About Institute for Progress
The Institute for Progress (IFP) is a non-partisan think tank focused on innovation policy. IFP works to accelerate and shape the direction of scientific, technological, and industrial progress in the United States by promoting pragmatic policy reforms that drive discoveries, attract talent, and expand national capacity to build.
Focus Areas
MetascienceBiotechnologyEmerging TechnologyHigh-Skilled ImmigrationInfrastructureAI policy and preparednessScience policy
Who They Fund
policymakers and regulatorsresearchers and scientiststechnology companies and startupshigh-skilled immigrant STEM workers
Funding Style
About Institute for Progress
Institute for Progress gave its largest recent grant, $367,994, to Trustees of Dartmouth College for research, underscoring its use of sizable research support to advance policy-relevant work. The foundation describes itself as a non-partisan think tank focused on innovation policy, with activity centered on scientific, technological, and industrial progress in the United States. Its grantmaking reaches into metascience, biotechnology, emerging technology, high-skilled immigration, infrastructure, AI policy and preparedness, and science policy. Another recent award went to the Federation of American Scientists for research, showing that the foundation works with organizations that produce analysis and policy ideas rather than funding individuals. The structure of the portfolio points to a funder that supports knowledge generation and project development around how the country discovers, governs, and scales new technologies. Its active programs also show a willingness to solicit proposals directly, including an open RFP for projects that prepare the world for advanced AI. Across the available record, the grants align with policy research, systems change, and capacity building for policy ecosystems.
What Institute for Progress Funds
In research support, Institute for Progress awarded $367,994 to Trustees of Dartmouth College for research, and $180,041 to the Federation of American Scientists for research. Those two grants show a clear interest in institutions that can produce evidence and policy analysis. The foundation also runs The Launch Sequence — Request for Proposals, which seeks projects that prepare the world for advanced AI and includes advanced AI safety, infrastructure, and governance among its focus areas. A separate active offering is the Economics of Ideas, Science, and Innovation — Online PhD Short Course, a 13-week free course in economics of ideas, science, and innovation delivered via Zoom. Together, these activities place emphasis on science policy, metascience, and AI governance.
How Institute for Progress Gives
Institute for Progress gives at a high per-grant level: the typical grant size sits at $227,029 at the 25th percentile, $274,018 at the median, and $321,006 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant record shows two 2024 awards, both to U.S. recipients, which points to institutional grants rather than a wide dispersal of small awards. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. It also has an open, unsolicited route in its active RFPs, including The Launch Sequence, which accepts proposals on a rolling basis.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$548K
Total Assets
$6.9M
Total Revenue
$8.2M
Total Expenses
$3.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $227K and $321K, with a median of $274K.
25th Percentile
$227K
Median
$274K
75th Percentile
$321K
Geographic Reach
Regional2 states funded
About 50% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ALEC STAPP
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeWant a Personalized Pitch for Institute for Progress?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime