Independent Institute: mission, leadership and finances
Oakland, California think tank founded in 1986 that publishes scholarly books and studies on markets, law and history.
Organization
| Founded | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Oakland, CA |
| EIN | 94-3008370 |
| Tax status | 501(c)(3) |
| Website | independent.org |
Finances (IRS Form 990)
| Total revenue | $9.0 million |
|---|---|
| Total expenses | $5.3 million |
| Total assets | $12.7 million |
| Tax year | 2024 |
What it does
The Independent Institute is a nonprofit research organization in Oakland, California. It publishes academic-style books, studies and the Independent Review, and runs programs on economics, law, history, health, education, and foreign policy. It is known for a nonpartisan, libertarian orientation.
Independent 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
The institute was founded in 1986 by David J. Theroux, who has led it since. It has published long-form books and sponsored conferences and debates, and it prides itself on engaging critics.
Independent Institute is a think tank. It is headquartered in Oakland, CA. 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
It is funded by gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations. Its Form 990 is public.
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 2024: total revenue of $9.0 million, total expenses of $5.3 million and total assets of $12.7 million at year end. ProPublica lists the filer as Independent Institute. 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
The Independent Institute favors limited government and open markets, and takes critical views of some government programs. It says it is nonpartisan.
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 Cato Institute, Reason Foundation, Pacific Research Institute.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 8, 2026