American Enterprise Institute: mission, leadership and finances
Washington think tank founded in 1938 that studies economics, foreign and defense policy, politics, health care, education and society.
Also known as AEI
Organization
| Founded | 1938 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, DC |
| EIN | 53-0218495 |
| Tax status | 501(c)(3) |
| Website | aei.org |
Finances (IRS Form 990)
| Total revenue | $53.8 million |
|---|---|
| Total expenses | $66.8 million |
| Total assets | $348.4 million |
| Tax year | 2023 |
What it does
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, usually called AEI, is a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C. Its scholars work on economic policy, foreign and defense policy, politics and public opinion, health care, education and social welfare. AEI says it is committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity and strengthening free enterprise.
American Enterprise Institute is listed here in the category "Think tanks". A listing on 4conservative.com describes an organization; it is not an endorsement of it or of its positions.
History
AEI was established in 1938 as the American Enterprise Association and moved to Washington in the 1950s. It grew substantially in the 1970s, and several of its scholars have served in Republican administrations. Its scholars hold differing views on specific questions such as trade, immigration and foreign policy.
American Enterprise Institute is a think tank. It is headquartered in Washington, DC. Its IRS tax status is 501(c)(3). Like other organizations in this collection, it is described here from its own published material and from public records, and the facts on this page are limited to what those sources state.
Leadership and funding
AEI is a nonprofit supported by individual, foundation and corporate donors. It lists its president, trustees and scholars on its website and files an annual Form 990 with the IRS.
The IRS figures on this page come from the latest Form 990 filing that ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer lists for the organization, for tax year 2023: total revenue of $53.8 million, total expenses of $66.8 million and total assets of $348.4 million at year end. ProPublica lists the filer as American Enterprise Institute For Public Policy Research. The figures describe a single tax year and can differ sharply from year to year; check the filing itself and the organization's own site for the current picture.
Where it stands
AEI says its scholars publish work under their own names rather than an institutional line. Its stated themes are free enterprise, limited government and a strong American role in the world.
These summaries reflect the organization's own stated mission and publicly known activities as of the date below; they are neutral descriptions, not evaluations. Related organizations on this site include The Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, Hudson Institute.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 8, 2026