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Independence Institute
| Independence Institute | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Golden, CO |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Jon Caldara, president |
| Year founded: | 1985 |
The Independence Institute (II) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) public policy foundation located in Golden, CO. II was established as a policy research organization that participates in litigation, works on ballot initiatives and conducts investigative reporting and policy advocacy.[1]
Background
The Independence Institute was founded in 1985 by former Colorado State Senate President John Andrews.[2]
As of August 2025, the group's website listed the following mission statement:[1]
| “ | The mission of the Independence Institute is to empower individuals and to educate citizens, legislators and opinion makers about public policies that enhance personal and economic freedom.[3] | ” |
Leadership
As of August 2025, Jon Caldara is the Independence Institute's president.[4]
The following individuals were members of the organization's board of trustees as of August 2025:[5]
- Jon Caldara, President
- Deborah Donner
- Mark Hillman
- Mike Rosen
- Catherine Shopneck, Chairman
- Joseph Smith
- Dick Wadhams
Work and activities
Legislative and policy work
The Independence Institute gained national attention because of its involvement in debates over gun control, according to The Denver Post. The paper noted, "In Colorado, politicians and media look to the think tank's scholars for research to articulate free-market viewpoints."[6]
The group has a lobbyist in the Colorado Legislature.[7]
Independence Institute includes a variety of policy centers and projects that provide focus and expertise in a given area. Each area produces op-eds and publishes issue papers. Some of the institute's projects are outlined below:
Education Policy Center
The Education Policy Center "promotes issues such as school choice, school accountability, and teachers’ rights," according to its website.[8] On November 26, 2007 the Center launched the website School Choice For Kids, which provides information on school choice in English and Spanish.[9] This arm of the organization also publishes a website "Independent Teachers," which pertains to teacher union membership.[10]
Constitutional Studies Center
The Constitutional Studies Center was founded in 2010 and conducts "scholarship into the original understanding of the Constitution with advocacy for human freedom under law."[11]
Fiscal Policy Center
The Fiscal Policy Center produces "substantive policy analysis, educates the public on its findings, and promotes fiscal policy ideas centered around the principles of limited government, the free market, and the liberty of individuals and families to choose where their money goes."[12] The center studies and advocates on policies in the state legislature and the U.S. Congress.[13]
Healthcare Policy Center
The Healthcare Policy Center, established in 2002, focuses "on public policy that safeguards consumers’ ability to determine their own choices about their own health care and the care of their families."[14] The institute advocates on health care related bills in the state legislature and produces policy reports and op-eds.[14]
Ballot measure activity
Since 2024, Independence Institute has endorsed or opposed 15 ballot initiatives.
The Independence Institute had sought to place Colorado Right-to-Work Initiative on the ballot in 2026 but withdrew the measure in July 2025.[15]
In March 2025, Independence Institute and a group of news organizations and nonprofit groups announced their intention to place a constitutional amendment before Colorado voters in 2026 to increase public access to governmental records and public meetings.[16]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Independence Institute's revenues and expenses for the 2019 to 2024 fiscal years, according to filings with the Internal Revenue Service and compiled by Pro Publica:[17]
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,298,705 | $2,287,154 |
| 2023 | $3,644,899 | $2,746,053 |
| 2022 | $3,977,476 | $2,713,541 |
| 2021 | $3,066,130 | $2,744,939 |
| 2020 | $2,662,306 | $2,967,428 |
| 2019 | $3,782,950 | $3,524,664 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Independence Institute'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Independence Institute
- Independence Institute on YouTube
- Independence Institute on Twitter
- Independence Institute on Facebook
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Independence Institute, "About the Independence Institute," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ The Villager, "Reception honoring Independence Institute Founder John Andrews," March 5, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Our People," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Independence Institute Board of Trustees," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Denver Post, "Colorado's free-market Independence Institute finding its place," August 11, 2013
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Client Activity Search," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Education," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ [Schoolchoiceforkids.org SchoolChoiceforKids.org, "Home," accessed August 27, 2025]
- ↑ IndependentTeachers.org, "Home," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Constitution," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Fiscal Policy Center," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Independence Institute, "Colorado Legislature’s Over-Spending Problem Explained," January 29, 2025
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Independence Institute, "Health Care," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Westword, "Advocates Withdraw Dueling Labor Union Initiatives — But Ballot Battle Still Looms," July 31, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Newsline, "Coalition plans ‘right to know’ ballot initiative amid transparency concerns at Colorado Capitol," March 11, 2025
- ↑ ProPublica, "Independence Institute," accessed August 27, 2025
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