Institute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1961 by F. A. Harper. Originally established in Menlo Park, California, the organization relocated to Fairfax, Virginia in 1985 and is currently located at 3434 Washington Boulevard on the Arlington campus of George Mason University. IHS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the teaching and research of classical liberalism in higher education across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.5M
+39.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+82.0% YoY
Grant Count
42
+35.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+34.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
IHS is rooted in the classical liberal tradition and supports the achievement of a free society by connecting and supporting graduate students, scholars, and intellectuals driving human progress in critical conversations shaping the 21st century. The organization believes that principles of the classical liberal tradition—including individual liberty and responsibility, limited government, economic freedom, the rule of law, free speech, and open inquiry—are the foundation of a just, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The organization operates through three primary program areas:
Invests in Classical Liberal Intellectual Talent at Scale: IHS activates classical liberal intellectual talent by sourcing PhD, MA, and undergraduate talent and building partnerships with various institutions to equip this talent to advance classical liberal ideas and solutions across multiple sectors.
Accelerating Classical Liberal Ideas to Market: IHS works to accelerate the spread and practical application of classical liberal ideas by connecting scholars with opportunities beyond academia, removing barriers that limit research productivity, developing technological tools to enhance policy influence, and bridging the gap between academic research and civil society.
Strengthening Research Fields: The organization focuses on developing and strengthening research fields aligned with classical liberal principles.
Grantmaking
IHS offers multiple funding opportunities for students, scholars, and faculty:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
IHS primarily focuses grant-making in California, New York, and North Carolina, though the organization serves the United States broadly through its network of scholars and academic partnerships.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year Ending August 2024):
- Total Revenue: $31,057,023
- Total Expenses: $18,205,179
- Net Income: $12,851,844
- Total Assets: $35,458,810
- Total Liabilities: $6,280,000
- Net Assets: $29,177,934
Revenue Composition:
- Contributions: 95.5% of total revenue
- Other sources comprise the remaining 4.5%
Staffing:
- 89 employees (as of 2024)
Charity Rating:
- Four-Star rating with 95% score on Charity Navigator, reflecting strong accountability and financial management
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,458,810 | $25,514,779 | $19,221,469 |
| Revenue | $31,057,023 | $17,158,040 | $20,882,389 |
| Expenses | $18,205,179 | $18,258,109 | $17,067,802 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,019,525 | $360,942 | $63,392 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Institute for Humane Studies
Academic Mentorship Grant
Institute for Humane Studies
Amount
Up to US $8,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Flexible Research Grants for Scholars: Educational Entrepreneurship Grants
Institute for Humane Studies
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Flexible Research Grants for Scholars: Event Support
Institute for Humane Studies
Amount
US $500 - US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include West Virginia University Foundation ($167,000), Duke University ($134,992), New York University ($111,661).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University-Tempe Tempe, AZ | Student development & education/research grants | $8,000 |
| Chord Spokane, WA | Student development & education/research grants | $9,500 |
| Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | Student development & education/research grants | $6,500 |
| Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Student development & education/research grants | $7,450 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Student development & education/research grants | $134,992 |
| Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL | Student development & education/research grants | $18,145 |
| Florida State University Foundation Tallahassee, FL | Student development & education/research grants | $20,250 |
| Forthright Access Santa Monica, CA | Student development & education/research grants | $20,000 |
| George Washington University Ashburn, VA | Student development & education/research grants | $9,195 |
| Indiana University Bloomington, IA | Student development & education/research grants | $15,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Emily Chamlee-Wright
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Stowers | Chairman | 1 | — |
| David Humphreys | Chairman until Oct '23 | 1 | — |
| Tyler Cowen | Vice Chairman | 1 | — |
| James Arthur Pope | Director | 1 | — |
| Chris Rufer | Director | 1 | — |
| Christopher Coyne | Director | 1 | — |
| Todd Zywicki | Director | 1 | — |
| Brian Hooks | Director | 1 | — |
| Virgil Storr | Director | 1 | — |
| Emily Chamlee-Wright | President and CEO | 40 | $502,992 |
| Gary Leff | Secretary and Treasurer | 10 | $97,500 |
| Courtney Derr | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $310,167 |
| Sarah Straw | Chief of Programs and Operations | 40 | $196,916 |
| Shane Courtland | Managing Director Academic Relations | 40 | $159,184 |
| Mike Hopper | Senior Director of Marketing | 40 | $157,724 |
| Caroline Phelps | Managing Director of Programs | 40 | $142,710 |
| Adam Wolter | Senior Application Dev. Engineer | 40 | $141,278 |
| Matthew Needham | Director of CRM Architecture | 40 | $140,597 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
IHS has been active in expanding its reach and impact:
The organization launched **Liberalism.org**, a new forum dedicated to the liberal tradition
Institute for Humane Studies Launches Liberalism.org, a New Forum for theIHS announced a partnership with **Cosmos** to put human insight at the center of AI scholarship
IHS and Cosmos Partner to Put Human Insight at the Center of AI ScholarshipThe organization recognized **2024 IHS Research Award Winners** for advancing scholarship for a free society
2024 IHS Research Award Winners: Advancing Scholarship for a ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Institute for Humane Studies fund?
IHS is rooted in the classical liberal tradition and supports the achievement of a free society by connecting and supporting graduate students, scholars, and intellectuals driving human progress in critical conversations shaping the 21st century. The organization believes that principles of the classical liberal tradition—including individual liberty and responsibility, limited government, economic freedom, the rule of law, free speech, and open inquiry—are the foundation of a just, peaceful, a…
How do I apply for a grant from Institute for Humane Studies?
IHS offers multiple funding opportunities for students, scholars, and faculty: **Active Grant Programs:** • Residency Funding • Humane Studies Fellowship • Graduate Sabbatical Grants • Flexible Research Grants for Scholars: Event Support • Flexible Research Grants for Scholars: Educational Entrepreneurship Grants • Academic Mentorship • Free Society Grants **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,180–$167,000 • The organization awards more than $1 million in fellowships annually to …
Where does Institute for Humane Studies make grants?
IHS primarily focuses grant-making in California, New York, and North Carolina, though the organization serves the United States broadly through its network of scholars and academic partnerships.
What size grants does Institute for Humane Studies award?
In 2024, Institute for Humane Studies awarded 42 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Institute for Humane Studies's EIN?
Institute for Humane Studies's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1623852. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Institute for Humane Studies's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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