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Badger Institute
| Badger Institute | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Wisconsin |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Mike Nichols, president |
| Year founded: | 1987 |
| Website: | Official website |
Badger Institute is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank founded in 1987 and based in Wisconsin. As of August 2025, the Institute's website stated that its guiding principles are working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.[1]
The Institute's website said it is "guided by a belief that competitive free markets, limited government, private initiative and personal responsibility are essential to our democratic way of life."[2]
Background
According to the Badger Institute website as of August 2025, the stated mission is as follows:[1]
| “ |
Badger Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institute established in 1987 working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.[3] |
” |
Badger Institute was formerly called Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Leadership
As of August 2025, Mike Nichols served as the Badger Institute's president.[4]
The following individuals were members of the Badger Institute's board of directors as of August 2025:[5]
- Ave Bie, board chair
- Lisa Mauer, vice chair
- Ellen Nowak
- Jason Kohout
- Corey Hoze
- Nicholas Bauer
- Shannon Whitworth
- Matt Rowe
- Robert Doar
- Shannon Sweek
Work and activities
Legislative and policy work
The Badger Institute releases policy briefs and reports on 13 issue areas, such as taxes, education, housing, and energy.[1] In 2022 and 2023, the Institute released its "Mandate for Madison," which offered a series of "policy recommendations for a more prosperous Wisconsin."[2] In addition, the Badger Institute hosts events with elected officials and national figures and publishes op-eds and analysis on Wisconsin policy issues.[6][7]
As of August 2025, the Badger Institute retained two lobbyists in the Wisconsin Legislature.[8] According to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, the Badger Institute has the following lobbying interest areas:[8]
| “ |
State and local government tax policy and spending, including related program accountability, consequences and effectiveness. We also focus on school choice; federalism; criminal justice and corrections; transportation and economic workforce development; occupational licensing; health care; welfare and social services; and other issues that have or could have a significant impact on the quality of life and future of the state.[3] |
” |
As of August 2025, the Badger Institute had spent $23,400 on lobbying expenditures in 2025.[8]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Badger Institute's revenues and expenses for the 2020 to 2023 tax years, according to documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.
External links
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Badger Institute, "Main Page," accessed September 24, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Badger Institute , "Mandate for Madison," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Badger Institute , "Team," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Badger Institute , "Board of Directors," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Badger Institute , "Events," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Badger Institute , "Viewpoints," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 WI Lobbying , "Badger Institute," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service , "Badger Institute 2023 990 Form," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Internal Revenue Service , "Badger Institute 2022 990 Form," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service , "Badger Institute 2020 990 Form," accessed August 8, 2025
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