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Show-Me Institute
| Show-Me Institute | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Brenda Talent, CEO |
| Founder(s): | Rex Sinquefield, Crosby Kemper III, Michael Podgursky |
| Year founded: | 2005 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Show-Me Institute (SMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, free-market research and education organization in Missouri. Founded in 2005, it is "dedicated to promoting free markets and individual liberty"[1]
Background
The Show-Me Institute was founded in 2005 by Rex Sinquefield, Crosby Kemper III, and Michael Podgursky. As of July 2025, their website said their mission "is to advance liberty with individual responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy."[1]
Leadership
As of July 2025, the following were listed as members of the Board of Directors:[2]
- James G. Forsyth, III, chairman and treasurer
- Rex Sinquefield, president
- Megan Holekamp, vice chairman
- W. Bevis Schock, secretary
- Jennifer Bukowsky
- Joseph Forshaw
- Louis Griesemer
- Hon. Robert M. Heller
- Gregg Keller
- Crosby Kemper III
- John Lamping
- Michael Podgursky
- Carter Smith
Work and activities
Research
SMI conducts research on many issues facing Missouri. According to their website, they "study public policy problems and develop proposals to increase economic opportunity for ordinary Missourians. The Institute then promotes these solutions by publishing studies, briefing papers, and other educational materials, which help policymakers, the media, and the general public gain a better understanding of the issues."[1]
Issue advocacy
SMI has weighed in on Missouri issues. According to <St. Louis Public Radio</>'s Jason Rosenbaum and Jo Mannies, the organization tends to weigh in on economic and educational matters. It has been ardent in support of 'school choice' and against some economic development tax incentives."[3]
"Show Me Living"
Show Me Living was a project to increase government transparency and increase citizen knowledge on a number of state issues. It included the development of an online tax estimator and information on education, including report cards on schools, school ranks, district ranks, and other documents.[4]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of Show-Me Institute's revenues and expenses from 2015 to 2022. The information comes from the Internal Revenue Service
| Year | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $1,733,597 | $1,419,361 |
| 2016 | $1,683,889 | $1,387,285 |
| 2017 | $1,777,870 | $1,428,232 |
| 2018 | $1,748,346 | $1,612,119 |
| 2019 | $1,708,059 | $1,556,894 |
| 2020 | $1,575,418 | $1,376,351 |
| 2021 | $1,679,107 | $1,533,818 |
| 2022 | $1,786,949 | $1,611,384 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Show-Me Institute. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- Show Me Institute
- SMI YouTube channel
- SMI blog - Show Me Daily
- SMI group on Facebook
- Policy Pulse
- Show Me Living
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Show Me Institute, "About," accessed July 22, 2025
- ↑ Show Me Institute, "Show-Me Institute Board of Directors," accessed July 22, 2025
- ↑ STLPR, "Politically Speaking: Show Me Institute's Brenda Talent discusses her group's 'free market' agenda," December 30, 2015
- ↑ Show Me Living, "Show me Taxes," accessed July 22, 2025
