About Mercatus Center
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University advances classical liberal, market-oriented ideas by conducting policy-relevant economic research and cultivating scholars and public intellectuals who influence institutions and policy.
Focus Areas
Economic researchPublic policyHigher education and fellowshipsTalent development and trainingInnovation and entrepreneurship (Emergent Ventures)Monetary and fiscal policyState and local policy (housing, labor, regulation)
Who They Fund
universities and collegesacademic researchers/facultystudents (higher education)
Funding Style
project-based research grants
About Mercatus Center
Mercatus Center Inc uses competitive fellowships and research grants to move classical liberal, market-oriented ideas into policy, scholarship, and student training. A defining feature of its grantmaking is the mix of university-based research support and structured talent development: the largest recent grant went to the University of Washington Seattle for $4,195,000 in research grants, while George Mason University received multiple awards across student development, education, and research. The center also backs specialized pathways for scholars at different stages, from PhD fellowships and undergraduate programs to online fellowships for high school students and early-career researchers. The grant list shows a funder that supports both institutions and individuals through affiliated programs, with awards tied to research, education, and public-facing scholarship. Its named programs include fellowships for economics, political economy, and institutional analysis, along with Emergent Ventures for innovators working on scalable ideas. Recent awards also extend beyond one campus, with grants to Cornell University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, and the Kyiv School of Economics. Across these relationships, the center appears to combine long-horizon academic support with shorter-form project funding and student pipeline building.
What Mercatus Center Funds
In higher education and research, Mercatus Center Inc backed the University of Washington Seattle with $4,195,000 for research grants, and also awarded Cornell University $332,113 in 2024 and $321,113 in 2025 for research and education grants. That pattern points to sustained support for university-based economic and policy research. Its fellowship and training work reaches earlier-stage scholars too. George Mason University received $764,235 in 2024 for student development and education, while the George Mason University Foundation received $223,000 in 2023 for university research and teaching and $166,000 in 2024 for student development and education. The center also funds education and research linked to international policy questions. Kyiv School of Economics received $1,100,000 in 2025 and $1,000,000 in 2024, both for research and education, showing continued support for that institution. Innovation and entrepreneurship are represented through Emergent Ventures, a program described as supporting scalable, zero-to-one ideas that can improve society.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.9M
Total Assets
$43.5M
Total Revenue
$48.3M
Total Expenses
$40.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $65K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$65K
Geographic Reach
National36 states funded
About 6% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Gary Leff
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