Bluegrass Institute
| Bluegrass Institute | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Caleb Brown, Chief Executive Officer Jim Waters, President |
| Founder(s): | Christopher J. Derry |
| Year founded: | 2003 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Bluegrass Institute is a 501(c)(3) based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, that according to its website, "committed to engaging, empowering and inspiring Kentuckians to make Kentucky the fastest-growing, most-innovative state in America."[1] The institute was founded in 2003.[1]
Background
The Bluegrass Institute was founded in 2003 by Christopher J. Derry.[1] According to the institute's website, it was founded "to move Kentucky from a state of government dependency to one of opportunity and prosperity for individual Kentuckians by offering free-market solutions to the commonwealth’s greatest challenges."[1] As of September 2025, the institute's website states that its work focuses on working towards "quality education, government transparency and accountability, reducing government spending, advocating for smaller government, and increasing free markets."[2]
Leadership
As of September 2025, the following individuals held leadership positions at the Bluegrass Institute:[2]
- Caleb Brown, Chief Executive Officer
- Jim Waters, President
- John Garen, Education Analyst
- Richard G. Innes, Education Analyst
- William F. Smith, Pension Analyst
- Luke Milligan, Criminal Justice Reform Analyst
- Cindy Kilduff, Development Consultant
- Ethan Tackett, Development Coordinator
As of September 2025, the Bluegrass Institute's Board of Directors included the following individuals:[2]
- Aaron Ammerman, Chair
- John Garen, Board Member
- Chris Anderson, Board Member
- Tom Dupree, Board Member
- Tim Yessin, Board Member
- Jenean Hampton, Board Member
- Kyle Whalen, Board Member
- Caleb Taylor, Board Member
- Stan Cave, Board Member
As of September 2025, the Bluegrass Institute's Board of Scholars included the following individuals:[2]
- Stephan F. Gohmann, Board Member
- Gary W. Houchens, Board Member
- D. Eric Schansberg, Board Member
Work and activities
KentuckyVotes.org
In 2005, the Bluegrass Institute started the KentuckyVotes.org project.[3] The institute's then-Director of Policy and Communications Jim Waters said the project's website sought to "help voters determine what kind of legislation is being enacted so that they can make more informed decisions about policy changes they would like to see and legislation they would like to support."[4] According to the institute's website, before starting KentuckyVotes.org, the institute "convinced the [Kentucky General Assembly's] Legislative Research Commission to begin posting bill descriptions and daily votes of Kentucky lawmakers on an easily accessible website."[3] Ultimately, KentuckyVotes.org included information on bills in the General Assembly, such as amendments and roll-call votes.[4]
Notable Endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Affiliations
As of September 2025, the Bluegrass Institute is an affiliate of the State Policy Network.[5] According to the State Policy Network's website it seeks to "catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing independent think tanks."[6]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Bluegrass Institute's revenues and expenses from 2011 to 2024. The information comes from ProPublica
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $287,284 | $137,824 |
| 2023 | $244,458 | $264,759 |
| 2022 | $73,324 | $144,804 |
| 2021 | $245,718 | $318,258 |
| 2020 | $300,724 | $202,608 |
| 2019 | $265,060 | $236,770 |
| 2018 | $226,353 | $257,033 |
| 2017 | $280,362 | $294,319 |
| 2016 | $254,779 | $225,163 |
| 2015 | $228,367 | $216,229 |
| 2014 | $303,985 | $264,744 |
| 2013 | $272,382 | $280,587 |
| 2012 | $316,105 | $392,291 |
| 2011 | $329,547 | $466,950 |
See also
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Bluegrass Institute's official website
- Bluegrass Institute on Facebook
- Bluegrass Institute on X
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bluegrass Institute, "About the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions," accessed September 20, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bluegrass Institute, "Home," accessed September 20, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bluegrass Institute, "Bluegrass Institute announces Caleb O. Brown as Chief Executive Officer," April 22, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Louisville Business First, "Bluegrass Institute to launch voter-education Web site," July 8, 2005
- ↑ State Policy Center, "2024 State Policy Network Annual Report," accessed September 5, 2025
- ↑ State Policy Network, "About," accessed September 4, 2025
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