Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Atlas Economic Research Foundation, operating under the trade name **Atlas Network**, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Founded in 1981, the organization functions as a global network connector for independent civil society organizations, think tanks, and research institutions. Atlas Network partners with nearly 600 organizations across more than 100 countries, positioning itself as "a think tank that creates think tanks." The organization does not accept government funding and is not endowed; all programs depend on private philanthropy.
Key facts about Atlas Economic Research Foundation
- EIN
- 94-2763845
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,901,057
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $45,263
- Median grant
- $38,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (15 of 42, 2024)
- Total assets
- $22,409,490
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (15% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Atlas Economic Research Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Atlas Economic Research Foundation's 42 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (15%), Virginia (11%) and Tennessee (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Nashville, TN (2 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 42 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Economic Education" (42 grants).
Is Atlas Economic Research Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 42 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $39K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Atlas Economic Research Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.4M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+72.8% YoY
Grant Count
42
+35.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+27.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Atlas Network's mission is to strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by cultivating a highly effective and expansive network that inspires and incentivizes committed individuals and organizations to achieve lasting impact. The organization is committed to advancing the principles of a free society, promoting individual freedom, free markets, and limited government.
The organization operates through four primary program areas:
- COACH: Provides world-class seminars, workshops, mentoring, and learning opportunities that build professionalism and community among independent partners
- COMPETE: Offers grant and prize competitions that fuel partners' efforts to develop, innovate, and succeed
- CELEBRATE: Fosters camaraderie among partners by celebrating accomplishments through events and media outreach
- Innovation Lab: Develops regional centers, cohorts, events, grants, and policy research to identify new areas for partner work
Grantmaking
Atlas Network distributed $7.6 million in grants across 173 awards in 2023. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $100,000, with variations by program. The organization reports a decision timeline of approximately 1-2 months from application deadline.
Grant Range
s typically range from $1,000 to $100,000, with variations by program. The organization reports a decision timeline of approximately 1-2 months from application deadline.
Review Cycle
.
Ready to take the next step with Atlas Economic Research Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Atlas Network operates internationally, with a presence in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization's network has grown significantly from its origins, expanding from 15 think tanks in nine countries in the mid-1980s to nearly 600 partner organizations globally by 2024.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 42 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $24.3 million
- Expenses: $25.1 million
- Total Assets: $22.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $2.46 million
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenues: $28.8 million
- Total Expenses: $22.1 million
- Total Assets: $23.6 million
- Annual Grants Distributed: $7.6 million
Staffing:
- 56 employees (2023)
Rating: Atlas Network holds a Four-Star rating with a 100% score, reflecting strong performance in accountability, finance, leadership, and adaptability.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,409,490 | $23,584,936 | $16,820,562 |
| Revenue | $24,269,887 | $28,784,181 | $19,446,645 |
| Expenses | $25,072,695 | $22,107,858 | $20,862,400 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $528,664 | $212,664 | $73,972 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
164 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Atlas Economic Research Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Beacon Center of Tennessee ($124,450), Archbridge Institute ($115,000), Ladies of Liberty Alliance ($105,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Beacon Center of Tennessee Nashville, TN | Economic Education | $124,450 |
| Archbridge Institute Washington, DC | Economic Education | $115,000 |
| Ladies of Liberty Alliance Washington, DC | Economic Education | $105,000 |
| Commonwealth Foundation Harrisburg, PA | Economic Education | $82,000 |
| Illinois Policy Institute Chicago, IL | Economic Education | $80,150 |
| American Conservation Coalition Campus Appleton, WI | Economic Education | $75,000 |
| Students for Liberty McLean, VA | Economic Education | $68,396 |
| Libertas Institute Lehi, UT | Economic Education | $60,726 |
| Centro para Renovacion Economica Crecimiento y Excelencia San Juan, PR | Economic Education | $60,175 |
| Grassroot Institute of Hawaii - United States Honolulu, HI | Economic Education | $60,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: Antony Fisher, a British entrepreneur influenced by Austrian School economist F.A. Hayek
- Chair: Montgomery Brown
- Chief Executive Officer: Brad Lips
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Brown | Chairman (as of Nov'24) | 8 | — |
| Debbi Gibbs | Chairwoman | 8 | — |
| Lawson Bader | Vice Chair (as of Nov'24) | 4 | — |
| Scott Barbee | Vice Chair and Treasurer | 4 | — |
| Dan Grossman | Treasurer (as of Nov'24) | 4 | — |
| Thomas Beach | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Robert Boyd | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Jerzy Czubak | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Linda Edwards | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Rich Greenberg | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Jean-Claude Gruffat | Board Member | 4 | — |
| John Kramer | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Gerry Ohrstrom | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Parth Shah | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Laura Ann Spencer | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Kathy Washburn | Board Member | 4 | — |
| Bradley A Lips | CEO | 40 | $405,964 |
| Matt C Warner | President | 40 | $323,335 |
| Thomas G Palmer | Executive VP | 40 | $309,394 |
| Lyall J Swim | Chief Innovation Officer | 40 | $230,796 |
| Katherine Price | Chief Operations Officer | 40 | $203,862 |
| Patty Hohlbein | VP of Atlas Network Academ | 40 | $166,294 |
| Sherry Romello | VP of Events | 40 | $155,785 |
| Steven Green | Creative Director | 40 | $128,828 |
| Kameron Griffin | Director of Development | 40 | $157,529 |
| Casey Pifer | VP of Institute Relations | 40 | $141,818 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Atlas Network administers the Templeton Freedom Award, a competitive recognition program for partner organizations. Recent award recipients and finalists have been announced for 2023 and 2025, with Georgia's Future Academy recognized as a 2023 winner and the Foundation for Economic Freedom also receiving recognition in 2023.
Atlas Network | Atlas Network\u2019s Templeton Freedom Award Expands to\u2026Contact Information
Address: Two Liberty Center, 4075 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 310 Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 202-449-8449
Email Contacts:
- Grant program questions: Alyssa.DiPadova@atlasnetwork.org
- Press/Communications: AWeinberg@AtlasNetwork.org
- Development inquiries: Development@AtlasNetwork.org
Website: atlasnetwork.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Atlas Economic Research Foundation fund?
Atlas Network's mission is to strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by cultivating a highly effective and expansive network that inspires and incentivizes committed individuals and organizations to achieve lasting impact. The organization is committed to advancing the principles of a free society, promoting individual freedom, free markets, and limited government. The organization operates through four primary program areas: • **COACH**: Provides world-class seminars, workshops, mentoring, …
How do I apply for a grant from Atlas Economic Research Foundation?
Atlas Network distributed $7.6 million in grants across 173 awards in 2023. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $100,000, with variations by program. The organization reports a decision timeline of approximately 1-2 months from application deadline. Applicants can submit proposals through the organization's application portal at apply.atlasnetwork.org. Grant program inquiries can be directed to Alyssa.DiPadova@atlasnetwork.org. The organization administers the Templeton Freedom Award, a …
Where does Atlas Economic Research Foundation make grants?
Atlas Network operates internationally, with a presence in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization's network has grown significantly from its origins, expanding from 15 think tanks in nine countries in the mid-1980s to nearly 600 partner organizations globally by 2024.
What size grants does Atlas Economic Research Foundation award?
In 2024, Atlas Economic Research Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Atlas Economic Research Foundation's EIN?
Atlas Economic Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2763845. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Atlas Economic Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.