FIRE defends and sustains the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the essential qualities of liberty.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Inc backs work centered on free speech, academic freedom, and First Amendment defense, and its recent grants show a strong preference for research and convening rather than only direct advocacy. The largest recent award in the dataset went to Cosmos Institute Inc for a fast-grants project on the development of truth-seeking AI, pointing to a newer lane in FIRE’s support for public discourse and expression. Other major grants pair FIRE with universities and public institutions to study controversial speech, campus norms, and the conditions that shape disagreement. The foundation also funds collaborative projects that extend FIRE’s mission into public-facing education and coalition building. It supported Alumni Free Speech Alliance to help cover overhead and administrative costs while that group works with FIRE to develop more independent alumni groups across the country. It also funded the National Constitution Center for a First Amendment summit on Constitution Day, reflecting a pattern of convening scholars, students, and civic audiences around constitutional questions. Across the grant list, the recurring thread is expression: how it is protected, measured, debated, and taught.
A major theme is research on campus speech and student attitudes. FIRE gave $50,000 to President and Fellows of Harvard College for an intervention study testing civil disagreement training through AI chatbots, and $31,400 to California State University Long Beach to create a general-population baseline for comparing college free speech rankings survey results. Another cluster focuses on legal and policy questions around speech. The foundation awarded $20,000 to New York University for a database of SLAPP lawsuits across the USA, and $21,600 to Regents of the University of California for a qualitative study of divisive-concept bills in Texas and Florida and reactions from lawmakers and faculty. It also supports public education and pluralism work. FIRE gave $20,000 to Mercatus Center for a pluralism lab on free speech and content moderation, and $36,000 to Junior State of America for free speech programming at three spring conventions for high school students.
$567K
$74.1M
$40M
$29.7M
Most grants fall between $12K and $33K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$33K
About 18% of grants go to recipients in CA.
GREGORY LUKIANOFF
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Typical grant sizes are relatively modest: p25 is $12,283, the median is $20,800, and p75 is $32,600. The recent list also includes a few larger outliers, but most awards cluster in the low tens of thousands. The foundation appears to use project grants, research support, summit sponsorships, and overhead assistance. Recurrence is visible in several organizations: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania appears multiple times, and the National Constitution Center received grants in both 2024 and 2025. The program list includes the FIRE Free-Speech Essay Contest, which accepts unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is national and entirely U.S.-based in the recent sample, with recipients in 42 grants across 100% U.S. locations. The top state by grant count is Arizona, even though the headquarters is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia appears repeatedly among recipients, including the University of Pennsylvania and the National Constitution Center. Other frequent recipient hubs include New York City, Washington, DC, and Austin, along with university locations such as Berkeley, Long Beach, and Tampa.
The foundation supports free speech advocacy, academic freedom, First Amendment litigation, campus policy reform, student and faculty rights, public policy and legislative advocacy, research and rankings, and media and public education. Recent grants also show support for AI and public discourse projects, content moderation, and studies of controversial speech.
Yes. The FIRE Free-Speech Essay Contest is listed as an active grant program, focused on free speech and education, and it accepts unsolicited applications.
The distribution centers on smaller project awards: the 25th percentile is $12,283, the median is $20,800, and the 75th percentile is $32,600. That suggests most grants are in the low tens of thousands, with a few larger awards standing out.
No. The grantmaking scope is national, and the recent grants are all to U.S. recipients. The foundation gives most often in Arizona by count, while Philadelphia recipients also appear repeatedly in the recent list.
Yes. The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania appears more than once in the recent grants list, and the National Constitution Center received grants in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests some repeat partnering rather than purely one-time awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COSMOS INSTITUTE INC | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | FIRE AND COSMOS INSTITUTE ARE COLLABORATING ON A FAST GRANTS PROJECT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRUTH-SEEKING AI. |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | THIS IS AN INTERVENTION STUDY THAT WILL TEST THE HKS PRACTICE OF TRAINING STUDENTS IN CIVIL DISAGREEMENT BY HAVING THEM INTERACT WITH AI CHATBOTS TO DEBATE HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUES AS PART OF ORIENTATION. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS RELATING TO CIVIL DISAGREEMENT WILL BE MEASURED BEFORE AND AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE INTERVENTION. |
| THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH | NASHVILLE, TN | $35,144 | 2025 | THIS WILL BE AN INTERNATIONAL REPLICATION OF THE CFSR SURVEY LOOKING AT BRAZILIAN CAMPUSES RUN BY JACOB MCHANGAMA'S FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY. |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2025 | JOHN HASNAS WILL RECRUIT PAPER WRITERS AND SPEAKERS TO HOST A SYMPOSIUM ON THE ETHICS OF FREE SPEECH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AT GEORGETOWN, WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. |
| NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER TO HOST A FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT ON CONSTITUTION DAY. |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES | TAMPA, FL | $24,279 | 2025 | MARK PEZZO WILL DO 5 PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT FACTORS INFLUENCE DESIRE TO CENSOR IN THE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT, INCLUDING PERCEIVED OFFENSIVENESS, FALSITY, AND HARM, AS WELL AS PRAGMATIC CONCERNS (LOSS OF INCOME, HARM TO REPUTATION). |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $22,000 | 2025 | SURVEYS WILL BE UTILIZED TO FIND DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR THE LEGALITY OF DISAGREEABLE SPEECH AND PROTEST FOR CITIZENS AND NONCITIZENS AND STUDENTS AND NON-STUDENTS. |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY | ARLINGTON, VA | $18,500 | 2025 | CO-HOSTED HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT IN NASHVILLE, TN WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES FOR FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS. |
| 2WAY INTERACTIVE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $17,500 | 2025 | FIRE SPONSORED THE MOYNIHAN REPORT, A CURRENT EVENTS NEWS SHOW HOSTED BY MICHAEL MOYNIHAN ON THE 2WAY PLATFORM. THE SPONSORSHIP FEATURED FIRE STAFF IN SEGMENTS, HOST-LED ADVOCACY, AND DIRECT FUNDRAISING APPEALS THAT INVITED VIEWERS TO SUPPORT FIRE'S FREE SPEECH MISSION. |
| ELENA VELEZ INDUSTRY INC | COLGATE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | PARTNERSHIP WITH ELENA VELEZ TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE EXPRESSION AT HER FASHION SHOW IN NYC. |
| MOVIEGOER INC | BILLINGS, MT | $15,000 | 2025 | INCREASE FIRE'S NETWORK OF ALLIES AND BUILD GENUINE, SELF-SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS TO ADVANCE FIRE'S MISSION. |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | FORT WORTH, TX | $13,846 | 2025 | CHIP STEWART WILL RUN AN EXPERIMENT EXPOSING PEOPLE TO LABELED AND UNLABELED AI-GENERATED CONTENT AND AUTHENTIC CONTENT TO SEE WHETHER AND HOW LABELING IMPACTS PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF THAT CONTENT, TO HELP UNDERSTAND IMPLICATIONS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION MANDATING LABELING ON AI-GENERATION CONTENT. |
| BALAKER MEDIA FOUNDATION | FALLBROOK, CA | $12,425 | 2025 | PROJECT TO CREATE A FREE EXPRESSION COUNTERBALANCE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $12,050 | 2025 | EDWARD HOHE WILL USE A SURVEY INSTRUMENT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW STUDENTS WHO SELF-CENSOR CONCEPTUALIZE THAT SELF-CENSORSHIP, BY OFFERING HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS AND SEEING WHAT VARIABLES CAUSE THEM TO INDICATE THAT THEY WOULDN'T SELF-CENSOR. |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $11,000 | 2025 | RUNNING A SURVEY ON ACADEMICS TO SEE WHETHER AND HOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND MAY RELATE TO VIEWS ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH, TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THOSE FROM DIVERSE, BLUE COLLAR, OR LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS MAY SHOW GREATER TOLERANCE FOR DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND HETERODOX VIEWS THAN ACADEMICS THAT COME FROM HOMOGENEOUS, ELITE, OR HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | JACOB BRUGGERMAN WILL CREATE AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE DEBATES OF THE CLIPPER CHIP, AN EARLY ENCRYPTION DEVICE THAT CAUSED MASSIVE DEBATES ABOUT PRIVACY AS A CIVIL LIBERTY, AND PRESAGED THE MANY DEBATES OVER PRIVACY AND TECH OF THE COMING DECADES. |
| ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE | LANCASTER, SC | $173,800 | 2024 | PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE TO COVER OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WHILE AFSA PARTNERS WITH FIRE TO DEVELOP MORE INDEPENDENT ALUMNI GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $49,200 | 2024 | TWO STUDIES, ONE USING SURVEY DATA TO SEE HOW POLITICAL SPEECH IN THE WORKPLACE HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND ANOTHER USING SURVEYS FROM NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH COUNCIL TO SEE HOW MINOR CHANGES IN SITUATIONS AND CONTEXT REGARDING CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH CHANGE SUPPORT FOR A SPEAKER'S FREE EXPRESSION. |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (GRANTS) | CHICAGO, IL | $37,384 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR STUDY LOOKING AT HOW DEI STATEMENTS FROM DIFFERENT IDEOLOGICAL POINTS OF VIEW ARE EVALUATED. |
| BALAKER MEDIA FOUNDATION | FALLBROOK, CA | $37,275 | 2024 | PROJECT TO CREATE A FREE EXPRESSION COUNTERBALANCE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. |
| JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA | OAKLAND, CA | $36,000 | 2024 | FUNDING PROVIDED TO CREATE FREE SPEECH PROGRAMMING AT THREE OF JSA'S SPRING CONVENTIONS TO EDUCATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE BENEFITS OF FREE SPEECH. |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS | FAYETTEVILLE, AR | $33,593 | 2024 | A PROJECT WITH TWO COMPONENTS: A QUANTITATIVE COMPONENT LOOKING AT FIRE'S CAMPUS FREE SPEECH RATINGS TO SEE HOW CERTAIN CAMPUS FACTORS PREDICT STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS FREE SPEECH AND A QUALITATIVE COMPONENT INVOLVING INTERVIEWS OF 20 SCHOLARS IDENTIFIED IN SCHOLARS UNDER FIRE. |
| PEMBROKE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC | WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | $33,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR A DIGITAL HUMANITIES PROJECT VISUALIZING THE EVOLUTION OF FIRST AMENDMENT-LIKE PROTECTIONS IN STATE CONSTITUTIONS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH JUDGES WHO INTERPRET SAID PROTECTIONS. |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH | LONG BEACH, CA | $31,400 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROJECT TO CREATE A GENERAL POPULATION BASELINE AGAINST WHICH TO COMPARE THE RESULTS OF THE COLLEGE FREE SPEECH RANKINGS SURVEY. |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY | FAIRFAX, VA | $25,015 | 2024 | USING THE MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE OF NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING TO EXAMINE IF THERE IS PUBLICATION BIAS IN TOP-TIER ACADEMIC JOURNALS FOR OR AGAINST CERTAIN PERSPECTIVES ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, SUCH AS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING, MICROAGGRESSIONS, MINIMUM WAGE, AND VIOLENCE IN VIDEO GAMES. |
| NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | FUNDING PROVIDED TO CO-HOST A FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2023. |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $22,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR A STUDY LOOKING AT WHETHER IDEOLOGICAL PREFERENCES ARE SIGNALLED IN EDUCATION SCHOOL JOB POSTINGS AND IF THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME. |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY | BERKELEY, CA | $22,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR STUDY EXAMINING WHETHER THERE IS IDEOLOGICAL BIAS IN FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING PROJECTS. |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | RIVERSIDE, CA | $21,600 | 2024 | QUALITATIVE STUDY LOOKING AT DIVISIVE CONCEPT BILLS IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA, AND EXAMINING BOTH LAWMAKERS' MOTIVATIONS FOR PROPOSING THE LEGISLATION, AND FACULTY MEMBERS' REACTIONS TO THE LEGISLATION, INVOLVING DIRECT INTERVIEWS OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS AND ARCHIVAL RESEARCH ON FLOOR DEBATE OVER THE LEGISLATION. |
| MERCATUS CENTER | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2024 | FUNDING PROVIDED TO CO-HOST A PLURALISM LAB ON THE TOPIC OF FREE SPEECH AND CONTENT MODERATION TO EDUCATE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS. |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR THEIR NEW PROJECT CATELOGUING AND CREATING A DATABASE OF SLAPP LAWSUITS ACROSS THE USA |
| NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT INCLUDING PROMOTION TO UNIVERSITIES FOR VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OUTREACH FOR ADOPTION OF FREE SPEECH ORIENTATION MATERIALS |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $13,860 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR PROJECT STUDYING WHETHER VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY AFFECTS SUCCESS IN GROUP PROBLEM-SOLVING |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $13,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR A STUDY LOOKING AT POLITICAL STATEMENTS ISSUED BY ACADEMIC JOURNALS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS |
| THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | MERCED, CA | $13,200 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT EXAMINING THE SCHOLARLY OUTPUT OF ACADEMICS BEFORE AND AFTER THEY FACE CONTROVERSIES RELATED TO THEIR SPEECH. |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA | MERCED, CA | $11,977 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR STUDY EXAMINING HOW MISPERCEPTIONS OF PARTISAN BELIEFS IMPACTS THE CONSEQUENCES SUBJECTS THINK ARE APPROPRIATE FOR SPEECH |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | CONDUCTING STUDIES TO FOLLOW UP ON A REPLICATED FINDING OF "MOTIVATED CONFUSION, OR THE TENDENCY FOR PEOPLE TO CLAIM THAT OFFENSIVE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AS A WAY OF SUPPRESSING RESEARCH THAT ONE FINDS MORALLY OFFENSIVE. |
| UNC ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE | RICHMOND, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OUTREACH EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION. |
| MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OUTREACH EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION. |
| NEW TOLERANCE CAMPAIGN | ORO VALLEY, AZ | $10,000 | 2024 | FUNDING PROVIDED TO SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS AT EMERSON COLLEGE AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO PROMOTE FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS. |
| HARVARD ALUMNI FOR FREE SPEECH | NAPLES, FL | $7,500 | 2024 | SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION. |
| RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY | PISCATAWAY, NJ | $6,500 | 2024 | WE ARE FUNDING THE STARTUP COSTS OF A NEW JOURNAL BEING LAUNCHED BY LEE, DEDICATED TO PROTECTING ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE INQUIRY, CALLED THE JOURNAL FOR OPEN INQUIRY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. JOIBS HAS A UNIQUE PUBLISHING MODEL, CALLED PEER REVIEW WITH MINIMAL GATEKEEPING MEANT TO COUNTER CENSORSHIP. |
| ARTHUR L CARTER JOURNALISM INSTITUTE AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | FUNDS FOR COLLABORATING ON AND PROMOTING A CURRICULUM EDUCATING COLLEGE STUDENTS ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. |
| CORNELL FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $18,800 | 2023 | FUNDS FOR SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING FREE EXPRESSION, VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY, AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM ON CAMPUS. |
COSMOS INSTITUTE INC
$250,000FIRE AND COSMOS INSTITUTE ARE COLLABORATING ON A FAST GRANTS PROJECT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRUTH-SEEKING AI.
THIS IS AN INTERVENTION STUDY THAT WILL TEST THE HKS PRACTICE OF TRAINING STUDENTS IN CIVIL DISAGREEMENT BY HAVING THEM INTERACT WITH AI CHATBOTS TO DEBATE HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUES AS PART OF ORIENTATION. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS RELATING TO CIVIL DISAGREEMENT WILL BE MEASURED BEFORE AND AFTER EXPOSURE TO THE INTERVENTION.
THE FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH
$35,144THIS WILL BE AN INTERNATIONAL REPLICATION OF THE CFSR SURVEY LOOKING AT BRAZILIAN CAMPUSES RUN BY JACOB MCHANGAMA'S FUTURE OF FREE SPEECH AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY.
JOHN HASNAS WILL RECRUIT PAPER WRITERS AND SPEAKERS TO HOST A SYMPOSIUM ON THE ETHICS OF FREE SPEECH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AT GEORGETOWN, WHICH WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER TO HOST A FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT ON CONSTITUTION DAY.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
$24,279MARK PEZZO WILL DO 5 PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS TO SEE HOW DIFFERENT FACTORS INFLUENCE DESIRE TO CENSOR IN THE EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT, INCLUDING PERCEIVED OFFENSIVENESS, FALSITY, AND HARM, AS WELL AS PRAGMATIC CONCERNS (LOSS OF INCOME, HARM TO REPUTATION).
SURVEYS WILL BE UTILIZED TO FIND DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR THE LEGALITY OF DISAGREEABLE SPEECH AND PROTEST FOR CITIZENS AND NONCITIZENS AND STUDENTS AND NON-STUDENTS.
CO-HOSTED HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT IN NASHVILLE, TN WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES FOR FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS.
2WAY INTERACTIVE INC
$17,500FIRE SPONSORED THE MOYNIHAN REPORT, A CURRENT EVENTS NEWS SHOW HOSTED BY MICHAEL MOYNIHAN ON THE 2WAY PLATFORM. THE SPONSORSHIP FEATURED FIRE STAFF IN SEGMENTS, HOST-LED ADVOCACY, AND DIRECT FUNDRAISING APPEALS THAT INVITED VIEWERS TO SUPPORT FIRE'S FREE SPEECH MISSION.
ELENA VELEZ INDUSTRY INC
$15,000PARTNERSHIP WITH ELENA VELEZ TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE EXPRESSION AT HER FASHION SHOW IN NYC.
MOVIEGOER INC
$15,000INCREASE FIRE'S NETWORK OF ALLIES AND BUILD GENUINE, SELF-SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS TO ADVANCE FIRE'S MISSION.
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
$13,846CHIP STEWART WILL RUN AN EXPERIMENT EXPOSING PEOPLE TO LABELED AND UNLABELED AI-GENERATED CONTENT AND AUTHENTIC CONTENT TO SEE WHETHER AND HOW LABELING IMPACTS PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF THAT CONTENT, TO HELP UNDERSTAND IMPLICATIONS OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION MANDATING LABELING ON AI-GENERATION CONTENT.
BALAKER MEDIA FOUNDATION
$12,425PROJECT TO CREATE A FREE EXPRESSION COUNTERBALANCE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,050EDWARD HOHE WILL USE A SURVEY INSTRUMENT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW STUDENTS WHO SELF-CENSOR CONCEPTUALIZE THAT SELF-CENSORSHIP, BY OFFERING HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS AND SEEING WHAT VARIABLES CAUSE THEM TO INDICATE THAT THEY WOULDN'T SELF-CENSOR.
RUNNING A SURVEY ON ACADEMICS TO SEE WHETHER AND HOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND MAY RELATE TO VIEWS ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH, TO TEST THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THOSE FROM DIVERSE, BLUE COLLAR, OR LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS MAY SHOW GREATER TOLERANCE FOR DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND HETERODOX VIEWS THAN ACADEMICS THAT COME FROM HOMOGENEOUS, ELITE, OR HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS.
JACOB BRUGGERMAN WILL CREATE AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE DEBATES OF THE CLIPPER CHIP, AN EARLY ENCRYPTION DEVICE THAT CAUSED MASSIVE DEBATES ABOUT PRIVACY AS A CIVIL LIBERTY, AND PRESAGED THE MANY DEBATES OVER PRIVACY AND TECH OF THE COMING DECADES.
ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE
$173,800PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE TO COVER OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WHILE AFSA PARTNERS WITH FIRE TO DEVELOP MORE INDEPENDENT ALUMNI GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TWO STUDIES, ONE USING SURVEY DATA TO SEE HOW POLITICAL SPEECH IN THE WORKPLACE HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND ANOTHER USING SURVEYS FROM NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH COUNCIL TO SEE HOW MINOR CHANGES IN SITUATIONS AND CONTEXT REGARDING CONTROVERSIAL SPEECH CHANGE SUPPORT FOR A SPEAKER'S FREE EXPRESSION.
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (GRANTS)
$37,384SUPPORT FOR STUDY LOOKING AT HOW DEI STATEMENTS FROM DIFFERENT IDEOLOGICAL POINTS OF VIEW ARE EVALUATED.
BALAKER MEDIA FOUNDATION
$37,275PROJECT TO CREATE A FREE EXPRESSION COUNTERBALANCE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.
JUNIOR STATE OF AMERICA
$36,000FUNDING PROVIDED TO CREATE FREE SPEECH PROGRAMMING AT THREE OF JSA'S SPRING CONVENTIONS TO EDUCATE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE BENEFITS OF FREE SPEECH.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
$33,593A PROJECT WITH TWO COMPONENTS: A QUANTITATIVE COMPONENT LOOKING AT FIRE'S CAMPUS FREE SPEECH RATINGS TO SEE HOW CERTAIN CAMPUS FACTORS PREDICT STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS FREE SPEECH AND A QUALITATIVE COMPONENT INVOLVING INTERVIEWS OF 20 SCHOLARS IDENTIFIED IN SCHOLARS UNDER FIRE.
PEMBROKE COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC
$33,000SUPPORT FOR A DIGITAL HUMANITIES PROJECT VISUALIZING THE EVOLUTION OF FIRST AMENDMENT-LIKE PROTECTIONS IN STATE CONSTITUTIONS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH JUDGES WHO INTERPRET SAID PROTECTIONS.
SUPPORT FOR PROJECT TO CREATE A GENERAL POPULATION BASELINE AGAINST WHICH TO COMPARE THE RESULTS OF THE COLLEGE FREE SPEECH RANKINGS SURVEY.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
$25,015USING THE MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUE OF NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING TO EXAMINE IF THERE IS PUBLICATION BIAS IN TOP-TIER ACADEMIC JOURNALS FOR OR AGAINST CERTAIN PERSPECTIVES ON CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, SUCH AS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMMING, MICROAGGRESSIONS, MINIMUM WAGE, AND VIOLENCE IN VIDEO GAMES.
FUNDING PROVIDED TO CO-HOST A FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2023.
SUPPORT FOR A STUDY LOOKING AT WHETHER IDEOLOGICAL PREFERENCES ARE SIGNALLED IN EDUCATION SCHOOL JOB POSTINGS AND IF THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
$22,000SUPPORT FOR STUDY EXAMINING WHETHER THERE IS IDEOLOGICAL BIAS IN FEDERAL SCIENCE FUNDING PROJECTS.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$21,600QUALITATIVE STUDY LOOKING AT DIVISIVE CONCEPT BILLS IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA, AND EXAMINING BOTH LAWMAKERS' MOTIVATIONS FOR PROPOSING THE LEGISLATION, AND FACULTY MEMBERS' REACTIONS TO THE LEGISLATION, INVOLVING DIRECT INTERVIEWS OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS AND ARCHIVAL RESEARCH ON FLOOR DEBATE OVER THE LEGISLATION.
FUNDING PROVIDED TO CO-HOST A PLURALISM LAB ON THE TOPIC OF FREE SPEECH AND CONTENT MODERATION TO EDUCATE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS.
SUPPORT FOR THEIR NEW PROJECT CATELOGUING AND CREATING A DATABASE OF SLAPP LAWSUITS ACROSS THE USA
SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT SUMMIT INCLUDING PROMOTION TO UNIVERSITIES FOR VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OUTREACH FOR ADOPTION OF FREE SPEECH ORIENTATION MATERIALS
SUPPORT FOR PROJECT STUDYING WHETHER VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY AFFECTS SUCCESS IN GROUP PROBLEM-SOLVING
SUPPORT FOR A STUDY LOOKING AT POLITICAL STATEMENTS ISSUED BY ACADEMIC JOURNALS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$13,200SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT EXAMINING THE SCHOLARLY OUTPUT OF ACADEMICS BEFORE AND AFTER THEY FACE CONTROVERSIES RELATED TO THEIR SPEECH.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
$11,977SUPPORT FOR STUDY EXAMINING HOW MISPERCEPTIONS OF PARTISAN BELIEFS IMPACTS THE CONSEQUENCES SUBJECTS THINK ARE APPROPRIATE FOR SPEECH
CONDUCTING STUDIES TO FOLLOW UP ON A REPLICATED FINDING OF "MOTIVATED CONFUSION, OR THE TENDENCY FOR PEOPLE TO CLAIM THAT OFFENSIVE SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS ARE INCOMPREHENSIBLE, AS A WAY OF SUPPRESSING RESEARCH THAT ONE FINDS MORALLY OFFENSIVE.
UNC ALUMNI FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE
$10,000SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OUTREACH EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION.
SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OUTREACH EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION.
FUNDING PROVIDED TO SUPPORT CAMPAIGNS AT EMERSON COLLEGE AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY TO PROMOTE FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS.
HARVARD ALUMNI FOR FREE SPEECH
$7,500SUPPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES FOR A NEW INDEPENDENT FREE SPEECH FOCUSED ALUMNI ORGANIZATION.
RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
$6,500WE ARE FUNDING THE STARTUP COSTS OF A NEW JOURNAL BEING LAUNCHED BY LEE, DEDICATED TO PROTECTING ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE INQUIRY, CALLED THE JOURNAL FOR OPEN INQUIRY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. JOIBS HAS A UNIQUE PUBLISHING MODEL, CALLED PEER REVIEW WITH MINIMAL GATEKEEPING MEANT TO COUNTER CENSORSHIP.
FUNDS FOR COLLABORATING ON AND PROMOTING A CURRICULUM EDUCATING COLLEGE STUDENTS ABOUT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
CORNELL FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE
$18,800FUNDS FOR SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING FREE EXPRESSION, VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY, AND ACADEMIC FREEDOM ON CAMPUS.