The Searle Freedom Trust makes focused, large-scale grants to organizations that produce state-level public policy research and advocacy. Its single reported grant funds the State Policy Network, indicating a preference for supporting research infrastructure that advances free‑market and limited‑government policy ideas at the state level. The foundation appears to prioritize capacity-building for policy research rather than broad charitable or social service work.
Highly concentrated giving: a single, large grant to a national intermediary (State Policy Network) that supports state-level policy research and allied think tanks.
The Searle Freedom Trust C/o Kinship LLC’s recent grantmaking is built around large grants to state-policy infrastructure and free-market policy organizations. Its biggest reported awards go to State Policy Network, including $1,312,000 in 2024 and $885,650 in 2025, showing sustained support for a national research and advocacy network that works at the state level. The foundation also backs major policy institutions such as the American Enterprise Institute, which received $1,000,000 in 2023, $1,000,000 in 2024, and $1,100,000 in 2025, and George Mason University Foundation, which received $700,000 in 2023, $700,000 in 2024, and $1,000,000 in 2025 for education and outreach. Other large recipients include the Foundation for Government Accountability, Tax Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Pacific Legal Foundation. Across these grants, the pattern is concentrated and institutional: it supports organizations that produce research, advocacy, litigation, journalism, and education tied to limited-government and market-oriented policy ideas. The scale is substantial, with annual grants of $63,246,802 and total assets of $22,377,003 on file.
State-level public policy research is a central theme. The foundation gave $1,312,000 to State Policy Network in 2024 and another $885,650 in 2025 for research, underscoring support for the infrastructure behind state policy work. It also funded the Foundation for Government Accountability twice at $800,000 in 2024 and $800,000 in 2025, with additional $600,000 support in 2023 for education and outreach. Litigation is another clear lane: Pacific Legal Foundation received $500,000 in 2025 and $500,000 in 2024, plus $450,000 in 2023. In higher-education and public-facing work, George Mason University Foundation received $1,000,000 in 2025 and $700,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for education and outreach.
The reported grant-size distribution is large and steady: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $150,000, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including State Policy Network, American Enterprise Institute, George Mason University Foundation, Foundation for Government Accountability, Tax Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Pacific Legal Foundation. That points to recurring institutional support rather than one-off grants. The foundation funds organizations directly and does not fund individuals. It also does not make program-related investments.
$18.9M
$22.4M
$4.3M
$21.5M
Most grants fall between $100K and $250K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Notable grantees: State Policy Network
Grant recipients are entirely U.S.-based, with 304 grants going to U.S. organizations. The top state by grant count is California, while only 3% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent recipients cluster in Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Fairfax, VA; Naples, FL; and Sacramento, CA. The list also includes recipients in Potomac, MD; Peachtree Corners, GA; Clemson, SC; New York, NY; and Alexandria, VA.
Its recent grants go mainly to organizations tied to state-level public policy research and advocacy, including research institutions, litigation groups, and education-and-outreach organizations. The pattern includes repeated funding for State Policy Network, American Enterprise Institute, Foundation for Government Accountability, Tax Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Pacific Legal Foundation.
The typical grant size is fairly high: the 25th percentile is $100,000, the median is $150,000, and the 75th percentile is $250,000. Recent awards also include several seven-figure grants, such as $1,312,000 to State Policy Network and $1,100,000 to American Enterprise Institute.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including American Enterprise Institute in 2023, 2024, and 2025; George Mason University Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and State Policy Network in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Foundation for Government Accountability, Tax Foundation, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Pacific Legal Foundation also recur.
All reported grants go to U.S. recipients. California is the top state by grant count, while Washington, DC; Arlington, VA; Fairfax, VA; Naples, FL; and Sacramento, CA appear repeatedly in the recent grants list. Only 3% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent record shows direct grants to organizations instead, including research, litigation, education and outreach, and journalism recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,100,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| STATE POLICY NETWORK | ARLINGTON, VA | $885,650 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY | NAPLES, FL | $800,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | LITIGATION |
| CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| GEORGIA CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY | PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA | $400,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| TAX FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| COMMITTEE TO UNLEASH PROSPERITY | POTOMAC, MD | $400,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| NEW CIVIL LIBERTIES ALLIANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $380,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| DEFENSE OF FREEDOM INSTITUTE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $350,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| EMERGENT ORDER FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $300,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $300,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| REASON FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| MOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | FILM AND NEW MEDIA |
| VMTS EDUCATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| FEDERALIST SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $295,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER | BOZEMAN, MT | $275,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| STATE POLICY NETWORK | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PARENTS DEFENDING EDUCATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| INDEPENDENT CENTER | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| ECONOMIC POLICY INNOVATION CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| NAPOLITAN INSTITUTE | MCKINNEY, TX | $250,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| FEDERALIST SOCIETY | WASHINGTON, DC | $248,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $225,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PROPERTY AND ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER | BOZEMAN, MT | $225,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| HAMILTON LINCOLN LAW INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $225,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| SAGAMORE INSTITUTE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | FILM AND NEW MEDIA |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $200,000 | 2025 | JOURNALISM |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $185,000 | 2025 | ONLINE EDUCATION |
| TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $150,000 | 2025 | FILM AND NEW MEDIA |
| DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
| BUCKEYE INSTITUTE | COLUMBUS, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | LITIGATION |
| AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY | HINSDALE, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | LITIGATION |
| PLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND | TOWSON, MD | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION AND OUTREACH |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT THOUGHT | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $125,000 | 2025 | FELLOWSHIPS |
LITIGATION
COMMITTEE TO UNLEASH PROSPERITY
$400,000RESEARCH
AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE
$300,000RESEARCH
FEDERALIST SOCIETY
$295,000EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
INDEPENDENT CENTER
$250,000EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
NAPOLITAN INSTITUTE
$250,000EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
FEDERALIST SOCIETY
$248,500EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
HAMILTON LINCOLN LAW INSTITUTE
$225,000JOURNALISM
AMERICAN TRANSPARENCY
$150,000LITIGATION