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INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES

EIN 94-1623852 ARLINGTON, VA

Revenue 2024
$21,127,707
Expenses 2024
$20,443,149

Program services were 82.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
Classification
1200
Street
3434 WASHINGTON BLVD

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

The Institute discovers, develops, and supports students, scholars, and other intellectuals who maintain the highest standard of academic excellence and who share an interest in the principles of the classical liberal tradition.

  • Intellectual Talent Development:Intellectual Talent Development supports work and partnerships that identify, develop, and connect emerging scholars, thinkers, and practitioners who advance ideas that expand human freedom and flourishing.

    Expenses $5,540,016 · Grants $2,567,812

  • Liberalism, Pluralism, and Democracy:The Liberalism, Pluralism, and Democracy Initiative advances research and education that strengthen constitutional liberal democracy by promoting individual liberty, pluralism, free expression, and institutions that support peaceful coexistence and self governance.

    Expenses $4,236,436 · Grants $814,329 · Revenue $33,944

  • Economic Freedom and Abundance: Economic Freedom and Abundance supports work and partnerships that advance understanding of how economic freedom, markets, and entrepreneurship contribute to innovation, prosperity, and broad based human flourishing.

    Expenses $4,031,005 · Grants $841,399 · Revenue $12,694

  • ScholarsEdge:ScholarsEdge provides shared research infrastructure, analytical tools, and collaboration capabilities to help scholars and partner organizations accelerate research, public scholarship, and policy relevant impact.

    Expenses $1,850,389 · Grants $333 · Revenue $175,000

  • The Public Affairs Program:The Public Affairs Program seeks to inform alumni, faculty, and supporters about the efforts of the Institute and support the development of a network of faculty, supporters, and nonprofit allies who share an interest in classical liberal ideas.

    Expenses $1,116,322 · Grants $1,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Ryan Stowers

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tyler Cowen

    Vice Chairman

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brian Hooks

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chris Rufer

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Christopher Coyne

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • James Arthur Pope

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Todd Zywicki

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Virgil Storr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Emily Chamlee-Wright

    President & Chief Executive Officer

    Total calculated
    $572,498
    From this org
    $537,300
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,198
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $342,300
    Bonus
    $195,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $35,198
    Filer's total
    $572,498

  • Gary Leff

    Chief Financial Officer

    Total calculated
    $110,814
    From this org
    $99,836
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,978
    Hours/week
    10

  • Courtney Derr

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $377,498
    From this org
    $343,650
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,848
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $243,650
    Bonus
    $100,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,848
    Filer's total
    $377,498

  • Sarah Straw

    Chief of Staff

    Total calculated
    $229,434
    From this org
    $201,718
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,716
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,718
    Bonus
    $40,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,716
    Filer's total
    $229,434

  • Caroline Phelps

    Managing Director of Programs and Partnerships

    Total calculated
    $175,178
    From this org
    $175,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $178
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,000
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $178
    Filer's total
    $175,178

  • Michael Tolhurst

    Managing Dir of Bus Intelligence & Academic Relati

    Total calculated
    $153,519
    From this org
    $153,333
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $186
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $138,333
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $186
    Filer's total
    $153,519

  • Adam Wolter

    Senior Application Development Engineer

    Total calculated
    $159,397
    From this org
    $146,170
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,227
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $136,170
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,227
    Filer's total
    $159,397

  • Sharifa Ahmed

    Director of Human Resources

    Total calculated
    $152,647
    From this org
    $139,150
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,497
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $124,150
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,497
    Filer's total
    $152,647

  • Lindsey Jennings

    Director of Development

    Total calculated
    $157,786
    From this org
    $135,151
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,635
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,151
    Bonus
    $10,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,635
    Filer's total
    $157,786

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $21,127,707
    Expenses
    $20,443,149
    Contributions
    $19,673,897
    Grants paid
    $4,224,873
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $31,057,023
    Expenses
    $18,205,179
    Contributions
    $29,655,924
    Grants paid
    $3,538,090
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $17,158,040
    Expenses
    $18,258,109
    Contributions
    $15,884,481
    Grants paid
    $2,837,843

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $20,882,389
    Expenses
    $17,067,802
    Assets (EOY)
    $19,221,469

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,706,428
    Expenses
    $16,509,635
    Assets (EOY)
    $15,952,921

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $21,122,878
    Expenses
    $17,003,146
    Assets (EOY)
    $15,087,210

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $19,122,769
    Expenses
    $18,124,605
    Assets (EOY)
    $10,576,746

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $18,706,083
    Expenses
    $18,438,265
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,848,348

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $18,706,083
    Expenses
    $18,438,265
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,848,348

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,911,252
    Expenses
    $18,238,447
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,828,805

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $17,440,753
    Expenses
    $15,405,367
    Assets (EOY)
    $9,202,604

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $13,148,796
    Expenses
    $11,590,380
    Assets (EOY)
    $6,925,177

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $11,516,759
    Expenses
    $11,310,800
    Assets (EOY)
    $4,945,849

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Declared on its 2024 return

Declared as related by

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.