security dynamics of Russia and Ukraine.
• Space Policy Initiative An AFPC research program shaping a U.S. vision for space as a strategic frontier and addressing national security implications of space activities.
• U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Program An AFPC research program helping the United States navigate a complex international environment, addressing grand strategy, homeland defense, intelligence, counter-intelligence, and environmental security.
• AFPC Insights Podcast AFPC's flagship podcast hosted by Annie Swingen, featuring interviews with AFPC scholars and professionals on international developments and foreign policy analysis.
• Space Strategy Podcast AFPC podcast series hosted by Peter Garretson, focused on space policy, strategy, and security topics, featuring expert discussions on space economy and U.S. space policy.
• Great Power Podcast AFPC podcast series hosted by Ilan Berman covering great power competition, with expert discussions on China, Russia, and geopolitical strategy.
• Disinformation Wars Podcast AFPC podcast series focused on information warfare, disinformation campaigns, and public diplomacy topics.
• Resource Security Watch AFPC bulletin monitoring resource security issues including energy, critical minerals, water, and food security.
• Africa Political Monitor AFPC bulletin providing analysis on political developments across Africa.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Konrad Adenauer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Co-hosted the Yerevan Dialogue 2026 conference on 'New Approaches to Security: Diversification in a Changing World' in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
• American Councils for International EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026AFPC Senior Fellow Laura Linderman participated as moderator and presenter at the C5+O.N.E. Regional Conference co-hosted by American Councils for International Education and U.S. Department of State in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• Praeger PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York publisher that released AFPC's comprehensive study on U.S. foreign aid titled 'Modernizing Foreign Assistance: Resource Management as an Instrument of Foreign Policy'.
• Center for U.S.-Ukrainian RelationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of US-Ukraine Security Dialogue XVIII and Summit XIV: Ukraine's Wartime Report Card events.
• Ukrainian Congressional Committee of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of US-Ukraine Security Dialogue XVIII event focused on Ukraine's defense capabilities and needs.
• News Sources (External)OthersAFPC activities and expert analysis generate coverage in external news outlets including Big News Network and various international media.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Brookings is one of the largest and most established U.S. think tanks with substantial foreign policy and national security research programs. It competes with AFPC for policymaker attention at the higher end of the budget and visibility scale.
• RAND Corporation: RAND is a much larger, established policy research institution covering defense, national security, and foreign policy with deep government contracting relationships. It overlaps with AFPC's defense technology and national security programs but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Hoover Institution: Hoover is a Stanford-based policy research organization with strong foreign-policy and national-security programming. While West Coast-based, it shares AFPC's realist orientation and Congressional engagement model.

Direct peers

• Heritage Foundation: Heritage is one of the largest U.S. policy think tanks with a heavy focus on foreign policy and national security, regularly producing research that shapes Congressional debate. It is highly comparable in audience (policymakers), mission area, and product format.
• Hudson Institute: Hudson is a Washington-based policy research organization that focuses on foreign policy, national security, and economic policy. It shares AFPC's research-driven, Capitol-Hill-oriented orientation and similar ideological positioning, making it a close functional peer.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a Washington-based bipartisan think tank focused on foreign policy and national security issues, with deep Congressional and Executive Branch ties. It is directly comparable to AFPC in mission, audience, and operating model, though at substantially larger scale.
• Atlantic Council: Atlantic Council is a foreign-policy-focused think tank producing analysis, events, and publications on international affairs with strong ties to U.S. and allied government officials. Overlap with AFPC on regional programs and policy engagement makes it a direct competitor for influence.
• American Enterprise Institute (AEI): AEI is a major Washington think tank with significant foreign-policy and defense scholarship, comparable in its orientation toward informing policymakers and producing publications and events. It is one of AFPC's closest large-budget peers.
• Washington Institute for Near East Policy: The Washington Institute is a Washington-based think tank focused on Middle East policy with close ties to U.S. policymakers and Congressional staff. It is highly comparable to AFPC's Middle East Program in audience and operating model.
• Jamestown Foundation: Jamestown is a Washington-based think tank dedicated to analyzing Eurasian and China-related security issues. It closely mirrors AFPC's Central Asia-Caucasus and China Programs in focus area, regional expertise, and policy audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afpc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-foreign-policy-council
• Facebookfacebook.com/americanforeignpolicycouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Foreign Policy Council