FAQ
- What is the American Enterprise Institute? What is AEI's mission?
- What does the American Enterprise Institute do?
- What are AEI's research areas?
- When was AEI founded?
- Is AEI affiliated with the government or a political party?
- How does AEI get its funding?
- Why should I make a donation to AEI?
- Who is AEI's president?
- Who serves on AEI's Board of Trustees?
- What is AEI's Council of Academic Advisers?
- Who are AEI's scholars?
- Who are AEI's officers?
- I am an AEI donor. Can I visit the Institute in Washington?
- I am an AEI donor and my contact information has changed. How can I give you my new contact information?
- How can I adjust the number of mailings that I receive from AEI?
- How can I recommend a friend who might be interested in learning more about the Institute's work?
- I would like to discuss making a donation to AEI with a member of your staff. Whom should I contact?
- How can I obtain a copy of AEI's annual report?
- How do I contact a specific scholar?
- What is AEI's tax identification number?
- Are donations to AEI tax-exempt?
- What is AEI's annual budget?
- How can I make a gift to AEI?
- Do you accept online contributions?
- Does AEI publicize the names of its donors and contributors?
- Can I designate my gift to AEI for a particular program or scholar?
- Can I make AEI a beneficiary of my will or estate?
- How can I contribute to AEI's endowment?
- Can I make a gift in honor of a friend or family member?
- Where is AEI located?
- Who works in AEI's development office?
What is the American Enterprise Institute? What is AEI's mission?
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a private, not-for-profit institution dedicated to research and education on issues of governance, international relations, economics, and social welfare. AEI's mission is to preserve and strengthen the foundations of freedom and democratic capitalism--limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, and political accountability--through scholarly research, open debate, and publications. For more information about AEI, please click here.
What does the American Enterprise Institute do?
AEI sponsors research and conferences and publishes books, monographs, and periodicals. Its website www.aei.org posts its publications, videos and transcripts of its conferences, biographies of its scholars and fellows, and schedules of upcoming events. The Institute publishes dozens of books and hundreds of articles and reports each year; its work is addressed to government officials and legislators, teachers and students, business executives, professionals, journalists, and all citizens interested in a serious understanding of government policy, the economy, and important social and political developments.
What are AEI's research areas?
AEI research covers economics and trade; health care policy; social welfare; government tax, spending, regulatory, and legal policies; education; U.S. politics; international affairs; and U.S. defense and foreign policies. For a complete summary of AEI's upcoming research efforts, please click here.
When was AEI founded?
AEI was founded in New York City in 1938 by a group of prominent business executives, university professors, and intellectuals. Seeking to improve political debate and government performance, they discovered a quintessentially American approach to this age-old challenge. AEI was a private sector innovation that combined rigorous academic research and vigorous political engagement in a way that had never been done before. Since then, the Institute has been home to some of America's most accomplished public policy experts--in economics, law, political science, defense and foreign policy studies, ethics, theology, medicine, and other fields--who have helped mold AEI into one of the nation's most distinct and esteemed academic institutions. For more information on AEI's history, click here.
Is AEI affiliated with the government or a political party?
No. The American Enterprise Institute is strictly non partisan, does not accept government funding, and relies entirely on the support of private individuals, foundations, and corporations. AEI scholars and fellows frequently take positions on pressing policy issues being debated inside and outside the U.S. government. AEI scholars speak for themselves and not for AEI, its trustees, other scholars, or employees.
How does AEI get its funding?
AEI is a public charity, financed solely through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. For more information on becoming a financial supporter of AEI, please click here.
Why should I make a donation to AEI?
You should make a donation to AEI so you can become a part of our small, tight-knit community of scholars and supporters. Making a financial investment in AEI is a tangible step toward improving American politics and government. Over the years, the AEI approach to better government has proven highly productive. AEI scholars have originated many critical reforms to tax, regulatory, welfare, and national security policy that have been adopted into law. Yet the problems of government--extravagant spending, counterproductive regulation, poor performance on critical responsibilities, and partiality toward powerful interest groups--are persistent, long-term problems. They require countervailing institutions that are as permanent and powerful as government itself in order to provide informed criticism and intellectual leadership from above the partisan fray. AEI's work is respected across the political spectrum for its high intellectual caliber and reliable analysis. It has been, and will continue to be, a central, valued institution of American political thought and policy reform. Without your financial support, none of this important work would be possible.
Who is AEI's president?
AEI is led by a talented executive team of officers. The Institute's president, who is selected by the Board of Trustees, is currently Arthur Brooks. On January 1, 2009, Arthur took over from Chris DeMuth, who served as AEI's president until the end of 2008. Arthur is the author of a number of books--including, most recently, The Battle. More information about Arthur's work on the morality of the free enterprise system can be found here.
Who serves on AEI's Board of Trustees?
AEI is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of leading business and financial executives. More information on the current composition of the Board can be found here.
What is AEI's Council of Academic Advisers?
A group of distinguished outside scholars, AEI's Council of Academic Advisers reviews the Institute's research agenda, publications, and appointments and selects each year's recipient of the Irving Kristol Award. Additional information on the current composition of the CAA can be found here.
Who are AEI's scholars?
AEI's scholars are some of America's leading public policy experts. Coming from the government, universities, and the private sector, they join the ranks of AEI in order to pursue their research in an intellectually independent atmosphere. A list of AEI's current scholars can be found here.
Who are AEI's officers?
A complete listing of AEI's officers and senior management can be found here.
I am an AEI donor. Can I visit the Institute in Washington?
AEI's development staff is always delighted to meet with our donors or others interested in AEI at our headquarters. You are also welcome to attend any of our public conferences.
I am an AEI donor and my contact information has changed. How can I give you my new contact information?
We would greatly appreciate having your most up-to-date contact information on file. You can easily update your information by logging into your MyAEI account. Individual donors, please contact Joseph Malarney at 202.862.7181 or joseph.malarney@aei.org. Foundation donors, please contact Jeanette Lopez at 202.862.5858 or jeanette.lopez@aei.org. Corporate donors, please contact Shelley Stewart at 202.862.7182 or shelley.stewart@aei.org.
How can I adjust the number of mailings that I receive from AEI?
We would be glad to adjust your mailings to ensure you are receiving only things that are of interest to you. You may easily manage what you receive by logging into your MyAEI account, or you may contact our director of database development, Audrey Thompson, at athompson@aei.org or 202.862.5833, or fill out and return our mailing preferences form.
How can I recommend a friend who might be interested in learning more about the Institute's work?
The American Enterprise Institute is always looking to expand its circle of friends and supporters. If you know someone who would be interested in our work, please contact Toby Stock, managing director of development, at 202.862.5834 or toby.stock@aei.org.
I would like to discuss making a donation to AEI with a member of your staff. Whom should I contact?
We would be delighted to speak with you about supporting AEI. Individuals may contact Toby Stock, managing director of development, at toby.stock@aei.org or 202.862.5834. If you are a foundation representative, please contact Rachel Ayerst Manfredi, director of development, strategic initiatives, at rayerst@aei.org or 202.862.7187. Corporate representatives may contact Shelley Stewart, director of corporate relations at shelley.stewart@aei.org or 202.862.7182.
How can I obtain a copy of AEI's annual report?
AEI's annual report is available in PDF here. If you would like a hard copy sent to you, please contact Kerri Polce at kpolce@aei.org or 202.862.5854.
How do I contact a specific scholar?
Contact information for all of AEI's scholars and their research assistants can be found here.
What is AEI's tax identification number?
AEI's tax identification number is 53-0218495.
Are donations to AEI tax-exempt?
Yes, most gifts to the American Enterprise Institute are fully tax-deductible. You will be sent a receipt for your contribution shortly after it is received.
Donations in support of the AEI Annual Dinner are partially tax-deductible.
What is AEI's annual budget?
Please see the financial page in our annual report for information on AEI's budget.
How can I make a gift to AEI?
AEI accepts gifts in a variety of ways, as listed below. For any additional information, please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of development, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189.
Do you accept online contributions?
Yes. To support the Institute with a secure online donation, please click here.
Does AEI publicize the names of its donors and contributors?
AEI does not sell or share donor information with the public or any other organization. Our donor information is held in strict confidence to respect the privacy of our donors.
Can I designate my gift to AEI for a particular program or scholar?
Donors may choose to earmark their gift for any of AEI's major policy areas or specific research projects. Please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of development, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189 to further discuss this option.
Can I make AEI a beneficiary of my will or estate?
Yes. There are a variety of mechanisms for supporting AEI in your estate plans. For more information, please visit the planned giving section of our website or contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of development, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189.
How can I contribute to AEI's endowment?
A member of AEI's development staff would be pleased to discuss this with you. Please contact Jason Bertsch, vice president of development, at jbertsch@aei.org or 202.862.5873.
Can I make a gift in honor of a friend or family member?
Yes. Donating to AEI is a great way to honor a friend or family member who shares the Institute's commitment to limited government, private enterprise, vital cultural and political institutions, and a strong foreign policy and national defense. Please contact Nicole Ruman Skinner, managing director of development, at nskinner@aei.org or 202.862.7189 to discuss this further.
Where is AEI located?
AEI's address is 1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. For street directions, please click here. Visitors should go to the reception area on the eleventh floor; conference attendees should go to the Wohlstetter Conference Center, located on the twelfth floor. For general AEI contact information, please click here. To contact the development office, please click here.
Who works in AEI's development office?
AEI has a small development staff and spends less than 5% of the Institute's annual budget on fundraising--far less than other policy organizations. Please do not hesitate to contact any of these individuals with questions you may have about supporting AEI.
Rachel Ayerst Manfredi, Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives
rayerst@aei.org; 202.862.7187
Jason Bertsch, Vice President, Development
jbertsch@aei.org; 202.862.5873
Spencer Cowan, Development Assistant, Communications
spencer.cowan@aei.org; 202.862.6031Robin Currie, Senior Writer and Editor
rcurrie@aei.org; 202.862.5919
Ellett George, Development Manager, Individuals
ellett.george@aei.org; 202.862.5832Windle Jarvis, Development Officer
windle.jarvis@aei.org; 202.862.5906Mallory Johnson, Development Associate, Vice President's Office
mallory.johnson@aei.org; 202.862.5949Lauren Kimaid, Director of Development, Communications
lkimaid@aei.org; 202.862.5850Jeanette Lopez, Development Manager, Foundations
jeanette.lopez@aei.org; 202.862.5858Joseph Malarney, Development Assistant, Individuals
joseph.malarney@aei.org; 202.862.7181
Ashley May, Development Associate, Events and Outreach
ashley.may@aei.org; 202.862.5940
Kerri Polce, Senior Manager, Development
kpolce@aei.org; 202.862.5854
Jennifer Moore, Development Assistant, Corporate Relations
jennifer.moore@aei.org; 202.862.7179
Nicole Ruman Skinner, Managing Director, Development
nskinner@aei.org; 202.862.7189
Shelley Stewart, Director, Corporate Relations
shelley.stewart@aei.org; 202.862.7182
Toby Stock, Managing Director, Development
toby.stock@aei.org; 202.862.5834
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