The Institute of Politics is a political education and engagement organization housed at the University of Chicago. The group claims to be nonpartisan, though former Obama campaign chief strategist David Axelrod was the founding director of the group. Additionally, many of the student-led programs hosted by the institute conform to left-of-center perspectives including “Spectrum,” a program described by the Institute of Politics as building the leadership skills of “queer people who are interested in public service” and “queer political and policy issues.” ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Activities

The Institute of Politics’ activities include organizing civic engagement and student-led programs, providing internships for students, and hosting Pritzker Fellows to lecture on political issues. ^{6 7}

“UChicago Votes” is a civic engagement group aimed at increasing voter turnout on the University of Chicago’s campus. ⁸

Student-led programs at the Institute of Politics include “Spectrum,” a program described by the Institute of Politics as building the leadership skills of “queer people who are interested in public service” and “queer political and policy issues”; “W+,” a group of women and “Gender Minorities” described as working “to create a space that empowers female, nonbinary, and trans students to explore and cultivate their passion for public service”; and “Bridge,” a program focused on criminal justice and providing voter education for those in prison, according to the Institute of Politics. ⁷

Pritzker Fellows

The Institute of Politics hosts the “Pritzker Fellowships Program.” Named quarterly, Pritzker Fellows lead seminars on political issues and hold office hours for students. ⁹

As of February 2025, current fellows included U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary during the Biden administration Pete Buttigieg, 2024 Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, former U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during the Biden administration Xochitl Torres Small, and Office of Management and Budget Director during the Biden administration Shalanda Young.” ¹⁰

Former Pritzker Fellows include Secretary of State during the Biden administration Antony Blinken, former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, and Press Secretary during the Biden administration Karine Jean-Pierre. ¹¹

Funding

In 2023, the Joyce Foundation gave $100,000 to the Institute of Politics.  ¹²

In 2022, the Zell Family Foundation gave $200,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹³

The Alphawood Foundation gave $900,000 to the Institute of Politics from 2021 to 2023. ¹⁴

The Institute of Politics received $130,000 from the Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation from 2019 to 2023. ¹⁵

In 2017, the Tricoastal Foundation gave $200,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹⁶

From 2014 to 2018, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation gave a combined $500,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹⁷

In 2014, the Institute of Politics received $279,000 from the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute for the “Sargent Shriver Program for Leadership in Public Service” at the Institute of Politics. ¹⁸

People

David Axelrod was the founding director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. He left his role as director of the organization in 2023, becoming a senior fellow at the organization and chairman of its advisory board. Axelrod was previously “the former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama,” according to UChicago News. ^{2 5}

Zeenat Rahman is the executive director of the Institute of Politics. Rahman previously worked as the director of the “Inclusive America Project,” a program of the Aspen Institute that “promotes religious pluralism.” She has also worked for the U.S. State Department as a special advisor to Hillary Clinton and John Kerry during their periods as Secretary of State and as acting director of the Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rahman is also a former Pritzker Fellow at the Institute of Politics. ³

1. “Our Impact – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/about/our-impact.
2. “David Axelrod to Step down as Director of UChicago’s Institute of Politics in 2023.” University of Chicago News. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/david-axelrod-step-down-director-uchicagos-institute-politics-2023.
3. “Zeenat Rahman Named Executive Director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.” University of Chicago News. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/zeenat-rahman-named-executive-director-university-chicago-institute-politics
4. “Student Opportunities – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/get-involved/for-students#studentLedPrograms.
5. “David Axelrod.” University of Chicago News. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://news.uchicago.edu/profile/david-axelrod.
6. “Institute of Politics – Inspiring Thought. Empowering Action.” iop, January 1, 1970. https://politics.uchicago.edu/.
7. “Student Opportunities – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/get-involved/for-students#studentLedPrograms.
8.  “Student Opportunities – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/get-involved/for-students#uChiVotes.
9. “Current Fellows – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows/current-fellows.
10. “Current Fellows – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 22, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows/current-fellows#winterSpring2025PritzkerFellows
11.  “Former Pritzker Fellows – Institute of Politics.” iop. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://politics.uchicago.edu/fellows/former-fellows.
12. “Joyce Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2023. Page 11 Part XIV.
13. “Zell Family Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2022. Page 11 Part XIV.
14. “Alphawood Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2021, 2022, and 2023. Page 11 Part XIV.
15. “Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Page 11 Part XIV.
16. “Tricoastal Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2017. Page 11 Part XIV.
17.  “John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation,” Return of Private Foundation Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 PF) 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Page 11 Part XIV.
18.  “Sargent Shriver Peace Institute,” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2014. Schedule I.