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Influence of Corporate Funding on Think Tank Activities

Most think tanks describe themselves as independent institutions and usually deny any influence on their work from funding sources or other interests. Although some think tanks adhere to the concept of independent research, in several cases, albeit very often not visible at first sight, the influence of corporate money on the kind of issues picked up as well as the results presented can be noted. Corporate money so funds ideologically charged policy research with the aim to influence public policy making.

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Examples of Mainly Corporate Funded Think Tanks: Brookings Institution

With a budget of US$ 23 million and assets worth US$ 192 million the

Brookings Institution, based in Washington D.C., in 1998 was funded by: Corporate and private donations (38 %), endowment (30 %), revenue from conferences and seminars (18 %), sales of publications (9 %), government support (2 %).

Among the 138 corporate donors are: Bell Atlantic,

Exxon,

Chevron,

Microsoft, Hewlett Packard,

Toyota,

Pfizer,

Johnson & Johnson,

Dupont,

Mobil and Lockheed Martin, and the foundations of companies like

American Express,

Travelers,

AT&T and McDonnell Douglas. A few media conglomerates, like

Time Warner and the

Washington Post Co.. Contributions of individual donors include executives from

Visa,

Procter and Gamble,

BankAmerica and U.S. Airways.

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Examples of Mainly Corporate Funded Think Tanks: Manhattan Institute

The Manhattan Institute, founded by

William Casey, who later became President Reagan's

CIA director, besides subsidies from a number of large conservative foundations has gained funding from such corporate sources as: The

Chase Manhattan Bank,

Citicorp,

Time Warner,

Procter & Gamble and

State Farm Insurance, as well as the Lilly Endowment and philantropic arms of

American Express,

Bristol-Myers Squibb,

CIGNA and

Merrill Lynch. Boosted by major firms, the Manhattan Institute budget reached US$ 5 million a year by the early 1990s.

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Procter and Gamble

Major American manufacturer with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. The modern Procter & Gamble markets products in several major areas: Laundry and cleaning products; personal-care products; food products; and such miscellaneous products as cellulose pulp, chemicals, and animal feed ingredients. The company has long been one of the leading American national advertisers.

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