The Institute for Humane Studies
| The Institute for Humane Studies | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Fairfax, Virginia |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Emily Chamlee-Wright |
| Year founded: | 1961 |
| Website: | Official website |
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a libertarian nonprofit organization that works with individuals in the academic community and advocates "promot[ing] the teaching and research of classical liberal ideas."[1]
Background
The IHS was founded by Dr. F.A. "Baldy" Harper in 1961 in Menlo Park, California. Harper was a former economics professor at Cornell University. The organization moved to Fairfax, Virginia, in 1985, and became associated with George Mason University at that time.[2]
As of November 2025, IHS's website said their mission was "to support the achievement of a freer society by advancing the principles and practices of freedom."[3] IHS's website also said they "seek to spark a renewed Enlightenment movement that celebrates and advances the principles underlying the American Dream: political, economic, intellectual, and civic freedom."[3]
Leadership
Below is a list of The Institute for Humane Studies' leadership as of November 2025:
- Emily Chamblee-Wright, President and CEO
- Courtney Derr, Executive Director
- Gary Leff, Chief Financial Officer
- Sarah Straw, Chief of Staff
- Sharifa Ahmed, Director of Human Resources
- Lindsey Jennings, Director of Development
- Michael Tolhurst, Managing Director of Business Intelligence and Academic Relations
- Jim Ronyak, Managing Director of Information Technology
- Aaron Powell, Senior Direcor of Programs
- Sam Johnson, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Work and activities
Policy work
IHS's website as of November 2025 said its research and policy work focuses on four core principles. The organization refers to these as the "Four Corners of Liberalism.[5]
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As of November 2025, IHS's website said it was focused on the following initiatives:[5]
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Notable endorsements
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Finances
The following is a breakdown of the Institute for Humane Studies' revenues and expenses for the 2011 to 2024 fiscal years, according to documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service and compiled by ProPublica.[7]
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,057,023 | $18,205,179 |
| 2023 | $17,158,040 | $18,258,109 |
| 2022 | $20,882,389 | $17,067,802 |
| 2021 | $17,706,428 | $16,509,635 |
| 2020 | $21,122,878 | $17,003,146 |
| 2019 | $19,122,769 | $18,124,605 |
| 2018 | $18,706,083 | $18,438,265 |
| 2017 | $17,911,252 | $18,238,447 |
| 2016 | $17,440,753 | $15,405,367 |
| 2015 | $13,148,796 | $11,590,380 |
| 2014 | $11,516,759 | $11,310,800 |
| 2013 | $11,295,322 | $11,449,892 |
| 2012 | $10,540,894 | $11,236,296 |
| 2011 | $9,904,619 | $8,632,911 |
Contact information
Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University
3434 Washington Blvd.
Vernon Smith Hall, 1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: 703-993-4880
Recent news
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- All stories may not be relevant to this organization due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Institute for Humane Studies, "Who We Are," accessed July 19, 2021
- ↑ Institute for Humane Studies, "History & Mission," accessed November 22, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Institute for Humane Studies, "About IHS, accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ Institute for Humane Studies, "About IHS," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Institute for Humane Studies, "Our Initiatives," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ ProPublica, "Institute For Humane Studies," accessed November 17, 2025
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